Overview
- The Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL draft lottery in late May and now officially hold the first overall pick for the June 26 draft in Buffalo.
- Multiple scouts and a survey reported by The Athletic show a near-unanimous projection that Toronto will target 18-year-old winger Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick.
- McKenna’s stock rests on strong scoring numbers including 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games at Penn State and 129 points in 56 WHL games the previous season.
- New GM John Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin have begun meetings and a large head-coach search is underway, creating public scrutiny over the pending choice.
- The pick could reshape Toronto’s roster plan and influence Auston Matthews’ offseason thinking, with the team weighing immediate roster needs against McKenna’s long-term upside.