With the 2026 NHL Draft taking place on Friday night, all attention is centered on the Toronto Maple Leafs and how they plan to use the No. 1 overall pick, as chalky as the selection seems to have become.
The franchise landed the first selection in a surprising lottery result after it finished with the fifth-worst NHL record, marking its first time in that position since Toronto landed current captain Auston Matthews back in 2016.
As speculation builds, Penn State standout Gavin McKenna, who is considered the best prospect of the 2026 draft class, has begun addressing the possibility of joining Toronto.
McKenna discussed the meaning of playing in front of the Maple Leafs faithful while talking to the media on Thursday.
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“It doesn’t really feel real. But yeah, it’s pretty cool (to think about landing in Toronto),” McKenna said. “Obviously, Toronto has such a big fan base and passionate fan base. So if I do get drafted there, I’d be pumped. Yeah, it was pretty cool to see that.”
The 18-year-old forward is widely viewed as the top prospect and is projected as the No. 1 pick in most mock drafts. He recorded 15 goals and 36 assists in 35 games at Penn State during the 2025-26 season.
Beyond the external attention and the links to Toronto, McKenna also discussed his work ethic, pointing to it as his defining trait.
“Whether it’s on or off the ice, I really like to push myself hard,” McKenna said. “I think the off-ice stuff especially… whether I get to pull my teammates into it, I like to push them as well.”
Toronto will open the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night in Buffalo, with the first round of the three-day event scheduled for 7 p.m.
