Writing about this team right now is almost therapeutic, which is fantastic considering that six weeks ago I didn’t want to put pen to paper at all. If nothing else it’s a distraction from the fact that everywhere you look you get the narrative that the little twerp that bailed on this franchise was abandoned by this franchise, which is simply not true. This franchise and it’s fan base gave everything to core of this team and received nothing in return.
Dark Times, indeed.
So, while we all wait for draft day to arrive so the Leafs can use their 1st overall selection to pick, I assume, Gavin McKenna, which will further distract the masses and could spark a future that contains an entirely new core, we also have to look towards rounds 2 and 3. These players could be a big part of the future of this franchise and it may come quickly. Auston Matthews has just two season’s left on his contract, John Tavares is aging, Morgan Rielly may be on a different roster within the next few months, weeks or even days and William Nylander, one would think, would agree to move along if the rest of his posse leaves town. The hopeful trade return’s from those players, combined with McKenna and a few other young players already in the system, could make up a newer, better core and one player that could really help on the defensive side of the future Leafs is…
Ethan MacKenzi
Position: Left Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 188lbs
MacKenzie is a bit of a household name amongst Canadian hockey fans now. He enjoyed a breakout season this year for the Edmonton Oil Kings, which allowed him to crack team Canada’s roster at the World Junior Championships. He entered the tournament in more of a depth role, but the coaching staff ended up trusting him so much that he climbed into a more prominent role over his 7 games. He finished the tournament with 1 goal and 5pts, while also being a steady defensive presence and capable puck mover.
MacKenzie is generally ranked to go in the late 2nd to late 3rd round of the NHL draft, mostly due to the fact that he is an overage prospect. If he were younger (he’ll be 20 in September) he’d be ranked much higher, but it’s that maturity that makes him so appealing. He could be available to an NHL roster sooner than some around him in the draft. MacKenzie possess solid speed, great skating ability and top end work ethic and hustle. He closes on opponents quickly and has a great stick that allows him to break up plays before moving the puck up ice. His first pass is clean, as he’s more than just a defensive defender, but rather one that looks for the outlet first, instead of simply throwing the puck out of the defensive zone.
With that said, his NHL offensive production will likely be generated from that first pass and breakout ability, which could mean secondary assists and not a lot of powerplay time. While he did produce 22 goals and 58pts in 59 games this season, he doesn’t project to be a big time goal scorer at the NHL level. Many have him pigeon holed as a 3rd pair defender, but if he can continue to develop quickly at the University of North Dakota, where he is committed to play for the 2026-27 season already, then there’s nothing stopping him from climbing into a top 4 role in the NHL. Even then, he’d be more of a complementary player than somebody that can carry the play on his own. What Devon Toews is to Cale Makar, or Brent Seabrook to Duncan Keith, if you will. That may sound as if I’m diminishing his value, but I’m not, as Toews and Seabrook are/were fantastic players and you’d be lucky to have a similar skater on your roster.