Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Toronto Doesn’t Draft Prospects Anymore—It Drafts Hope

Gavin McKenna was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2026 NHL Draft sparked the expected wave of reaction. There was the buildup, the scouting debates, the highlight reels, and the long-standing assumption that he would eventually land in this exact spot.

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The Maple Leafs’ current direction: a middle ground between competing now and long-term building? — Draft Weekend Notebook

Ever since MLSE President Keith Pelley dismissed Brad Treliving as GM of the Maple Leafs, he and the rest of the Maple Leafs’ leadership have been abundantly clear: They fully intend to compete next season, with no plan to sell off their core of prime-aged and veteran players.

Brandon Carlo News / Professor Press Box / June 28

Was the Maple Leafs Carlo Trade About Flushing Away the Past?

There’s a broader question sitting underneath a recent Toronto Maple Leafs move that’s starting to show up in the way fans are reacting. On the surface, it looks like a simple hockey trade: a player who didn’t fit under Craig Berube’s system gets moved for two later picks.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Trade Talk Sports / June 28

The Maple Leafs Offseason Is About Avoiding Disaster

This time of year in the NHL usually feels like a shopping spree. Everyone is talking about who a team might add, who might hit the market, and which big name could change everything with one signature on July 1.

Gavin Mckenna News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

In the history of the NHL Draft, 64 players have been selected No. 1 overall. How many of the can you name in eight minutes?

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Single-playoff goal leaders' quiz

The 'NHL saves leaders since 1995-96' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / June 28

Before Free Agency, the Maple Leafs Have Bigger Decisions to Make

It’s easy, this time of year, to get distracted by the names floating around the NHL market. That’s part of the fun of early summer in hockey. Fans can engage in all the speculation, the big swings, the idea that one signing can shift a team’s entire direction.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in NHL history

There have been successful rookie seasons in NHL history, and there have been superior efforts worth celebrating time and time again. Here's our list of the 25 notable seasons from those with official rookie status, as deemed by the NHL, in reverse chronological order.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / June 28

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Chayka, Hildeby, Van Ryn, Andrae, Robertson & Maccelli

The NHL Draft is now in the books, and for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the real work doesn’t stop. It just shifts gears. General manager John Chayka has already moved from draft-night decisions, including the Brandon Carlo trade to the St.

Zach Werenski News / Trade Talk Sports / June 28

Are the Maple Leafs a Frontrunner for Zach Werenski?

Zach Werenski trade talk has hit a fever pitch, and it feels inevitable that the 2025-26 Norris Trophy winner will be on the move this offseason. The only real question at this point is where.

John Chayka News / The Hockey Writers / June 28

Maple Leafs, Chayka Come Out of 2026 NHL Draft With Great Haul of Prospects

The 2026 NHL Draft is officially in the books and the Toronto Maple Leafs definitely needed to bolster their prospect pool. It was a weak pipeline overall and it was up to general manager John Chayka and the scouting staff to try and fix it.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 28

Maple Leafs receive A+ in Daily Faceoff’s post-draft report card

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially in the books. While most of the attention for Toronto Maple Leafs fans this year was focused on the selection of Gavin McKenna at first overall, the team came away with an impressive 10-player haul through the seven-round event.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Pension Plan Puppets / June 28

2026 NHL Draft: Quick Thoughts on Toronto's Picks

Well... that was certainly a busy day. The Maple Leafs finished off the 2026 NHL draft having made ten picks in total, including nine today. Three of those picks were extras that they only acquired today through two trades they made.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 28

Maple Leafs’ Alexander Bilecki excited to bring ‘winning mentality’ to Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a new era under the leadership group of John Chayka and Mats Sundin. With Gavin McKenna being brought into the organization

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 28

Draft weekend and what happens next: Leaflets

The draft is over. Finally. The NHL needs to find a way to fix this. Four hours of the first round is unbearable television, and Sportsnet only made it worse with their bottom-tier panel.

Zach Werenski News / The Hockey Writers / June 27

Maple Leafs Have a Shot: Werenski the Game-Changer Toronto Needs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have spent years searching for the kind of elite, top-pairing defenceman capable of changing the identity of a franchise. If the rumor mill is to be believed, the answer might be wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey.

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The 'Triple-Double leaders by team' quiz

The '2nd-overall NBA Draft picks' quiz

The 'Multi-time NBA MVPs' quiz

The 'No.1 NBA Draft picks' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / June 27

Maple Leafs Alexander Bilecki Second Pick Reveals Team Focus

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t just select Alexander Bilecki at 60th overall. They made a fairly clear statement about what they still value in the back end of their system — reliability, structure, and a defence-first foundation that doesn’t need to be sheltered to function.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 27

A recap of the 10 prospects the Maple Leafs selected at the 2026 NHL Draft

What was expected to be a bleak and uneventful draft for the Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as a few months ago quickly turned into fireworks. With some help from lady luck and the privilege of drafting first overall, new general manager John Chayka and the scouting staff had one of the more promising drafts in recent memory for the Maple Leafs.

Mike Van Ryn News / Pro Hockey Rumors / June 27

Mike Van Ryn To Step Away From Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to fill another hole on the bench. Assistant coach Mike Van Ryn is not expected to return to the club after three years behind the Leafs’ bench per Leafs Nation’s Nick Alberga.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 27

Maple Leafs select forward Brody Pepoy with 169th pick in 2026 NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected forward Brody Pepoy with the 169th pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. Pepoy, 18, plays for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and stands at 6-foot-2 and 181 pounds, primarily playing right wing.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 27

Maple Leafs select Yaroslav Fedoseyev with 161st pick in 2026 NHL Draft

With the 161st pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defenceman Yaroslav Fedoseyev. Fedoseyev posted a goal and six points in 25 games with Chelyabinsk Chelmet of the All-Russian Hockey League.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 27

Maple Leafs select forward Cooper Williams with 158th pick in 2026 NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected forward Cooper Williams with the 158th pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. Williams, 18, is a centre who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 163 pounds.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / June 27

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Knies, McKenna & the Value of Young Players

There are two separate but connected conversations unfolding around the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. Both speak to how the organization views its future rather than its present.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Yardbarker / June 26

Maple Leafs made the right choice in taking Gavin McKenna No. 1

Maple Leafs made the right choice by taking Gavin McKenna No. 1 overall in NHL Draft

After winning the 2026 NHL Draft lottery and getting the No. 1 overall pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs were faced with a big decision. Do they do the expected thing and take Penn State's Gavin McKenna with the top pick?

Morgan Rielly's agent submits trade list for Maple Leafs defenseman

From Cayman Islands prodigy to twin brothers, these are potential first-round prospects who won't go in top five of 2026 NHL Draft

Report: Maple Leafs part ways with assistant coach Mike Van Ryn

The 'Highest paid NHL players in 2024-25' quiz

Morgan Rielly News / NHL Trade Talk / June 26