Gavin McKenna goes No. 1 in a trade-heavy 2026 NHL draft
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 at Buffalo's KeyBank Center, making the Yukon-born forward only the second Indigenous player ever taken first overall. The opening round featured heavy trade movement as Toronto weighed adding another top-10 selection. McKenna headlines a first round that reset timelines for several franchises after a week of pick swaps.
Key Takeaways
- Gavin McKenna went first to Toronto; Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra followed at Nos. 2 and 3.
- The Guardian notes McKenna is only the second Indigenous player selected No. 1 in NHL draft history.
- NHL.com analysis pegged McKenna as the class's top offensive driver after 51 points in 35 NCAA games.
- GM John Chayka explored a second top-10 pick but said he does not anticipate trading Morgan Rielly.
- Buffalo, San Jose and St. Louis were among teams that traded into premium first-round slots.
Who went No. 1 in the 2026 NHL draft?
The Maple Leafs used the lottery-winning selection on Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna at KeyBank Center, per NHL.com's first-round tracker. NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale described him as the most talented player in the class, citing 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games.
McKenna is the fifth NCAA men's player chosen first overall and the first since Macklin Celebrini in 2024. He joins a Toronto forward group that already includes Auston Matthews and William Nylander as the franchise rebuilds under GM John Chayka.
Why does Gavin McKenna's selection matter historically?
The Guardian reported that McKenna, from Yukon, became only the second Indigenous player selected No. 1 in NHL draft history. NHL.com also noted he is the second first-round pick from Canada's Yukon Territory, following Dylan Cozens in 2019.
For Toronto, NHL.com noted the club is holding the No. 1 pick for the second time in 11 years, after Auston Matthews in 2016. Analysts framed McKenna as an elite playmaker who projects as a top-line scorer capable of driving offense at the NHL level.
Did the Maple Leafs trade for a second top-10 pick?
Hours before the draft, Chayka told reporters the Leafs had discussed every top-10 pick except their own, according to The New York Times Athletic. He called landing two top-10 selections "a compelling option" but warned the cost could exceed what Toronto was willing to pay.
Toronto kept the No. 1 pick and used it on McKenna. Chayka also said he does not anticipate trading defenseman Morgan Rielly, even after Rielly's agent submitted a four-team list of Western Conference clubs for a possible no-trade waiver.
How did the rest of the first round unfold?
San Jose took Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg second and added defenseman Keaton Verhoeff ninth after acquiring that pick from Ottawa. Vancouver chose Brantford center Caleb Malhotra third; his father, Manny Malhotra, was recently named Canucks coach.
Buffalo moved up to No. 4 via a trade with Chicago and selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph. St. Louis held three first-round picks, while late trades reshuffled selections through pick No. 32. For more market-moving sports coverage, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.