Gavin McKenna was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Friday. The announcement was made by pop superstar Justin Bieber at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. McKenna, who was ranked as the top North American skater by Central Scouting, had been linked to the Maple Leafs since the team won the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, moving from the fifth to the first overall pick.
The draft night featured significant trades and selections, with the Maple Leafs’ lottery win dominating early discussions. The team’s season saw a shift in fortune on May 5 when they secured the first overall pick, despite having an 8.5 per cent chance of winning the lottery. This victory transformed conversations about potentially gifting the sixth-overall pick to another team into excitement over the opportunity to add McKenna to their roster.
McKenna, an 18-year-old with strong offensive skills, has been a projected top pick for several years. His selection is seen as a significant win for Toronto, providing the team with a potentially impactful offensive player. While there is no guarantee that McKenna will be the most successful player from this draft class, the Maple Leafs are anticipated to have gained a substantial offensive talent.
Draft Night Highlights and Trades
The 2026 NHL Draft also saw other notable events, including trades that reshaped team rosters. The Boston Bruins acquired JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in a substantial deal. The New York Rangers, in a re-tooling effort, secured pending-RFA Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas and subsequently signed him to a new contract. Additionally, St. Louis completed a trade with Anaheim, sending centre Mason McTavish to the Blues.
The San Jose Sharks made significant moves, moving up to the second overall pick. Initially, there was speculation that the Sharks might trade this pick for immediate assistance, but they ultimately chose to invest in their future. They acquired the ninth-overall selection from Ottawa, effectively doubling down on their long-term strategy. This allowed GM Mike Grier to select Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg second overall and then defenceman Keaton Verhoeff at ninth overall. Verhoeff, a six-foot-four right-shooting defenceman, was once highly ranked and is expected to play another season of NCAA hockey before potentially joining professional ranks.
The Sharks further bolstered their defensive prospects by trading up to select another right-shot defenceman, Ryan Lin, at the 21st pick. The acquisition of Stenberg and Verhoeff is compared to their previous draft success with Macklin Celebrini and Sam Dickinson in the 2024 draft.
Blackhawks’ Draft Strategy
The Chicago Blackhawks did not make any selections in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. This marks the first time such an occurrence has happened during the tenure of Kyle Davidson. Their original fourth-overall pick was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Bowen Byram. In previous drafts, Davidson had managed to secure multiple first-round selections, but this year saw no first-round picks for Chicago.
Despite not having a first-round pick, the Blackhawks are scheduled to make two selections in the second round, holding picks 34 and 37. The second round is set to begin on Saturday morning at 10 AM CT. The team is expected to consider various prospects, with a focus on centers, wings, and defensemen. Potential center prospects for the Blackhawks include Brooks Rogowski from Oshawa, Alessandro Di Iorio from Sarnia, and Rudolfs Berzkalns from Muskegon.
For wingers, the Blackhawks could look at players such as Simas Ignatavicius from Genève-Servette HC, Casey Mutryn from USNTDP, Chase Harrington from Spokane, and Mathis Preston from Vancouver. On defense, potential early second-round options include Xavier Villeneueve from Blainville-Boisbriand, William Hakansson from Lulea, and Adam Goljer from HK Dukla Trencin. The Blackhawks aim to develop young talent, acknowledging that defensive prospects often require more time to reach NHL readiness.
Impact on Eastern Conference Teams
The draft results and earlier off-season moves are expected to intensify competition in the Eastern Conference. The New York Rangers, one of the lower-ranked teams in the East, acquired a scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev. The Maple Leafs, another team that struggled, secured the first overall pick. Other non-playoff teams also made significant additions, such as the Florida Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk and the Washington Capitals adding both Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch.
These developments suggest that the path to becoming a top-eight team in the Eastern Conference will be challenging in the upcoming season. The previous season required 99 points to qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs, and a similar or higher threshold is anticipated for the next spring. The Winnipeg Jets, holding the eighth-overall pick, were able to select Viggo Björck, a skilled center, after a series of defencemen were chosen earlier in the draft.
The St. Louis Blues also focused on strengthening their center position, selecting Tynan Lawrence with the 11th pick and acquiring Mason McTavish. These moves highlight the strategic importance teams place on securing key positions through the draft and trades to build competitive rosters for the future.
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Source: nhl.com
