Full Breakdown
2026 NHL Draft Combine Shapes First-Overall Pick Race
6/5/2026, 11:48:39 PM
Combine Overview and First-Overall Pick Race
The NHL scouting combine in Buffalo runs June 1-6, featuring 85 draft-eligible prospects. The Toronto Maple Leafs, holding the No. 1 overall selection for the June 26-27 draft, are using the event to narrow a choice between forward Gavin McKenna and winger Ivar Stenberg. The Leafs have scheduled interviews with 51 prospects, including McKenna and Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg, as part of a broader evaluation process.
Background & Context
The combine, first held formally in 1994, has never included on-ice drills because of equipment logistics. Physical testing has expanded over time; bench-press power measurement began in 2018, and the 2026 event adds an isokinetic squat and a 10-meter sprint. These additions aim to provide teams with more granular data on lower-body strength and acceleration.
Key Prospects and Scouting Priorities
- Gavin McKenna (Toronto) – central to the Leafs’ No. 1 decision.
- Ivar Stenberg (Frolunda, SHL) – the alternative forward candidate.
- Victor Plante (USA-NTDP U-18) – benefits from a family history of combine participation.
- Maddox Dagenais (Quebec, QMJHL) – noted for a high-velocity shot and size; projected as a winger.
- Ilya Morozov (Miami University) – a 6-foot-3, 201-lb center projected in the mid-first round.
- Jaxon Cover (London Knights) – a Penn State commit with an inline-hockey background and a 20-goal, 32-assist season.
- Simon Katolicky (Sarnia Sting) – 6-foot-4 Czech winger ranked 21st among international skaters.
Data & Statistics
- Participants: 85 prospects; Leafs interview 51.
- Bench-press power record: Filip Mesar – 9.43 watts/kg (2022).
- Pull-up record: Jack Hughes – 19 reps.
- Horizontal jump: William Horcoff – 124.80 inches (2025).
- Vertical jump: Luke Kunin – 28.98 inches.
- Pro agility: Easton Cowan – 4.07 seconds.
- Grip strength: Sean Farmer – 196.9 lb.
- Wingate cycle: Samuel Honzek – 22.4 w/kg.
- VO2 max: Igor Musatov – best recorded in 2006.
Official Statements & Responses
Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach emphasized that the organization will continue evaluating prospects beyond the combine, using the additional interview week to “dig back in” and confirm the optimal choice. NHL Central Scouting associate director David Gregory noted that the new squat and sprint events “provide teams with more information” on strength and speed. Flyers general manager Danny Brière reiterated the club’s long-term building philosophy despite a 21st-overall pick. Sarnia Sting GM Dylan Seca described Simon Katolicky as a player who can “push the pace” and make an immediate impact. Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky highlighted Jaxon Cover’s “pace, volume and pressure” as a natural fit for the program.
Criticism & Opposition
TSN director of scouting Craig Button dismissed pre-draft hype, calling claims of a “bad draft” “f---ing bullshit” and reminding listeners that roughly 45 players from any draft eventually exceed 350 NHL games.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prospect rankings diverge: Ilya Morozov appears in mock drafts between 12th and 25th overall, while his suitability for the New Jersey Devils hinges on center-depth needs. The Maple Leafs’ No. 1 candidate remains unsettled, with both McKenna and Stenberg receiving strong interview interest but no definitive consensus. The combine continues to lack on-ice testing, leaving teams to infer skating ability from indirect metrics.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ "We will be discussing it after this week, we'll be rehashing it.” — Mark Leach, Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting
- “The first thing I asked them was what kind of clothes I should wear, and they just said to keep it classy, keep it casual,” — Victor Plante, USA-NTDP prospect
- “I’m extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Sarnia Sting organization,” — Simon Katolicky, prospect
- “We've always tweaked a little bit of what the protocol will be just to give the teams as much information as they can get from these young players,” — David Gregory, NHL Central Scouting associate director
What’s Next
The combine concludes on June 6, after which teams will finalize their draft boards. The NHL Entry Draft begins June 26 in Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, where the Maple Leafs will announce their first-overall selection and other clubs will address their respective needs based on the combine data.
