Would Toronto Really Do the Unthinkable at First Overall?

Pierre LeBrun dropped a nugget that’ll make Toronto Maple Leafs fans freak a little. He noted that Toronto, San Jose and Chicago might actually be willing to move their top picks in the 2026 draft — and yeah, that could shake everything up.

In Toronto’s case, it’s the first overall pick after winning the lottery. On paper, the Maple Leafs are not actively shopping it, but the door is reportedly not completely closed either. If another team comes in with a serious “win-now” type package, new general manager John Chayka is at least willing to listen.

And right away, that’s where things get complicated.

---

---

The Maple Leafs Would Have to Receive a “Serious Package” to Consider a Trade

What would a “serious package” even look like for first overall in a draft year that doesn’t have a clear-cut, can’t-miss franchise player? The names at the top include players like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and a handful of other high-end prospects. Good players, maybe even elite ones, eventually. Whether they are Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, Macklin Celebrini, or Connor McDavid has yet to be determined. Still, trading the pick would be almost unthinkable.

In theory, you can see why the conversation exists. If you’re Toronto, coming off a 28th-place finish, there’s a temptation to speed things up. A top pick is great, but it might not help you win next season. A proven NHL player, or a package of multiple roster pieces, could.

That’s the upside argument: turn uncertainty into immediate help. Add two or three NHL-ready pieces, fix weak spots on defence or depth scoring, and suddenly you look more competitive right away. For a team under pressure to get back into contention quickly, that has appeal.

Trading the 1st Overall Pick Has a Huge Downside If Things Go Wrong

But the downside is just as obvious, maybe even more so. You don’t get many chances to pick first overall. And even in a “weaker” draft year, those players still become core pieces for the future. Trading that away means betting heavily on the idea that your return will not just help now, but also won’t come back to haunt you later.

And that’s the real tension. What kind of return actually justifies it? It would likely take a young NHL roster player already producing, plus a high-end prospect, plus multiple picks on top. Basically, a package that looks like a mini-rebuild on its own. At that point, you have to ask yourself if you’re solving one problem by potentially creating another.

Smart Money Thinks the Rumour Is Just That – a Rumour

That’s why this kind of rumour always feels bigger in Toronto than it does elsewhere. The Maple Leafs don’t just need talent. They need certainty, direction, and stability. Trading first overall might help now, but it also risks sacrificing their clearest long-term asset.

And that’s why, even if the phone is answered, it’s very hard to see how this move actually makes sense.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Latest Move Says a Lot About Their Draft Intentions