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

sportsJun 27, 202663661

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Justin Bieber announced the selection during the draft broadcast. McKenna, a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation from Whitehorse, will wear No. 72 for the Maple Leafs. His selection marks the first known Indigenous player taken first overall in nearly 50 years and only the second Indigenous player ever drafted first overall. The pick came during the NHL Draft first round coverage, which began at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

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

637h ago

The Athletic11

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 🙏

Super Nintendo Chalmers3

Gavin McKenna is a Martha’s Vineyard-ass name

Rocky N. Bullwinkle2

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

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

787h ago

Quoting this

Douglas Reyes-Ceron100

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 🇷🇺

504h ago

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!

Simon Holmes 🇨🇦3

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

All Out of Bubblegum1

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

🦖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

327h 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

244h 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

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

187h ago

Toronto Star

@thestar.com

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

197h ago

Max Miller

@real-max-miller.bsky.social

Announced by Laila Edwards the #SJSharks select Ivar Stenberg. #NHLDraft

207h 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…

217h 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 ❤️

154h ago