Winners and losers of the 2026 NHL draft: Rangers,...
Key takeaways
- However, it wasn't just about the players selected in Rounds 1-7, as a number of franchise-altering trades occurred during the past week.
- With a busy week now in the rearview mirror, ESPN reporters Ryan S.
- You have to hand it to John Chayka, the Leafs' general manager certainly didn't let his years out of the game lead to any trepidation about jumping back in with both feet.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
However, it wasn't just about the players selected in Rounds 1-7, as a number of franchise-altering trades occurred during the past week.
With a busy week now in the rearview mirror, ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identify the winners, losers and other surprises of the 2026 NHL draft.
You have to hand it to John Chayka, the Leafs' general manager certainly didn't let his years out of the game lead to any trepidation about jumping back in with both feet. He's been busy during the past week making moves to get Toronto back on track. The trade for Darren Raddysh (coupled with that eight-year, $68 million contract extension) was aggressive and, perhaps high-risk, but it also gives the Leafs a potential top-pairing, right-shot defenseman that is just stepping into the prime years of his career. That's a bet worth taking if you're the Leafs.