Photo credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not end up with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, or even the second, but even placing third overall could unlock the chance to draft a major need for the roster.
Two defenseman in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft outside of the contention of the first overall pick are gaining traction as the best available right below the projected top two picks, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
Keaton Verhoeff of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds are two names to watch outside of the first overall pick, and if the Leafs get a pick between third to fifth overall, it could be the exact opportunity the team needs.
Toronto needs their pick to be in the top-five in the draft lottery, otherwise it transfers over to the Boston Bruins, where despite eight straight losses, the Leafs would be projected at the seventh pick, and would have to move up two spots in the lottery to keep the pick if that holds.
What makes Verhoeff and Reid game changing for the Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had a top defensive prospect since drafting Morgan Rielly fifth overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Toronto has drafted a defenseman in the first round only three times since 2012, taking Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, and Ben Danford in 2024.
Liljegren and Sandin have made it to the NHL, although neither remain in Toronto. Danford has time to wait until he becomes an NHLer. Both Verhoeff and Reid would be more impactful picks than Danford as well.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a desperate need for a defenseman, and this draft is deep on defenders at the top, leading with the two top prospects in Verhoeff/Reid.
Scouting reports on Verhoeff and Reid
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to get either of the two top defensemen in this class, they’d be getting a potential top-pairing defenseman with two-way potential.
Verhoeff is a highly effective defensive prospect who has been one of the NCAA’s most reliable defenders despite being one of its youngest.
At 6’4 and 212lbs, Verhoeff already has a frame many NHL GM’s want in a defenseman, while still having untapped upside in his game as a whole.
Verhoeff has six goals, 14 assists, & 20 points in 32 games for North Dakota. Only Zeev Buium, Artyom Levshunov, & Quinn Hughes have had more points in the last decade as a draft eligible defensemen, and Verhoeff is the youngest of the four.
One comparable to Verhoeff is Dougie Hamilton (not the healthy scratch version) as a big RHD with an impactful game at both ends.
Chase Reid had an interesting rise through the ranks to become a top prospect. Having been well regarded but struggling to gain a place in the USHL, Reid crossed over to the OHL where he quickly became an impact PPG defenseman with the Greyhounds.
Reid is a big RHD with a strong offensive game and mobile skating who has a well-rounded toolkit to become a top-pairing, and even No. 1 defenseman.
Corey Pronman, who has Reid ranked as his top prospect, projects him as a ‘major minutes NHL defenseman who can run a first power play.’
Reid has 18 goals, 29 assists, & 47 points in 42 games this season in the OHL. In the last 10 years, only Zayne Parekh, Evan Bouchard, & Matthew Schaefer have had a higher PPG as a draft eligible than Reid (1.12).
The Leafs have lacked a star top defenseman in decades
Depending on who you ask, the Leafs last de facto star defenseman was Morgan Rielly in his prime. Others may say Tomas Kaberle back in the 2000’s, while some may even go all the way back to Borje Salming.
The debate over the Leafs last true #1 can be argued, but it appears sure they don’t have one right now, at least long-term.
Morgan Reilly has struggled to prove he’s still able to be a reliable number one option for an NHL blueline, this season having been second fiddle to Oliver Ekman-Larsson in terms of offensive impact.
Both Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid could instantly better the Leafs. Verhoeff, a potential NHLer right away, while Reid could possibly step into an NHL roster in a year or two.
What other options the Toronto Maple Leafs might have
The Toronto Maple Leafs need for defense may go out the window if they land the first overall pick, with the chance of drafting Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.
McKenna & Stenberg both have the potential to be number one centre options for a team, but alongside Auston Matthews could be high-end wingers.
Stenberg plays a game somewhat comparable to fellow Swede William Nylander, and could slide into a role alongside him on the left wing, the same goes for McKenna, who plays with shades of Patrick Kane.
There are other defenseman who could be options for Toronto if one or both of Verhoeff and Reid are off the board.
One name often put right behind the top tier on defense is Canadian defenseman Carson Carels, the World Juniors defender also a potential option to go in the top-five of this year’s draft.
Carels, a two-way defenseman with a strong puck-carrying game, has a high motor and hockey IQ, while being one of the best defensive defensemen in the draft.
Also highly coveted is Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits. Having recently moved from the Finnish top flight to Germany, Smits has been viewed by scouts heavily thanks to heavy minutes for the Latvians at both the World Juniors and Olympics.
Both Carels and Smits come with the potential of replacing Rielly as the Leafs top left handed defenseman, but may not be as safe as Verhoeff or Reid. Smits specifically is a high upside defenseman but carries some risk defensively.
Besides two-way RHD Daxon Rudolph, another defenseman with high two-way maturity, the defense pool begins to dry up past the top 10.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs are able to gain a top five pick in the 2026 draft, they’ll have a plethora of highly impactful, and highly NHL projectable defensemen to be the next great leader on the Leafs blueline.
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Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid are the answer to the Leafs’ 10-year search for a No. 1 defenseman
Who would be the better defenseman for the Leafs to draft?