Well it was the biggest open secret over the past few weeks but the Maple Leafs have officially drafted Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Friday night is a night to remember for all involved. Whether you're picked first or 32nd, the chance to go in the first round of the NHL Draft is memory that lasts forever and though an NHL career isn't guaranteed; it's the first step in getting your foot in the door.
This year's class has some seriously incredible talent headlined by Gavin McKenna who is the consensus #1 pick, as well as Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid - both of whom are giving McKenna a run for his money however Maple Leafs GM John Chayka mentioned the team was firm in their decision and it's more of when, not who.
Toronto selects Gavin McKenna first overall as the team ushers in a brand new era
Well, that when is now.
And with the first pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs select...of course, Gavin McKenna from Penn State (NCAA) first overall:
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The Maple Leafs had Justin Bieber decide to select McKenna, apropos given that McKenna was using Bieber's 'Yukon' song.
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McKenna prior to the draft was getting a bit anxious and showed off some of his charming personality as the clock ticked away:
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He was also seen taking a call just moments before being selected first overall, as emotions took over:
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Auston Matthews also made a video appearance to congratulate McKenna and said he looked forward to getting to play with him soon:
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It was pretty much an open secret that Toronto was going to take McKenna given how much time they've invested him and both parties have seemingly both relayed their excitement to the media with Chayka's confident nature and McKenna's 'villainous' attitude.
The announcement was made by Auston Matthews/Mats Sundin/John Chayka/Celebrity and though it's a decentralized, McKenna doesn't have to worry about technical glitches, as he'll be interviewed front and centre on the stage.
Gavin McKenna, welcome to the Toronto Maple Leafs!
Let's take a quick breakdown of what Maple Leafs fans will see from McKenna:
Age: 18
Hometown: Whitehorse, YK
Height: 5-foot-11.25 (Combine)
Weight: 170 pounds (Combine)
2025-26 Season: Penn State (35 GP, 51 points)
Well, what else can you say about the generational McKenna that hasn't already been touched on. His on-ice vision and anticipation is second to none, he's got a knack for consistently finding his teammates, has a creative mind the likes we haven't seen in Toronto, and on top of it? He's a fantastic human being.
But what we're here for is the hockey, and from some clips of McKenna it's clearly obvious why he went first overall after so much hype:
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That clip above was a recent skating session that shows just how quick, nimble and dextrous McKenna is while giving fans a first-person look at what opponents see up the ice.
That's scary enough but when he's pulling off moves like a Michigan goal, or a spinning-no-look pass to a wide open streaking teammate (who no one else saw) he's a completely different beast:
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It's going to take a bit of time for him to acclimate to the NHL routine but there's a very good shot that happens much sooner than later, and for the Maple Leafs they certainly found themselves a franchise cornerstone nearly 10 years to the day they took Auston Matthews.
Welcome to Toronto, Gavin McKenna!
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Maple Leafs used a stack of Oreos to reveal who they're taking first overall