McKenna to Leafs; Canucks create a Ruck-us in TSN’s NHL Mock Draft

Canada’s seven NHL teams account for nearly one third of the selections set to be made in the first round of Friday’s draft, starting with the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1.

Barring any trades between now and Friday, Canada’s teams are set to go to the podium a combined 10 times, led by the Ottawa Senators, who have three first-round picks.

The Senators received the No. 9 and No. 25 picks from the Florida Panthers as part of the Brady Tkachuk trade on Sunday, as well as the No. 32 selection that was given to them by the NHL as a modified punishment for the invalidated Evgenii Dadonov trade of March 2022.

With the first-overall pick, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has the Maple Leafs selecting Penn State winger Gavin McKenna.

McKenna scored 15 goals with 51 points in 35 games last season as a freshman with the Nittany Lions. He also helped Canada win bronze at the World Juniors after scoring four goals with 14 points in seven games.

“For McKenna, obviously it’s an honour to be drafted first overall, but the opportunity to go play alongside Auston Matthews, it’s like now he wins the lottery,” said Button. “And for Matthews, missing [Mitch] Marner, this now is an opportunity for somebody to come in and help Auston get closer to the level he’s demonstrated in the past.”

For the fourth year in a row, the San Jose Sharks have a top-five selection in the draft. Button has them addressing the blueline this time by selecting Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid at No. 2.

Reid averaged more than a point per game last season with the Greyhounds, scoring 18 goals with 48 points in 45 games.

“Macklin Celebrini drives play from the centre position. Chase Reid can drive it from the defensive position,” said Button.

The third pick belongs to the Vancouver Canucks and Button has them taking Brantford Bulldogs centre Caleb Malhotra, son of newly minted head coach Manny Malhotra.

In his first OHL season, Malhotra scored 29 goals with 84 points in 67 regular-season games with the Bulldogs in 2025-26. He then added 13 goals and 26 points in 15 playoff games before Brantford was eliminated by Barrie.

“His coach is going to love the way that Caleb plays,” said Button. “Every coach desires to have what Caleb brings: a well-rounded, competitive, two-way game.”

Vancouver also has the No. 24 pick and Button has them taking Medicine Hat Tigers winger Liam Ruck.

Ruck finished second in the Western Hockey League in goals (45) and points (104) while playing alongside his twin brother Markus. Both brothers are committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2027-28 season.

Calgary has two picks in the opening round and Button has the Flames selecting Prince George Cougars defenceman Carson Carels sixth overall and then Spokane Chiefs forward Chase Harrington at No. 30.

Carels scored 20 goals with 73 points in 58 games for Prince George last season. He also earned bronze medals while playing for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Juniors.

“To me, he is the left shot bookend to Zayne Parekh,” said Button of Carels. “You could be looking at a top pair for 15 years.”

Harrington scored 28 goals with 57 points in 61 games last season, his third with Spokane.

Two picks later at No. 8 is Winnipeg, who are picking in the top 10 for the first time since taking forward Cole Perfetti 10th overall in 2020. Button has them taking Swedish centre Viggo Björck.

Björck spent the season playing in the SHL with Djurgardens, where he scored six goals with 15 points in 42 games.

The 18-year-old also was a critical piece in Sweden’s gold medal at the World Juniors this year, with three goals and nine points in seven games. Button dubs Björck the “Swedish Nick Suzuki.”

“The Swedish Nick Suzuki is the ideal fit for the Winnipeg Jets as a 2C,” said Button of Björck.

At No. 9 is the Senators, who select Windsor Spitfires power forward Ethan Belchetz. Also armed with two more picks late in the first round, Button has them taking Tappara defenceman Juho Piiparinen (No. 25) and Quebec Remparts centre Maddox Dagenais (No. 32).

Belchetz scored 34 goals with 59 points in 57 games last season for Windsor and is slated to attend Michigan State University for the 2026-27 campaign.

“Big, strong, scoring winger,” said Button of Belchetz. “They just lost one, now they get one.”

Piiparinen had three assists in 29 games with Tappara in the SM-Liiga last season. The 18-year-old also captained Finland at the U18s and skated at the World Juniors in a fourth-place finish.

Dagenais made a big leap in his second QMJHL season. After recording 26 points in 43 games as a rookie, Dagenais scored 30 goals with 62 points in 62 games in 2025-26, taking home the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL’s Best Professional Prospect.

At No. 28 is the Montreal Canadiens, who are coming off an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. Button has them taking Victoriaville Tigres centre Egor Shilov.

Shilov led all QMJHL rookies in scoring last season with 32 goals and 82 points in 63 games, taking home the Michel Bergeron Trophy as QMJHL offensive rookie of the year.

“Shilov to me is a Sebastian Aho-type player,” said Button. “Just really smart. He’s a centre that gets the best out of his wingers.”

***And now we have a trade to announce.***

Button has the Canucks, who added franchise icons Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations in May, trading up to the No. 29 pick to select Liam Ruck’s twin brother, Markus.

Markus led the Western Hockey League in scoring as a 17-year-old, edging out Liam by four points with 108 and finished the season with 87 assists.

TSN’s Final 2026 NHL Mock Draft