2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Talk about beginner’s luck.

Just 48 hours into his tenure as Maple Leafs GM, John Chayka scored a franchise-altering victory by winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. This is a group that boasted nine straight playoff appearances and was one win away from knocking out the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers back in 2025.

A year ago, the idea of Toronto landing the first overall pick – and the right to draft a talent like Gavin McKenna – was completely unthinkable. Yet, the ping-pong balls miraculously fell in their favor, potentially rewriting the future for the biggest market in hockey.

I really liked Toronto’s 2026 draft. Obviously, McKenna did a lot of the heavy lifting, but it felt like they continuously found value no matter where they picked. Once McKenna turns pro, Toronto’s pipeline will go back to being mid-pack at best, but that’s still a big step above of what we had seen from them for most of the past decade.

The Toronto Marlies won the 2026 Calder Cup, so there’s obviously a lot of hype there. Realistically, though, most of that core were older prospects who won’t factor into the team’s core moving forward. That’s not to say some young guys didn’t impress, but I wouldn’t equate an AHL title to future NHL success when you look at the fact that the majority of league champions are dominated by veteran corps.

This is a franchise that still clearly thinks they can compete and rebuilding doesn’t seem like an option. But the inclusion of McKenna alone might be enough to change the fortune of this team moving forward… or, at least get the hope back at Scotiabank Arena.

Biggest Strength

Is it a cop-out to just say McKenna? He’s the best prospect in hockey and a legitimate game-changer for this franchise. Toronto needed someone to replace what Mitch Marner brought to the table on the playmaking front, and McKenna fits the bill. It’s also a good sign that he’s going to have good players to play with right away, which could allow him to have one of the more impressive rookie seasons from a first overall pick in recent memory. He’s obviously much cheaper than Marner right now, which doesn’t hurt.

Biggest Weakness

McKenna is a much better playmaker than a goal scorer, which then makes me wonder who is going to be capable of putting punks in the net. The big club seems to struggle whenever Auston Matthews is not at full health. I’m not sure there’s anybody in the system here capable of putting up more than 15 goals a season max. That’s to be expected when you don’t pick high often and value trade deadline deals more than top 75 picks. Goal-scoring is the most important part of any team, and, yet, it’s the hardest thing to find.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: John Chayka
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Dan Palango
Dir. of NHL Development: Patrick O’Sullivan
AHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies
ECHL Affiliate: Cincinnati Cyclones
Recent NHL Graduates: Easton Cowan, RW; Dennis Hildeby, G

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Artur Akhtyamov (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, 18 (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Acquired: Drafted first overall, first round in 2026

McKenna’s season was scrutinized to hell and back. A so-so first half with Penn State University left many scouts feeling he wasn’t the right choice at No. 1. It didn’t help that Ivar Stenberg was putting up outstanding numbers playing against men in the Swedish Hockey League, one of the best leagues in Europe. But McKenna had a big World Juniors, registering 14 points in seven games en route to a bronze medal. McKenna then had 33 points in his final 19 games. He finished fifth in the country with 51 points in 35 games. Scouts liken McKenna’s skillset to that of Nikita Kucherov or Patrick Kane. McKenna was the smartest forward in the draft class, and he’s able to slow things down better than just about anyone. He was a truly elite playmaker at the college level, and there’s little reason to doubt that he’ll be an absolute force with the puck in the NHL. I can’t wait to watch him play with either Auston Matthews or John Tavares, two guys who understand the pressure of making the NHL right away after going first overall.

2. Artur Akhtyamov, G, 24 (Toronto Marlies, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 106th overall, fourth round in 2020

After sharing the net with Dennis Hildeby last year, Akhtyamov stole the crease for the playoffs and never looked back. He was the playoff MVP after boasting one of the most impressive runs we’ve seen from an AHL goaltender in recent memory. Akhtyamov also got into some spot NHL duty, but struggled to find his footing. At 24, Akhtyamov is already one of the older goaltending prospects in the game right now. It feels like we know what type of goalie he is at this point; and that’s likely as a long-term backup option. Toronto has Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz up with the big club, but if one of them gets hurt (Stolarz has a long injury history), AA will be in the best spot of his career to prove himself.

3. Ben Danford, RHD, 20 (Toronto Marlies, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 31st overall, first round in 2024

*Ben Danford (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Danford is a fascinating prospect to watch. After falling short of an OHL title in Brantford, Danford joined the Marlies for their playoff run and forced himself into a full-time role. He has always been known for his defense-first game, but his offensive instincts have seemingly taken a nice step forward over the past few months. At this point, he’s a much more rounded defender than he was a year ago. While I (and most evaluators I’ve talked to) believe he’ll be a bottom-pairing defender, I expect him to be a good one at that. The floor is solid here; we’ve all heard the Chris Tanev comparisons. He’s strong, physical, and gives you little space to work with. If he can find another gear offensively, he’ll be an absolute steal for Toronto.

