With the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Gavin McKenna. The forward was projected to go first overall by the majority of people, and instantly becomes the top prospect for the Leafs.
Who is Gavin McKenna?
McKenna was born and raised in Whitehorse and eventually moved to Kelowna to pursue his hockey dreams. His career really began to take off when he was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. McKenna spent parts of three seasons with the Tigers, where he put his skills on full display. The young forward is best known for his passing, vision, and playmaking. His passing capabilities are easily the most advanced in this draft class. They will only get better as he grows and gains more experience.
This past season, McKenna made the jump to the NCAA. Here, he spent the year with Penn State University. It was a tough year for McKenna as he dealt with some serious controversy in January. McKenna was charged with assault in a bar incident that took place after a game. He was standing up for his mother after she was insulted by another man. In the end, McKenna did not face any severe setbacks. He went on to have a massive second half of the season, leading his team in points.
McKenna has played in a couple of World Junior Championships, but has failed to bring home gold. In 2025, he and Team Canada were eliminated in the quarterfinals. However, in 2026, McKenna had a bounce-back tournament, scoring four goals and 14 points, securing a bronze medal.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 61 | 34 | 63 | 97 |
| 2024-25 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 56 | 41 | 88 | 129 |
| 2025-26 | Penn State University | NCAA | 35 | 15 | 36 | 51 |
Analyzing the pick
The pick was a no-brainer for the Leafs. They are in desperate need of forward prospects, and McKenna fills that role perfectly. Some may speculate that he could be a potential replacement for Mitch Marner. This would be a massive win for the Leafs, as they seriously missed Marner’s playmaking abilities in 2025–26. McKenna will join Easton Cowan as one of the two young forwards of the future. They have played together before in the World Juniors and against one another in the 2025 Memorial Cup.
McKenna will be a significant addition to the Leafs power play. He will serve as the main playmaker with the ultimate goal of setting up Auston Matthews as many times as possible. Hopefully, with McKenna’s scoring touch, the Leafs can get back into playoff conversations.
What’s next for McKenna?
As of right now, it is most likely that McKenna makes the jump to the NHL next season. Technically, he could return to college, but the forward is definitely capable of playing in the NHL now. His current skill set is already at an NHL level; he will just need some time to learn and grow. The Leafs officially have themselves a new young star in town.
