GM Connects with Future Star
Leafs GM John Chayka Travels to Yukon to Build Relationship with Promising Prospect Gavin McKenna's Family
Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka flew to Whitehorse, Yukon — a city of roughly 38,000 people — to spend four to five hours with the family of Gavin McKenna before selecting him first overall at the 2026 NHL Draft, according to The Hockey News. Chayka said he made the 3,000-mile trip "not because I had to, but because I wanted to," aiming to understand the character behind the highlights.
McKenna, 18, became the first Yukon-born player ever taken first overall in NHL history, according to NHL.com. Justin Bieber announced the pick on draft night in Buffalo. McKenna called the moment a "dream come true," per CBC Sports.
A Late-Night Yukon Drive That Sealed the Pick
Chayka arrived in Whitehorse at 11:00 PM to full sunlight — the Yukon's famous Midnight Sun. He took a drive up a local mountain with McKenna, then sat with the family for hours. The Hockey News reported the visit moved Chayka beyond highlight reels to personal conviction about McKenna's makeup.
Chayka described the McKenna family as having "real resolve" and called them a "quality family," per AP News. Mats Sundin, named Senior Executive Advisor on May 3, echoed that view. Sundin said McKenna showed "unbelievable character" — a quality the Leafs prioritized after a culture reset, per NHL.com.
A Franchise in Crisis Needed a Fresh Start
The Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving on March 30, 2026. The team had gone 32-36-14 and missed the playoffs for the first time in the Auston Matthews era. It was their first playoff miss since 2017, per NHL.com.
Chayka was hired May 3. Two days later, the Leafs won the draft lottery, jumping from No. 5 to No. 1 overall. MLSE President Keith Pelley called the new front office "a step towards building a championship-calibre team," per NHL.com. McKenna is only the third player in franchise history picked first overall, joining Auston Matthews (2016) and Wendel Clark (1985).
McKenna's Numbers Made the Case Even Before the Visit
McKenna put up 51 points in 35 games at Penn State during the 2025-26 season — a 1.46 points-per-game average that ranked second nationally, per NHL.com and 247Sports. He added 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in just seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship, per Field Level Media.
San Jose GM Mike Grier noted that draft boards in 2026 were "drastically different" across teams, making personal scouting even more important, per AP News. Chayka's Yukon trip was designed to fill that gap. Some niche scouting voices raised a past altercation as a concern, but Chayka dismissed those worries after the visit, according to The Hockey News.
McKenna Lands in Toronto With Mentor John Tavares Waiting
McKenna was driven from Buffalo to Toronto after the draft. He is set to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays and will be in uniform at Leafs Development Camp, which opens June 29, per NHL.com. Auston Matthews welcomed him via a video message on draft night.
Alternate captain John Tavares is slated to serve as a key mentor. Tavares called it a "rare opportunity" to guide a player of McKenna's caliber, per Hockey Patrol. Chayka has said he believes McKenna will "one day be a leader for this franchise" — possibly the next captain in the post-Matthews era.
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