\u201cThe first overall\u00a0pick\u00a0is an organizational pick,\u00a0important\u00a0to get right,\u201d\u00a0Chayka told TSN\u2019s Overdrive.<\/p>\n
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Published May 06, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 7\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n John Chayka\u2019s first\u00a0pre-draft\u00a0meeting\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0scouts\u00a0on\u00a0Wednesday\u00a0had\u00a0plenty of questions\u00a0on both sides, but one\u00a0happy\u00a0certainty:<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The\u00a0Maple\u00a0Leafs\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need a Plan B\u00a0for their first\u00a0selection.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Winning the NHL lottery<\/a> the night before gives them the widest field on first dibs of all 200-plus picks to be made June 26-27 in Buffalo. Not that No. 1 is a slam dunk to be Penn State winger Gavin McKenna<\/a>, but it certainly cuts down on debate reacting to another team\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first overall\u00a0pick\u00a0is an organizational pick,\u00a0important\u00a0to get right,\u201d\u00a0new general manager\u00a0Chayka told TSN\u2019s Overdrive show. \u201cWe\u2019ll\u00a0dig\u00a0in,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be part of the process. At the end of the day,\u00a0it\u2019ll\u00a0be on my\u00a0record,\u00a0but you\u00a0have to\u00a0have\u00a0a good staff\u00a0and empower them\u00a0to\u00a0do their\u00a0job.\u201d<\/p>\n Chayka\u00a0had\u00a0stated\u00a0Monday\u00a0that amateur scouting director\u00a0Mark Leach will run\u00a0the draft table for a second year, hired two years ago by\u00a0Chayka\u2019s predecessor,\u00a0Brad Treliving.<\/p>\n The 36-year-old data-driven Chayka \u2014 \u201cyou\u2019re always trying to find an edge, something different, not play the same game as everyone else\u201d is how he explains himself to old-school resisters of analytics \u2014 is giving his amateur and pro scouts, many twice his age, lots of latitude to opine on No. 1 and the next six picks through seven rounds.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a process guy. Their experience, their intuition, what they\u2019ve gone through, the mistakes they\u2019ve made, the adjustments over decades, are super important. They\u2019re out every day of the year and these (draft-eligible) players, they\u2019ve seen a number of years.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, he has been out of the day-to-day NHL for five years since resigning as GM of the Arizona Coyotes under a cloud. He and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin, the franchise points leader in his first office job, both are playing catch-up for the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always getting the best book on players and I have a lot of confidence in this veteran group, really comfortable where they have things,\u201d Chayka said. \u201c(Top pick) is a big decision. We have to be throrough and diligent, but I have no reservations this group isn\u2019t prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Chayka said he spent Wednesday getting to know everyone around Scotiabank Arena, from assistant coaches to the equipment staff to the team chef. He addressed other hot-button topics in his TSN interview:<\/p>\n His\u00a0alleged strained\u00a0association\u00a0with\u00a0other GMs:\u00a0\u201cThe folks I know, which is the large majority (still in place since 2021)\u00a0I have\u00a0pretty good\u00a0relationships with.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d\u00a0point to my history\u00a0of\u00a0transactions.\u00a0The main theme is when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0trying to make\u00a0a\u00a0deal, there\u00a0are two sides to an equation.\u00a0By no means am I\u00a0looking to make friends,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0trying to\u00a0do\u00a0the\u00a0best for the\u00a0Leafs. But you\u00a0have to\u00a0be honest and forthright.\u201d<\/p>\n The report Auston Matthews<\/a> is not sure he\u2019ll return next season: \u201cThat\u2019s not my understanding. (But) Auston has invested his entire career in the Leafs and you only have so many years as a player, As he evaluates the next decade of his career, it\u2019s important he feels connectivity and has a similar passion we do (the future of coach Craig Berube will be part of that).\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be a good listener. He\u2019s the captain, it\u2019s his room, he\u2019s been through the ups and downs of this market. Obviously, Mats has some perspective he wants to share and there\u2019ll be some good back-and-forth in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Changing the\u00a0Leafs\u2019\u00a0passive\u00a0culture: \u201cLike any fan, turn on playoff hockey and it\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0take you long to figure it out. It\u2019s a\u00a0battle,\u00a0you\u00a0have to be ready physically, mentally for that level.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a reason why\u00a0Mats is a big\u00a0part of\u00a0what\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0doing.\u00a0He knows what it takes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to surround ourselves with lots of individuals like Mats who can bring those elements to the table (cue the Tie Domi, Gary Roberts rumours). This time of year, you need them, but the pace of these games is also noticeable, the skating, decision-making, the reads, escaping pressure, making a play. Our job is not to miss those elements, but also have a rounded team with a diversified attack that can match up well against anybody.<\/p>\n \u201cThe question is not what\u2019s gone wrong in the past, it\u2019s where do we go from here. Use that adversity in a (positive) way.\u201d<\/p>\n Lhornby@postmedia.com<\/p>\n X:\u00a0@sunhornby<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0507chaykaernestsmaller-e1778111629740.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk \/Toronto SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.1.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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