NHL Draft 2026, Maple Leafs take Gavin McKenna No. 1 overall

sportsJun 27, 202693994

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. McKenna, a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation from Whitehorse, became the first known Indigenous player taken first overall in nearly 50 years. Justin Bieber appeared on stage to announce the selection. McKenna is expected to wear No. 72 for the Maple Leafs. His sister made custom pins representing his Indigenous community ahead of the draft, and the pick marks a high-profile start to McKenna's pro path in Toronto.

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft 🍁

6845d ago

The Athletic12

After a disastrous 2025-26 season, the Leafs will look to McKenna for franchise-caliber talent.

Quoting this

David Doel9

A new Leafs era is here 🙏

Rocky N. Bullwinkle3

"I'll take 'Guys who'll never win the Stanley Cup' for $800."

Super Nintendo Chalmers3

Gavin McKenna is a Martha’s Vineyard-ass name

Dan Clyne2

Barriers are made to be broken. Gavin McKenna becomes the first white player ever drafted to the NHL

Marisa Ingemi

@mingemi.bsky.social

Laila Edwards of the PWHL San Jose team announcing the Sharks No. 2 overall pick in the NHL draft

8345d ago

Quoting this

Douglas Reyes-Ceron101

This was cool to see on the broadcast, as shown on ESPN "I should have brought the gold medal"

puck puck goose3

wait i missed it ???? man

/r/Habs

@habsonreddit.bsky.social

With the 26th overall pick in the NHL Draft: The Habs select 6’3, Russian winger Gleb Pugachyov from the KHL 🇷🇺

7145d ago

Simon Holmes 🇨🇦6

I thought that was a Nordiques jersey for about 0.3 seconds.

J.T.5

Dude looks like he brushes his teeth with iron filings.

JD19733

Looks like a man already.

Lane Hutson Enjoyer3

Knowing nothing at all about this kid, I like him already, 6’3 beefy Russian, he’s got some Sheriff vibes to him :) Bobrov has the inside track on Russians, secret weapon!

All Out of Bubblegum2

Reminds me of a mix of Romanov's and Emelin's body checks.

Sean A. Morgan1

Well, now I'm gonna have to learn how to say THAT name.

TSN

@tsnofficial.bsky.social

STENBERG IS HEADING TO SAN JOSE 🦈 Ivar Stenberg has been drafted by the San Jose Sharks as the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

2945d ago

Winged Wheel Podcast

@wingedwheelpodcast.com

🚨 RED WINGS DRAFT PICK 2️⃣3️⃣ After trading Sebastian Cossa for the pick, the Detroit Red Wings select forward J.P. Hurlbert from Kamloops with the 23rd selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. What do you think about Yzerman moving Cossa to draft the Michigan-commit? ⤵️ #LGRW

2945d ago

Zach2

Better than I thought we'd get for Cossa. For once the Wings swing on offensive talent, I'll take it.

redwingsrandy.bsky.social2

I see Jason Bukala had him ranked at #17. He played his entire 2025–26 WHL season with the Kamloops Blazers as a 17-year-old rookie, absolutely tearing up the league with 97 points in 68 games to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL Rookie of the Year. #LGRW What do you guys think??

ericdrw.bsky.social1

Which episode did you have the prospect profile on him? I’m going to go back and listen again

🦖rl🦕

@rlambert.bsky.social

wow, justin bieber at an big event for the maple leafs. this is like the time i saw the barber when i got my haircut

3245d ago

NHL Public Relations (Bot)

@notprnhl.bsky.social

Gavin McKenna, a member of Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation, became the first known Indigenous player selected first overall in nearly 50 years. #NHLDraft #NHLStats: media.nhl.com

1945d ago

Michael Russo

@russohockey.bsky.social

#mnwild draft Swedish 6-foot-4 centerman Adam Andersson. Traded their third and their second fifth to LA for the 83rd pick. NHL Network folks love him at least.

2844d ago

Gianna6

i am ready to go to war for Adam Andersson

Toronto Star

@thestar.com

Penn State phenom Gavin McKenna will don No. 72 for the Maple Leafs.

1945d ago

SportsCenter (Unofficial)

@sportscenter-2.bsky.social

The projected No. 1 pick in the NHL draft, Gavin McKenna, is representing his indigenous community with custom pins made by his sister 👏

1345d ago

Mark Lazerus

@marklazerus.bsky.social

Day 2 of the NHL Draft would take about 3.5 hours when it was centralized, as every front-office type had a 3 p.m. flight out of town to catch. Day 2 in the decentralized era, well, settle in, folks. We're probably in for a long one.

2844d ago

Omar

@tictactomar.bsky.social

I’d like to congratulate the Carolina Hurricanes on their Stanley Cup victory. I’d like to say hello and welcome to Leafs fans watching around the world. With the first pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs select, from Penn State University…

2245d ago

EH!

@eh-now.bsky.social

History tonight. Gavin McKenna, a proud Indigenous athlete from Whitehorse, went number one overall to the Leafs, with fellow Canadian Justin Bieber announcing the pick. Only the second Indigenous player ever drafted first. A proud Yukon kid on the big stage. 🍁🇨🇦 - EH! Canada’s Social Network ❤️

1545d ago