The Toronto Maple Leafs have changed the look of their roster, and the biggest question now is how the top six should come together for 2026-27.
After drafting first overall, adding a veteran goalie and bringing in some depth forwards, the Leafs have a different feel in a few key spots. But the real puzzle is up front.
Where does McKenna fit best? Does he get dropped next to Auston Matthews right away, or is John Tavares the better landing spot for the rookie?
And beyond McKenna, there are still a few moving parts after the team’s rough season last year.
One obvious route is to go all in and stack the top line.
McKenna - Matthews - Nylander
Knies - Tavares - Roslovic
That setup would be a departure from the usual Leafs look. Nylander has typically lived on the second line with Tavares, while Matthews anchors the top unit.
The two already combine on the power play, but at 5v5 the scoring is usually spread around. Still, Matthews and Nylander are the club’s two best players, and putting McKenna with them could give him the best possible chance to thrive.
Matthews also needs a new playmaker on his wing, and the source points out that it is not Maccelli, who signed with the Islanders, or Domi, who is injured and bad. Either way, both of those options are described as far worse than Mitch Marner.
McKenna would bring a different kind of juice to the group. The belief here is that he has the tools to be the best playmaker on the roster and could really pop alongside Matthews and Nylander. Whether that trio is labeled the first line or not, it would be the group running the first power-play unit.
Behind them, Knies and Tavares already have some history together, and Roslovic would slide in on the wing. Roslovic is coming off an uneven season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he put up 21 goals and 36 points. The fit makes sense on paper because of his ability to create off the rush and chip in as both a scorer and a passer.
Another path is to put McKenna with Tavares and let that line breathe.
Knies - Matthews - Cowan
McKenna - Tavares - Nylander
That second line has a lot going for it. McKenna would be the pure distributor, Tavares would handle the two-way center work, and Nylander would supply the finishing touch.
The idea of McKenna learning from Tavares is a big part of the appeal, too. Even without the captaincy, Tavares is still described as the team’s main leader, and one of the oldest, most experienced players on the roster who can serve as a model for McKenna.
That’s the setup the team should open with, according to the source. If the Leafs need to chase offense later, they can always reunite McKenna, Matthews and Nylander for a heavier attack.
The Matthews line in this version would feature Knies and Cowan on the wings, which could be the opening-night first line. Knies already has a track record of working with Matthews, and Cowan is expected to be ready for a full-time NHL top-six role.
There’s also the temptation to put the two young talents together.
McKenna - Matthews - Cowan
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
That would be the flashiest version of the Leafs’ top six. McKenna, Matthews and Cowan would make for a thrilling line to watch, but there’s real risk baked in.
Cowan is coming off his first professional season, and McKenna is just beginning his own. The upside is obvious, but so are the mistakes.
McKenna would drive the playmaking, Matthews would carry the scoring load, and while it probably would not last long, it would be worth seeing at least once.
A final option is to give Roslovic a shot with McKenna and Matthews.
McKenna - Matthews - Roslovic
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
That line could work if Roslovic catches fire, but the source makes clear that he is too inconsistent to be the best answer. The main downside is that it would push Cowan down to the third line. Even so, the second line of Knies, Tavares and Nylander is treated as close to a given - a strong unit that would rank among the league’s best.
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