Ray Ferraro floats the idea of Maple Leafs trading down at 2026 NHL Draft

As the Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Auston Matthews era, rumours have swirled that the roster could undergo massive turnover, and there is a whole new hockey staff set for their first year in Toronto. 

ESPN’s Ray Ferraro joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss a move he might consider with the first overall selection, why he wouldn’t move Matthew Knies, and the reason he believes Mitch Marner has found more success in Vegas. 

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna and Frolunda HC forward Ivar Stenberg are the favourites to go first overall during the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. While neither feels like a poor selection, Ferraro has a route the Maple Leafs could take if they aren’t sure who they want to select. 

“If you don’t think McKenna and Stenberg are head and shoulders above everybody, and you like a defenceman almost as much, then why wouldn’t you trade down?” Ferraro said. “Why wouldn’t you acquire another asset and move down two or three picks if somebody is willing to make that jump and pick up another good asset. It doesn’t mean you have to go do it, but I would explore it.”

Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies put together a strong season with the club in 2025-26. The 23-year-old appeared in 79 games, recording 23 goals and a career-high 66 points. At the NHL trade deadline, Knies’ name swirled in trade rumours as the Maple Leafs found themselves as sellers. 

“He’s [Knies], is a really good player, and would be highly sought after. If you trade Knies, you are clearly going backwards, and if you go backwards, what does that mean to Matthews and William Nylander,” Ferraro said. “You risk setting off a domino that might change the entire landscape of the organization.”

One player who used the change of scenery to his benefit was Marner. The 29-year-old leads all skaters this postseason with 19 points and has put together some highlight reel plays that have created goals for the Golden Knights. 

Throughout Marner’s nine playoff runs with the Maple Leafs, the forward often drew the ire of fans for his lack of success during the playoffs. Ferraro spoke about why he believes Marner appears to have taken his game to a new level in his first postseason with the Golden Knights. 

“None of those guys in the core have ever won at the NHL level, so at various times it fell on Marner’s head, it fell on Matthews head, and it fell on Nylander’s head. He’s come to Vegas, and they’ve all won, you don’t have to figure it out as you go,” Ferraro said. “How often over the last eight or nine years, did we talk about Toronto not having a winning culture, do they understand what it takes, or do they need to be tougher, and bring in Nick Foligno or a myriad of players that have that DNA to their game. You come to Vegas; you just fit and do your job.”