Toronto Maple Leafs select Gavin McKenna as No. 1 pick in 2026 NHL Draft

By Liam Tremblay — 27 June 2026 — 5 min read

Maple Leafs secure top pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs made Gavin McKenna the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, held at KeyBank Center on Friday. This marks a significant move in the team’s offseason strategy. McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, expressed his profound joy at the moment, stating it was a memory he would cherish forever, highlighting the years of dedication and sacrifice from his family.

The announcement of the pick was made by pop superstar and dedicated Maple Leafs supporter Justin Bieber. This event took place in the home arena of the Buffalo Sabres, the same venue where Toronto previously drafted current captain Auston Matthews as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. Matthews himself sent a video message to McKenna, welcoming him to the team and emphasizing the franchise’s rich history and passionate fanbase.

McKenna’s suit jacket for the draft featured photos of his family and brooches honouring his Canadian Indigenous heritage, a gesture he noted was to acknowledge those who supported him. He shared an emotional embrace with his mother, Krystal, father, Willy, and grandfather, Joe Mason, after his name was called.

John Chayka, Toronto’s general manager, praised McKenna, describing him as an exceptional young man with considerable talent and character. Chayka noted that interactions with McKenna and his family throughout the draft process reinforced their confidence in him as both a player and an individual. McKenna now joins a forward group that includes players such as Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares.

McKenna’s collegiate and international performance

McKenna played as a left wing for Penn State, where he was among the youngest players in men’s college hockey during the recent season. He tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points, comprising 15 goals and 36 assists, across 35 games. His average of 1.46 points per game placed him second in the NCAA. McKenna was also recognized as a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is presented annually to the top NCAA men’s hockey player.

Before his time at Penn State, McKenna played in the Western Hockey League for Medicine Hat over parts of three seasons, earning Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year honours in the 2024-25 season. He was one of 175 players who transitioned from the CHL to the NCAA this season. In international play, McKenna contributed 14 points, with four goals and 10 assists, in seven games for Canada, which secured a bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Following this, he recorded 33 points, including 11 goals and 22 assists, in his final 19 games at Penn State. He was the only unanimous selection for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was ranked No. 1 in Central Scouting’s final assessment of North American skaters.

McKenna is the fifth NCAA men’s hockey player to be chosen No. 1 in the history of the NHL Draft. Previous NCAA players selected first overall include Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks, 2024), Owen Power (Sabres, 2021), Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders, 2000), and Joe Murphy (Detroit Red Wings, 1986). He is also the second player from Canada’s Yukon Territory to be drafted in the first round, following Dylan Cozens, who was selected seventh overall by the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Other notable draft selections

Following McKenna’s selection, Ivar Stenberg, a left wing from Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, was chosen No. 2 overall by the Sharks. This marked the first time since 2007 that two wings were selected with the first two picks in the draft. Stenberg expressed excitement about the prospect of playing alongside Celebrini in the future.

The No. 3 pick went to the Vancouver Canucks, who selected center Caleb Malhotra from Brantford in the Ontario Hockey League. Caleb will join his father, Manny Malhotra, who was appointed coach of the Canucks on June 1. This makes them the second father-son duo in League history to both be selected in the top 10 of an NHL Draft, following Darryl Sittler and his son, Ryan Sittler.

The first defenseman chosen in the draft was Daxon Rudolph of Prince Albert in the WHL, who was picked No. 4 by the host Sabres. Buffalo acquired this pick through a trade on Tuesday that sent defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to Chicago. This pick was notable as it was the first top-five selection moved in an NHL Draft since 2008.

At No. 5, the New York Rangers selected defenseman Alberts Smits from Munchen in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany. Smits became the highest Latvia-born player ever chosen in an NHL Draft, surpassing Zemgus Girgensons, who was picked 14th in 2012. Smits was also the only 2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospect to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics and received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence. The Sharks, in addition to Stenberg, made two more first-round selections, picking defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9 and defenseman Ryan Lin at No. 21. A record seven Sweden-born players were selected in the opening round of the draft.

Rounds 2-7 of the draft are scheduled to continue on Saturday.

Source: nhl.com