4. Tinus Luc Koblar, C, 19 (Rögle BK, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 64th overall, second round in 2025

Every time Norway needed a big goal at the World Championship in May, Koblar has found a way to make it happen. There wasn’t a better forward at this tournament in terms of getting into the right spot at the right time. He doesn’t typically score with a big shot or a crazy play. Instead, he creates offense by tipping shots in or getting rebounds and doing the dirty work to make goals happen. Koblar is a big-bodied, two-way center who can be quite responsible in his own zone. Players with his type of build are more likely AAAA guys who can play on the fourth line. There’s still plenty of runway for Koblar to push beyond that, but he’s definitely a much better prospect than I initially gave him credit for. Next up? An offensive explosion in the SHL.

5. Ethan MacKenzie, LHD, 19 (University of North Dakota, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 69th overall, third round in 2026

MacKenzie was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior team, and he didn’t disappoint. It was a solid enough stretch that helped ensure he would be selected this year after being passed over twice. MacKenzie’s ability to win individual battles and shut guys down makes him intriguing. His maturity and hockey sense have really blossomed over time, and he can kill plays and log a lot of minutes if needed (as proven with the Oil Kings). I know the Leafs took MacKenzie after Bilecki, but I think his game is much more refined and closer to pro-ready right now. I really think he’ll be a good No. 5/6 D in the NHL.

6. Zach Olsen, RW, 18 (Colorado College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 73rd overall, third round in 2026

*Zach Olsen (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Olsen was one of my favorite WHLers last year, and many opponents cited him as one of the toughest players to go up against. He’s smart, nimble and has a powerful wrister he loves to show often. Olsen is a hard-working forward who has really impressed scouts over the past few months with his attention to detail and improved hockey sense. Olsen makes smart decisions with the puck while playing at speed, and he’s a great skater, too. I think he’ll make it as an energy forward as long as he continues to add a bit more skill to force his way into the lineup.

7. Alexander Bilecki, LHD, 18 (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 60th overall, second round in 2026

Bilecki was a big reason why the Rangers went the distance in the OHL. The 6-foot-2 defender showed some decent offensive upside this year while showing a level of fearlessness that few defenders in the OHL displayed last year. He was a big reason why the Rangers won both the league title, and the CHL’s Memorial Cup – opponents couldn’t figure out how to read his plays. Bilecki boasts impressive mobility and creative playmaking instincts. It feels like he has some room to grow as a puck-mover, but many scouts think he’s going to be a solid bottom-pairing defender.

8. Tyler Hopkins, C, 19 (Guelph Storm, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 86th overall, third round in 2025

Hopkins was one of my favorite third-round picks a year ago because it feels like there’s legitimate bottom-line NHL potential here. We’re not talking about someone who’ll move the needle offensively at the next level (he registered 101 points over the past two seasons combined), but his highly detailed game is something scouts like. Hopkins is one of the fastest skaters in Toronto’s system, and he’s not afraid to blast through to middle to make a play happen. Importantly, it’s clearly he thrives on the penalty kill, which is what I’d expect to see him play if he gets to the NHL. The one element of his game that still bothers me a bit is how often plays tend to die on his stick. He’ll create some awesome chances, only to throw the puck at nothing and watch it fall apart; almost like he panics too much.

9. Miroslav Holinka, C, 20 (Toronto Marlies, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 151st overall, fifth round in 2024

*Miroslav Holinka (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Holinka put up 37 goals and 80 points with the Edmonton Oil Kings as a 20-year-old last season. It’s nothing special for a player his age, but I still like what I saw, for the most part. He’s a good skater with a strong frame, and he does an excellent job of controlling the puck under pressure. Holinka is typically strong defensively, taking away time and space effectively. The biggest improvement over the season was his willingness to throw the body around a bit more, especially in front of the net. I’m not sure what type of player he’ll be in the NHL if he ever makes it, but his skating has improved enough to the point where I could see him in a fourth-line role.

10. Noah Chadwick, LHD, 21 (Toronto Marlies, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 185th overall, sixth round in 2023

Chadwick had a solid first year of pro hockey, registering 23 points in 68 games. He has continued to improve his puck play and is an excellent skater. He almost plays like a smaller defenseman that has to rely a little bit more on his speed and puck skills to make things happen. The big reason why I’ve dropped him, though, is I don’t see a ton of high-end offensive talent, and his defensive game still feels lackluster. I know many evaluators like him more than I do, but I am starting to wonder if he has a true identity at the next level. His Draft+1 year development was impressive, but we just haven’t seen the same steady progress since then. I hope that changes this year because I’d love to see him in a No. 4-6 role.

Other Prospects: Other Prospects: Luke Haymes, C (23), Cooper Williams, C (18), Hudson Malinoski, C (22), Sam Mccue, LW (20), Alexander Plesovskikh, LW (20), Landon Sim, LD, RW (22), Borya Valis, RW (22), Brody Pepoy, RW (18), William Belle, RW (19), Harry Nansi, RW (18), Nicholas Moldenhauer, RW (22), Hayes Hundley, RHD (21), Vincent Borgesi, RHD (22), Blake Smith, LHD (21), Mans Gudmundsson, RHD (18), Yaroslav Fedoseyev, RHD (18), Rylan Fellinger, RHD (19), Victor Johansson, LHD (20), Matt Lahey, LHD (20), Juuso Ainasto, G (18), Patriks Plumins, G (18), Timofei Obvintsev, G (21)

SPONSORED BY bet365