Maple Leafs draft Gavin McKenna No. 1 as Toronto resets around a Yukon star

8.5 per cent was all Toronto had in the draft lottery before the Maple Leafs landed the No. 1 pick — and turned it into Gavin McKenna on Friday night in Buffalo. The Whitehorse-born winger now joins a franchise trying to climb back from a 28th-place finish and a season that collapsed far below Stanley Cup expectations. For Canadian hockey fans, this was not just a selection; it was a major reset for the league's most scrutinized market.

The Bottom Line

• The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo.
• McKenna, an 18-year-old winger from Whitehorse, had 15 goals and 51 points across 35 games at Penn State.
• Justin Bieber, a Canadian pop icon and Maple Leafs fan, announced the pick on stage.
• Toronto became a lottery winner after entering with only 8.5 per cent odds and following a 28th-place season.
• Rounds 2-7 are scheduled for Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. ET, according to the NHL's full draft order.

Breaking It Down

The night began with Toronto holding the first pick, San Jose second and Vancouver third, but the intrigue had built for days. NHL.com listed the draft at KeyBank Center as a two-day event, with Round 1 on Friday, June 26, and the remaining six rounds on Saturday. The official order also showed how much movement had already shaped the board, including San Jose owning multiple first-round selections and Buffalo moving into the fourth slot.

Toronto used its moment on McKenna, the slick left winger who chose the NCAA route at Penn State after dominant seasons with Medicine Hat in the WHL. CBC and CP24 reported that he scored 15 goals and 51 points in 35 NCAA games, while TSN noted his earlier WHL production: 79 goals and 244 points in 133 games over the three previous years. That profile explains why Toronto's new front office saw more than a prospect; it saw a player who could alter the club's attacking identity.

General manager John Chayka praised McKenna before the draft after spending time with him in Whitehorse, saying the winger's ability to break down the game and create offence is special. After the selection, Chayka described McKenna as a young man with talent and character, and said the team grew more confident after meeting him and his family. McKenna had also spoken openly about the possibility of landing in Toronto, calling the fan base big and passionate.

The rest of the early board carried a Canadian flavour. San Jose selected Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg second, Vancouver took Toronto-born centre Caleb Malhotra third, Buffalo selected Alberta defenceman Daxon Rudolph fourth, and Calgary used the sixth pick on Manitoba defenceman Carson Carels. Daily Faceoff's tracker also had Winnipeg taking Stockholm centre Viggo Bjorck eighth as the first round unfolded.

Why This Matters

For Toronto, McKenna arrives at a sensitive point. The Maple Leafs missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016 and have not won the championship since 1967, according to NHL.com. The club now has a new coach in Jim Hiller, a new general manager in John Chayka and a senior hockey operations voice in Mats Sundin, while still carrying established forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

The comparison point is unavoidable because the sources make it plain: McKenna is only the third No. 1 pick in Maple Leafs franchise history, after Wendel Clark in 1985 and Matthews in 2016. Matthews was also selected in Buffalo, and TSN reported that McKenna sees a possible fit with him because McKenna views himself as a playmaker and Matthews as a shooter. That is the hockey logic behind the excitement — not just a famous name on draft night, but a potential new passing option for a team that needs more consistent offence.

NHL.com's fantasy staff projected McKenna for 63 points as a rookie, with 22 goals and 41 assists, while ranking him among its top 100 overall players for standard redraft leagues. The same piece pointed to Toronto's poor puck-possession profile last season, including last-place marks in offensive-zone time percentage and five-on-five shot attempts percentage. Put simply, McKenna's value is tied to whether his creativity can help Toronto spend more time attacking instead of chasing.

What Comes Next

The draft continues with Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. ET. Toronto is also listed with later picks, including No. 60 in Round 2 and No. 69 in Round 3, meaning the club still has chances to add support around its new top prospect.

McKenna's next stage is less ceremonial and more demanding: training camp, roster competition and the question of where Jim Hiller places him in a lineup that already includes Matthews, Nylander, Tavares and Knies. One off-ice matter also remains in the record from the provided reports: prosecutors in Pennsylvania dropped the most serious aggravated assault charge tied to a February altercation, while McKenna still faces misdemeanour simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct charges.

FAQ

Who did the Toronto Maple Leafs draft first overall in 2026?

The Maple Leafs drafted Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old winger from Whitehorse, Yukon, with the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo.

Why was the Gavin McKenna pick such a big deal?

Toronto won the draft lottery with only 8.5 per cent odds after finishing 28th, then used the pick on one of the top prospects available. McKenna also became only the third first overall pick in Maple Leafs history.

What were Gavin McKenna's Penn State numbers?

McKenna had 15 goals and 51 points across 35 NCAA games at Penn State after previously producing heavily with Medicine Hat in the WHL.

Who announced the Maple Leafs pick at the NHL Draft?

Justin Bieber, the Canadian pop icon and Maple Leafs fan, announced Toronto's selection of McKenna on Friday night.

When do the remaining 2026 NHL Draft rounds happen?

Rounds 2-7 are scheduled for Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. ET, following Friday night's opening round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.