Gavin McKenna has yet to play a regular-season NHL game, but the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie is predicting a historic first season.
The 18-year-old and No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft predicted Friday that Toronto will win the Stanley Cup, ending the NHL’s longest active championship drought one year after the Maple Leafs failed to reach the playoffs.
Toronto has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, currently navigating a 59-year drought heading into the 2026-27 season.
“This is the year we end the drought,” McKenna told KiSS 92.5’s Maurie Sherman. “I can’t wait to be playing in front of you guys for the whole year and make sure you’re loud out there.”
McKenna’s comments add another layer of expectation to a rookie season already carrying attention after Toronto selected him No. 1 overall in June. On top of that, many industry experts were already labeling McKenna a “generational” player before he declared for the draft, adding pressure.
Not that McKenna is fazed by it. He produced 51 points on 15 goals and 36 assists across 35 games during his lone season at Penn State, and the winger has already shown progress during NHL preseason.
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
After debuting in a 4-1 loss to Montreal last weekend, McKenna scored his first professional point Wednesday with an assist on John Tavares’ goal during a 6-1 victory over Ottawa.
McKenna will get his first opportunity to start backing up his championship prediction when Toronto opens the regular season against Montreal at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. ET.
As things stand, the rookie is expected to open the season in the Leafs’ second forward line, flanking Tavares on the opposite side of William Nylander.
