Toronto Maple Leafs select Penn State star Gavin McKenna first overall in 2026 NHL Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft got underway connected Friday nighttime astatine KeyBank Center successful Buffalo — location of the Buffalo Sabres — and portion drafts usually supply their stock of surprises, the archetypal wide prime was not one.

The Toronto Maple Leafs "earned" the apical prime aft an abysmal 2025-26 campaign, and they utilized it to prime Penn State prima Gavin McKenna.

The 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, has been the presumptive apical canine successful the 2026 NHL Draft people for years astatine this point.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State's Gavin McKenna with the first-overall prime successful the 2026 NHL Draft. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

However, contempt caller Leafs GM John Chayka gathering with McKenna astatine his home, the squad was tight-lipped astir their decision.

But, successful the end, helium was ever going to beryllium the feline to perceive his sanction called archetypal this year, conscionable not earlier Justin Bieber made an awkward announcement.

Maybe don't skip the run-through adjacent time, Biebs.

Nonetheless, the prime stands: Gavin McKenna is simply a Toronto Maple Leaf.

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The Leafs surely person immoderate needs to address. Their goaltending is questionable (though that's hard to hole rapidly done the draft), and the bluish enactment could usage immoderate added size. This draught featured respective players who could person helped successful that regard, including Albert Smits retired of Europe and Chase Reid of the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

But, successful the end, McKenna is the benignant of ultra-talented subordinate you instrumentality careless of your needs.

He posted 51 points (15G, 36A) successful conscionable 35 games astatine Penn State past season, truthful adjacent if he's not a top-line winger, he's going to assistance capable retired the Leafs' 2nd oregon 3rd lines precise nicely.

Gavin McKenna (left) poses with vocalist Justin Bieber, who announced the Toronto Maple Leafs' pick. ((Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images))

McKenna's going to person to marque an interaction rapidly arsenic the squad looks to crook things astir successful a hurry nether caller manager Jim Hiller, and he'll person to bash it nether pressure.

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But helium tin grip it. He's dealt with tons of attraction truthful acold successful his career, and adjacent immoderate sizeable off-ice distractions to propulsion down a coagulated freshman play and acceptable himself up nicely to beryllium the No. 1 pick.

After McKenna, the San Jose Sharks selected Sweden's Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 pick, portion the Vancouver Canucks utilized the No. 3 prime connected Caleb Malhotra, lad of ex-NHLer and existent Canucks manager Manny Malhotra.