Toronto Maple Leafs select Penn State star Gavin McKenna first overall in 2026 NHL Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft got underway on Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo — home of the Buffalo Sabres — and while drafts usually provide their share of surprises, the first overall pick was not one.

The Toronto Maple Leafs "earned" the top pick after an abysmal 2025-26 campaign, and they used it to select Penn State star Gavin McKenna.

The 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, has been the presumptive top dog in the 2026 NHL Draft class for years at this point.

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