I disagree. McKenna is exactly what they need. Leadership skills and a player that would be a spiritual leader. It’s more than just offense. There needs to be accountability and someone that’ll lead, not follow. By year 3, he’ll be a top 10 player in the league. I’m taking that all day long. Sure, Leafs need defense, but that can be acquired in a trade. Get the guy with intangibles. 1st overall picks are a rarity. Use it wisely. Unless someone comes in and offers a 3rd pick overall and a top 10th overall, you don’t make a lesser deal.
McKenna is closer to Nylander than he is to a “spiritual leader”. He couldn’t even lead Canada to WJC gold. McKenna is all and only offense. He’s not tall, he’s not heavy, he doesn’t play defense and he’s a winger so there’s no strength up the middle of the ice either. McKenna is not an intangibles type of player nor is he a generational talent like McDavid.
How much luck have the Leafs had in acquiring defense in trades the last 10 years? Oh right, it cost them top prospects and 1st round picks and they still absolutely suck defensively.
The Leafs can’t tank for another 2 years. They’re better off trading down, getting Keaton Verhoeff and adding more assets to the farm system. Keaton Verhoeff can develop the next 2 or 3 years so he’s protected from the garbage that is this current team until they have a 1st they can tank for again after they trade Matthews and Nylander.