Toronto Maple Leafs sign top draft pick Gavin McKenna and aim for Atlantic Division surge

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed the 2026 first‑overall draft selection, forward Gavin McKenna, to a three‑year entry‑level contract. The deal pays $1.025 million in the first year, $1.075 million in the second, and $1.125 million in the third, with schedule A and B bonuses available.

TSN analyst Martin Biron, speaking on SportsCentre, predicted that the Leafs will finish second in the NHL Atlantic Division for the 2026‑27 season. He cited the addition of veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, the expected return to form of captain Auston Matthews after a knee injury, and McKenna’s playmaking ability as key factors that could lift Toronto from a disappointing 2025‑26 campaign.