08 Apr 2026 09:00:51
Just a thought in a hypothetical scenario but if the Leafs win the draft lottery I think that depending on who else wins a trade makes more sense.

Tor- #1
Whoever- #3 + top prospect

The reason being that McKenna will be great but the Leafs already have offence and need Verhoeff. Teams like Vancouver and Calgary desperately need offence and won't draft Verhoeff because Vancouver had Buuim and Calgary has Parekh.

Wondering what everyone else thinks of this? The only team that throws a wrench in this plan is Chicago because they already have a top guy in Frondell to play with Bedard but are lacking that #1 dman.

1.) 08 Apr 2026
08 Apr 2026 09:36:28
@VanCreamdyk

I think your scenario is what most want if the Leafs somehow win the lottery. As for Chicago, they have a lot of young talent on their blueline and would without a doubt take McKenna or Stenberg at 1 same goes for Vancouver and or Calgary.

I would say the only wrench would be coming from the Leafs themselves are the creative and or smart enough to do something like this.

2.) 08 Apr 2026
08 Apr 2026 12:41:53
It is pretty much a slam dunk that if Chicago got first overall they will take Stenberg. He and Frondell played together at the WJC and won gold. Frondell is already showing at NHL level what he can do. Stenberg at a year younger was even slightly ahead of Frondell in the Swedish Men’s league in scoring 33 points to 28.

By reuniting them they can drive a line and Bedard can drive his line knowing the opposition now has to spread out their checking lines.

3.) 08 Apr 2026
08 Apr 2026 14:16:05
@VanCreamdyk A team with this years draft crop is not going to give up a Top Prospect to move up 2 spots. They might give you a 2nd or 3 round pick to swap if you are 1 spot apart in the draft. Every team has a need for a McKenna and a Stenberg and a Malholtra and those same teams all have a need for a Verhoef, a Carels and a Reid on Defence.

You might see some swaps in the middle or end of round in 1st round but 1-16 no-one is going home super disappointed. And.... every team will say the same exact thing. "We never thought he would be available at this pick?" lol.

4.) 08 Apr 2026
08 Apr 2026 14:51:44
@suffer, I wouldn't be so sure about that. Chicago is going to need to draft dmen aswell. I'd a solitely put the thinking they have some top tier d options in their pick they should really consider. As the Leafs have proven you need more than 1 skilled dmen.

5.) 08 Apr 2026
08 Apr 2026 16:13:39
I have to disagree with that Hrenkin. With Levshunov, Vlasic, Korchinski, Rinzel, Crevier, and Del Mastro you have 6 Defensemen that are all good young D-Men aged 20 to 24 that have been groomed to come up through the system and take roster spots. This team doesn't need to draft a 18 year old D-man. They need to build their forwards into a dangerous balanced unit to spread out the offense. You can't compare the Hawks defence to Toronto's.

Chicago already has commited to that young core of D men. That is why Seth Jones, Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson are no longer in Chicago. If we go into Full Rebuild that is the route we will have to do.

I don't profess to be a genius but.....if my team was in a 3 way tie for the lowest scoring team in the NHL I am going to draft some offense if I have a chance at it.