Top NHL Prospect Gavin McKenna Addresses Potential Maple Leafs Draft Selection
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after winning the lottery earlier this month, giving the franchise some relief after they missed the playoffs entirely for the first time in a decade.
The lottery results marked a significant moment for the Leafs, who entered the lottery with just an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first pick and now have the opportunity to add another potential cornerstone player to pair with former No. 1 pick and current team captain Auston Matthews.
Shortly after the lottery, all attention shifted to Gavin McKenna, who is widely considered the top prospect available in this year's draft class and should go to the Leafs if things develop as expected.
On Wednesday, McKenna addressed the possibility of joining the Maple Leafs organization during an interview with TSN at the Memorial Cup.
"Obviously, it's the biggest hockey market in the world, so that'd be pretty cool," McKenna said. "I'd be very honored. I hear good things about Toronto. I've talked to some people, and it sounds like an amazing place."
The 18-year-old has built his reputation as a dynamic playmaking left winger, producing 129 points in 56 games with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers before playing one year at Penn State in the NCAA.
"That would be pretty cool, I would be very honoured"
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 28, 2026
Gavin McKenna on potentially being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. #MemorialCuppic.twitter.com/e9vakNKnTH
At Penn State, he scored 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games, finishing among the top scorers in the Division I despite adjusting to a new level of competition and appearing in fewer games than most of the other top point-scorers in the NCAA.
Toronto's draft position presents a potential turning point for a franchise that endured one of the most disappointing seasons league-wide, finishing with just 78 points and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference after nine consecutive postseason trips.
The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place in Buffalo's KeyBank Center on June 26-27.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM.