The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, making the Penn State forward the most coveted player in this year's class.
According to CBS Sports, McKenna is considered one of the most dynamic playmakers in the draft and gives Toronto an offensive boost on a team that finished in the middle of the league in scoring last season.
McKenna's freshman year at Penn State was not immediately smooth. After a slow start adjusting from junior hockey to the collegiate level, he found his footing and finished with 15 goals and 36 assists in 35 games. His 51 points ranked third in the Big Ten, and he helped lead the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Minnesota-Duluth in the first round.
Before Penn State, McKenna built his reputation in the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers. In the 2024-25 season, he posted 41 goals and 88 points in 56 games and helped the Tigers win a WHL title. Medicine Hat reached the Memorial Cup championship game but lost to the London Knights.
The San Jose Sharks picked second, selecting Swedish right wing Ivar Stenberg from Frölunda in the SweHL. Vancouver went third with center Caleb Malhotra from the Brantford of the OHL, and the Buffalo Sabres took defenseman Daxon Rudolph from Prince Albert of the WHL fourth.
Midway through the round, the St. Louis Blues made a notable move, trading two first-round picks, the 15th and 29th selections, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Mason McTavish. McTavish was the third overall pick in the 2021 draft but underwhelmed last season. The Blues, who entered the draft holding four first-round picks, made the trade as a low-risk bet on a bounce-back from the 22-year-old.
Anaheim used the 15th pick on right wing Nikita Klepov from the Saginaw of the OHL. The Blues filled their remaining selections with center Tynan Lawrence from Boston University at 11th and center Maddox Dagenais from the QMJHL's Quebec club at 16th.
The first round continued with picks still remaining for several franchises, including the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, and Philadelphia Flyers.
