Maple Leafs Draft Gavin McKenna 1st Overall

With the first pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Gavin McKenna from Penn State University of the NCAA.

About Gavin McKenna

Gavin McKenna has been in the spotlight for four seasons now, ever since he broke onto the scene in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2022-23 at the age of 15. Moving from the WHL to the NCAA this season, he continued to turn heads with Penn State, recording 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games.

McKenna’s playmaking, vision, and overall offensive game should make him one of the best play-driving wingers in the NHL. While he had his struggles at the beginning of the season as he adjusted to the higher level of the NCAA, the way he finished and looked at the recently completed NHL Combine should quell any concerns. He should be a superstar in this league at some point. Whether that is one, two or three years from now remains to be seen, but he will get there eventually.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“However, opinions have begun to split over the past several months on whether McKenna truly is a generational superstar alongside Bedard, or if he is the next Shane Wright – a top junior talent overexposed to the relentless draft cycle. Unsurprisingly, the answer is somewhere in the middle, and his story is a good reminder that points don’t always tell the full story.

“When he has the puck, McKenna is as dynamic as they come. He has the vision of this draft class; the way he can effortlessly move the puck to a teammate or find passing lanes through traffic is unparalleled. He anticipates the play, placing his passes where he knows someone will be in a moment, and can pull the puck in and redirect it so quickly that few opponents can counter him. He can read the play in front of him like a book, and knows exactly when to cycle and when to attack.

“Following close behind are his puck skills. His deception, creativity, and patience are also arguably the best of his age group. While playing with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he was a villain, repeatedly forcing the defender to one side before whipping the puck around him, leaving him confused and helpless as McKenna either moved it to a wide-open teammate or fired the puck home himself. He also loves to bring out the no-look pass, which he used liberally when he set the Penn State record for most points in a single game with eight.”

Continue reading the full player profile here.

How This Affects the Maple Leafs’ Plans

The Maple Leafs had long odds to secure the first-overall pick and the right to select McKenna. But luck was on their side, and they now have a superstar winger who should help form the foundation for the future. The organization just underwent a massive overhaul, from the front office down to the head coach. With Auston Matthews’ future with the team in question, McKenna could become the face of the franchise very soon.