Gavin McKenna selected No. 1 overall by Toronto Maple Leafs

Eighteen‑year‑old forward Gavin McKenna was taken with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The Whitehorse, Yukon native – a former Medicine Hat Tigers star who posted 51 points in 35 games for Penn State – was announced by pop star Justin Bieber on behalf of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs captured the lottery despite an 8.5 % chance, a win credited by new general manager John Chayka and senior executive Mats Sundin, who also introduced new head coach Jim Hiller.

McKenna joins a roster led by captain Auston Matthews and featuring players such as William Nylander and John Tavares. The club also moved on from former defenseman Brandon Carlo in a trade with St. Louis and is linked to future defensive upgrades. In Yukon, fans gathered in Whitehorse and Dawson City to watch the selection, with community leaders and Premier Currie Dixon celebrating the moment as a historic milestone for Indigenous and northern hockey talent. The following day McKenna threw a ceremonial first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, further highlighting his rapid rise into the spotlight.

The pick marks the first time a Medicine Hat Tigers alumnus has been drafted No. 1 overall and the second CHL‑developed player ever selected first overall by Toronto, underscoring the significance of the pick for both the franchise’s rebuild and Canadian hockey.