The Toronto Maple Leafs have picked defenceman Ethan MacKenzie with the 69th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. MacKenzie made headlines in this past World Juniors being a last minute surprise addition to the Canadian squad. He played very well for the Maple Leafs in the tournament with five points in seven games, and will now set his sights on wearing a different Maple Leaf in a few years.
Ethan MacKenzie player profile
MacKenzie was passed over in the past two NHL drafts, finally getting selected in his third year of eligibility. He’s a classic late bloomer and was a pivotal part of the leadership group for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL this season. He put up an impressive 22 goals and 58 points in 59 games from the blueline.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 50 | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 54 | 5 | 27 | 32 |
| 2025-26 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 59 | 22 | 36 | 58 |
Analyzing the pick
MacKenzie is a bit of a gamble here being a double overager, but he really blossomed this past season. Defenceman typically take longer to develop so it’s possible MacKenzie is just a late bloomer and there’s nothing more to it. He had a great season and was steady on the back end for Canada, but the real test will be next season.
Committed to the powerhouse University of North Dakota next season, it will be a critical year for MacKenzie to show how he stacks up against some of the best 20+ year old players in a very strong NCAA conference.
What’s next for PLAYER
MacKenzie will likely play a few years in the NCAA at the very least. Look for him to sign with the Leafs in the next 2-3 years.
