McKenna: First Overall
Toronto Maple Leafs Select Gavin McKenna as No. 1 Overall Pick in NHL Draft
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y. Pop artist Justin Bieber made the official announcement from the podium at KeyBank Center at 7:12 PM ET, according to ESPN.
McKenna, 18, is from Whitehorse, Yukon — making him the first player from Canada's Yukon Territory ever taken first overall, according to The Canadian Press. He posted 51 points in 35 games as a Penn State freshman, a 1.46 points-per-game average that ranked second in all of NCAA hockey, per NHL.com.
From Atlantic Division Champs to First Overall Pick
Toronto's path to the top pick was as dramatic as any in recent league history. The Leafs won the Atlantic Division in 2025, then suffered a first-round playoff exit. A "catastrophic" mid-season slide followed in 2025-26, according to Daily Faceoff. GM Brad Treliving traded core pieces — including goalie Joseph Woll — to the Philadelphia Flyers. The team finished last in the Atlantic Division.
Toronto held just 8.5% lottery odds — the fifth-best chance — heading into the May 5 draw, per TSN. The Leafs stunned the league by jumping all the way to No. 1. It is only the third time in franchise history they have held the top pick, joining Wendel Clark in 1985 and Auston Matthews in 2016. Notably, the 2016 draft was also held in Buffalo.
McKenna's Numbers Made Him an Easy Choice
Before Penn State, McKenna racked up 244 points in 133 WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, per McKeen's Hockey. He then used the new NCAA-CHL eligibility rules to play his freshman season in college hockey. Scouts quickly took notice. His vision and passing draw comparisons to Patrick Kane, according to TSN's Martin Biron.
Some scouts raised concerns about McKenna's compete level after a disappointing World Junior tournament with Team Canada. Critics noted he tends toward perimeter play rather than driving hard to the net. He stands 5'11" and weighs 170 lbs, which some see as a development area, per Pension Plan Puppets.
McKenna Credits 72-Year-Old Grandfather as His Driving Force
McKenna spoke openly about his motivation after the pick. "Obviously, worked my whole life towards this, so for it to finally be here, it's been a special moment," he said in an interview with ESPN. He has credited his grandfather, Joe Mason — a 72-year-old residential school survivor — as his primary source of inspiration, according to NHL.com.
Cultural outlets have highlighted McKenna's heritage as a milestone for Indigenous and Northern Canadian youth. Captain Auston Matthews sent a video message welcoming him. "You're coming to a franchise with an amazing history... we cannot wait to get started," Matthews said, per TSN.
New GM, New Coach, and a Matthews-McKenna Era Begins
The Leafs enter this new era under GM John Chayka, who replaced Treliving in a front-office overhaul. Chayka led the draft table and oversaw McKenna's final scouting at Penn State, per the AP. Coach Jim Hiller also remains in place. The duo's jobs are now tightly tied to McKenna's development.
With Mitch Marner now a Vegas Golden Knight and John Tavares' role shrinking, Toronto is building around a "Matthews-McKenna" axis, according to Daily Faceoff. Rival fans in Montreal and Buffalo claimed the lottery was "rigged" for the league's biggest market. A vocal Toronto media faction argued the pick should have been traded for a win-now player to maximize Matthews' prime — but management chose to build long-term.
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