Chayka weighs McKenna vs Stenberg as draft nears

With four weeks until the Toronto Maple Leafs begin a new era and the draft set for June 26, general manager John Chayka says he and his team are digging hard into what the No. 1 pick means—especially as they weigh Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. Chayka also

Four weeks from the beginning of a new era for the Toronto Maple Leafs, general manager John Chayka is still doing what he says matters most: weighing options, taking meetings, and making sure the organization gets the right fit at the most important moment.

On Friday in Buffalo. as the scouting combine wrapped around the world of prospects and priorities. Chayka placed the spotlight firmly on the decision waiting for Toronto on June 26—when the Maple Leafs are set to pick first overall. Two names are at the center of his process: Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. the two top prospects heading into the draft.

Chayka acknowledged the conventional assumption that McKenna—the Canadian winger who has become a familiar name in hockey circles—could be the player most likely to be called first. But his message was clear: Toronto’s choice won’t come down to skill alone.

“We’ve spent a lot of time with him and his family,” Chayka said. “Just going through that process — we want to make sure we get the person right, first and foremost. Everyone’s seen him play and knows his skill level, and the talent. But as we think about a Toronto Maple Leaf and what that means. we’re just really digging into that part.

“It’s about getting the right person — in a market like this, I don’t think you can miss on that.”

In Chayka’s telling, what stood out about McKenna went beyond the obvious hockey highlights. The GM described him as someone with a defined sense of identity and responsibility.

“Really nice young man. Really quality family. We spent some quality time with them, got to know them. You know, he’s a small-town kid. … Within that, I think there’s some real resolve with who he is, and what his career means to him and his family. I find it impressive,” Chayka said.

“Obviously the brain and the talent is evident. Just the instincts, and his raw ability, I think are interesting. And the quality of the family, the quality of the people, how much family means to him. His roots, how important it is for him to give back to his community that’s given him so much. I think those are all really interesting things.”.

The alternative on Toronto’s board is Stenberg, the Swedish standout tearing up the SHL with Frolunda. Chayka said the organization has been leaning on a familiar presence inside the Maple Leafs’ ecosystem—senior advisor Mats Sundin—to build a fuller picture of the player before decision day.

“He has a good book on him over several years now, and spent time with him in Sweden as well. So, just getting the full background, the full history,” Chayka said. “We were able to interview him here, we’ll spend some more time with him. He’s a smart, competitive player. He had an amazing worlds. Real high-quality person, high-quality player. Really fond of him.”.

As the draft gets closer, Chayka insisted Toronto isn’t treating the No. 1 pick like a lock in practice—even if it feels that way on paper. In addition to simply selecting between McKenna and Stenberg. he described multiple other routes: using the top pick on a different type of prospect. trading the pick away for more immediate help. or trading down to target the type of blue-chip offensive defenceman the Maple Leafs have long craved.

When asked Friday about the range of possibilities on draft day, Chayka said Toronto will “simply select the best player available” when the time comes. Trading the pick, he added, is unlikely—but not impossible.

“I would say the probability is we take the pick, just realistically,” he said. “We have had discussions (about trading it) — we’ll continue to have discussions. Obviously everything’s for sale at the right price.

“To date, there’s nothing compelling that we’re seriously considering. But there’s still time.”

The draft isn’t the only part of Toronto’s rebuild that’s moving at its own pace. The Maple Leafs’ coaching search has already taken a turn: it began with 55 candidates and is now shifting into the next phase. In a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. Elliotte Friedman reported the Maple Leafs appear to be pivoting to more experienced candidates. with University of Denver bench boss David Carle seeming to be out of the mix.

Chayka didn’t treat any of it like a race clock. He said the club is taking its time and focusing on conviction rather than rushing toward a headline.

“We’re not focused on some artificial timeline. We’re really focused on conviction,” the GM said. “I think it’s been a long time since there’s been a full search for this organization. And I think it’s important for us to take our time and get it right. You know, this is the next leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs.”.

Chayka said the initial stage involved 55 candidates in total, with about 20 of them warranting deeper conversations.

“I want to make sure we’re not missing anything, so we cast a pretty wide net,” he said. “Of those 20. not all are legitimate candidates for the next round. but a lot of really good people. and we learned a lot — it’s good in our position to hear different perspectives. get a coaching perspective and breakdown of our style of play and where we stand. It’s been a really good process so far.

“So, no timeline, no time constraints — when it’s right, we’ll make that decision. But we’re going to be patient and get it right.”

The same careful approach extends to roster work, too. After a disappointing campaign that saw Toronto miss the post-season for the first time in a decade, Chayka said the club still needs to fill holes and reshape the lineup dynamic.

Asked Friday if he expects to make trades in the coming months, he said Toronto’s improvement plan includes “equal parts free agency and internal improvement” and that the possibility of trades remains on the table.

“Certainly as we look at our team, we need to fill some holes. There’s equal parts free agency and internal improvement and hopefully some trades that make sense,” he said. “I would expect we do some things. The timing of that, I’m not sure, and depends on the counter-party too.”

A name that has also been circulating is captain Auston Matthews, amid reports that the former Hart Trophy winner remains uncertain about his future in Toronto. Chayka addressed the mood directly after conversations with Matthews and his representatives.

“We’ve had several conversations with him and his representatives. What I saw was a happy captain,” the GM said. “Someone who’s got a lot of pride to be the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Someone who wants to win in Toronto, which aligns with how we’re thinking about it.

“We’ve spent the better part of these three weeks getting to know everybody. getting some face time. and connecting with them. And just listening. honestly — hearing about how the season went. the trends. the things that we think are opportunities. and collaborating on that. No different than with Auston. We continue to have those conversations.”.

The next decisions for Toronto are stacked and connected, from who leads behind the bench to who leads the organization through the draft. For Chayka, the message coming out of Buffalo was consistent: time isn’t the enemy—getting the right people is.

Toronto Maple Leafs John Chayka Gavin McKenna Ivar Stenberg Mats Sundin Auston Matthews NHL Draft June 26 coaching search David Carle SHL Frolunda