Gavin McKenna selected first overall by Toronto Maple Leafs in 2026 NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs chose 18‑year‑old winger Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL Draft held in Buffalo, New York. The selection was announced by pop star and Leafs fan Justin Bieber. McKenna, a Whitehorse native and member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation, comes from a standout college season at Penn State where he recorded 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points as a freshman, after a prolific junior career with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

McKenna becomes the first known Indigenous player taken first overall in nearly five decades and the third consecutive Indigenous first‑round pick. He joins a Maple Leafs roster that finished a disappointing 2025‑26 season and has hired new general manager John Chayka, head coach Jim Hiller and senior adviser Mats Sundin. The club hopes McKenna’s playmaking will complement captain Auston Matthews and help revive the franchise.

Following the draft, McKenna tossed a ceremonial first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, drawing extensive fan commentary on social media. The pick and the surrounding festivities highlight Toronto’s efforts to rebuild and re‑energize a fan base after missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years.