The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft on Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, making him the third player in franchise history to be chosen first. Pop star Justin Bieber announced the pick, days after it was revealed that McKenna's walkout song would be Bieber's Yukon.
McKenna joins elite company
McKenna follows Wendel Clark, chosen first in 1985, and Auston Matthews, taken first in 2016, as the only Leafs selected with the top pick. Clark became one of the most popular players in team history, while Matthews set the franchise record for goals. McKenna, who turns 19 in December, is expected to slot onto captain Matthews' left wing when training camp begins in September.
Matthews welcomed McKenna to Toronto via video message. The Leafs missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2026 for the first time in a decade and are counting on McKenna to help them return in 2027.
Scouting report and player profile
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound left winger has drawn comparisons to Patrick Kane for his scoring ability, creativity, and hockey intelligence. He dominated the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers for two seasons before recording 51 points in 35 games at Penn State in 2025-26. McKenna said during a media availability on Thursday, "Toronto is such a big fan base and passionate fan base, so if I do get drafted there, I'd be pretty pumped. This is something I've dreamed of since I was a kid."
Leafs GM confirms unanimous decision
Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said the staff made a "unanimous" decision on taking McKenna. The only other serious option was Swedish left winger Ivar Stenberg, who went second overall to the San Jose Sharks. "There's a lot of conviction," Chayka said. "Through the process, we wanted to make sure that we thought about it in all the different ways possible. We got everyone's perspective, everyone's input, looked at different players' strengths and weaknesses, evaluated the strengths, evaluated the weaknesses, video, data, research and development, medical, just to make sure we're not missing anything. But I think at the end of the day it was straightforward."
Chayka's visit to Yukon
Chayka visited McKenna at his family home in Whitehorse, Yukon, in May after the Leafs won the draft lottery on May 5. McKenna took Chayka for a ride on an off-road vehicle. "I always carry that Yukon pride with me," McKenna said. "I got to show him a little bit of it. I hope he had a good time. He was smiling when I took him up on the mountain. I had fun, and I hope he did." Chayka described McKenna as a "really nice young man, really quality family" and noted his "real resolve around who he is and what his career means to him and his family."
Leadership qualities
Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach highlighted McKenna's ability to elevate teammates. "He drags guys into the fight, if you will, not only in games but also in practice, makes them get there early, makes them stay later," Leach said. "Those are special people. You bring people into the fight like that, it's something about you. He has the ability to do that." Chayka added, "The brain and the talent is evident, the instincts and his raw ability, how much family means to him, his roots, how important it is for him to give back to his community that has given him so much, I think those are all really interesting things."
