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The 2026 NHL Draft got underway Friday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo — home of the Buffalo Sabers — and while drafts usually provide their share of surprises, the first overall pick was not one.
The Toronto Maple Leafs “earned” the top pick after an abysmal 2025-26 campaign, and they used it to select Penn State star Gavin McKenna.
The 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, has been the presumed top dog in the 2026 NHL Draft class for years at this point.
TOP NHL PROSPECT GAVIN MCKENNA CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN DOWNTOWN PENN STATE INCIDENT, COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State’s Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
But despite new Leafs GM John Chayka meeting with McKenna at his home, the team was tight-lipped about their decision.
But in the end, he was always going to be the guy who first heard his name called this year, just not until Justin Bieber made an awkward announcement.
Maybe don’t skip the drive-thru next time, Biebs.
Nevertheless, the choice stands: Gavin McKenna is a Toronto Maple Leaf.
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The Leafs certainly have some needs to address. Their goaltending is questionable (though difficult to fix quickly through the draft), and the blue line could use some extra size. This draft featured several players who could have helped in that regard, including Albert Smits out of Europe and Chase Reid of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
But at the end of the day, McKenna is the kind of ultra-talented player you take regardless of your needs.
He posted 51 points (15G, 36A) in just 35 games at Penn State last season, so while he’s not a top line player, he’ll help fill out the Leafs’ second or third lines very nicely.
Gavin McKenna (left) poses with singer Justin Bieber, who announced the Toronto Maple Leafs’ selection. ((Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images))
McKenna will need to make an impact quickly as the team looks to turn things around quickly under new coach Jim Hiller, and he will need to do so under pressure.
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But he can handle it. He’s faced plenty of attention so far in his career, and even some significant off-ice distractions to throw down a solid freshman season and set himself up nicely to be the No. 1 overall pick.
After McKenna, the San Jose Sharks selected Swedish Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 pick, while the Vancouver Canucks used the No. 3 pick on Caleb Malhotra, son of former NHLer and current Canucks coach Manny Malhotra.
