The Toronto Maple Leafs were fortunate to land the No. 1 pick.
Gavin McKenna, projected by many to be drafted in that slot, said Friday that the feeling is reciprocated should he end up in Toronto.
"Going to a Canadian market would be pretty special. The situation the Leafs are in right now, it's pretty crazy that they got the first overall pick. Their team is probably going to be fighting for the playoffs next year. I'd be pretty fortunate to go there," he said at the NHL Scouting Combine, per Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
The Maple Leafs made the playoffs for nine straight seasons before a steep fall-off left them with the fifth-worst record in the NHL this season.
It left the team with an 8.5 per cent chance of landing the top pick — and it did just that in May's lottery.
Earlier Friday, Maple Leafs GM John Chayka praised McKenna as a person and player.
"Obviously the brain and the talent is evident. Just the instincts and his raw ability, I think are interesting. And the quality of the family, the quality of the people, how much family means to him. His roots, how important it is for him to give back to his community that’s given him so much. I think those are all really interesting things," Chayka said.
However, it's no guarantee the Maple Leafs will use the pick to add McKenna to a roster that already includes star forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies.
Some are projecting Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg at No. 1, while the Leafs could also make a surprise selection or trade the pick altogether.
The draft is set to begin June 26.
