The Toronto Maple Leafs appear ready to usher in a new era by selecting Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. NHL analyst Kevin Weekes believes the organization is eager to add the consensus top prospect to its roster. His comments came ahead of the opening round, where Toronto holds the No. 1 selection after winning the draft lottery.
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Weekes praised McKenna’s decision to leave junior hockey for Penn State before his draft year. He believes the move proved the young forward was prepared to challenge himself against older competition.
“What I love about Gavin McKenna is the fact that he was playing junior hockey up in Canada,” Weekes said. “He shredded it up, and he said, ‘You know what? I want to come and play college hockey at Penn State. I want all the smoke in Hockey Valley.’”
Weekes added that McKenna exceeded expectations in the NCAA despite being one of the youngest players on the ice.
“He came, and he delivered. I thought he was really dynamic. He was 17 years old at the time, playing against a lot of the best players. Men, NCAA men, 20, 22, 23, thick beards, it didn’t matter.”
McKenna could reshape the Toronto Maple Leafs’ future
Weekes believes McKenna’s offensive ceiling makes him the obvious choice for Toronto.
“He came out and established his offensive game. He made plays. He’s a game breaker,” Weekes said. “I thought he played exceptionally well for Guy Gadowsky. And just around the other side of Lake Ontario from here, the Toronto Maple Leafs are very excited. He is who I anticipate will go number one to the Toronto Maple Leafs today.”
Toronto enters the draft after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. The Maple Leafs finished 32-36-14 and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Injuries, defensive struggles, and the offseason departure of Mitch Marner contributed to a dramatic decline.
McKenna arrives with an impressive resume after producing 51 points in 35 games for Penn State. He also earned Big Ten Rookie of the Year honors and helped Canada capture bronze at the World Junior Championship.
Toronto does not need McKenna to carry the franchise immediately. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares still provide an experienced core, allowing the rookie to develop in a top-six role without overwhelming pressure.
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For general manager John Chayka, the first overall pick represents more than adding elite talent. It offers an opportunity to accelerate the organization’s turnaround with a player widely viewed as one of hockey’s premier young offensive talents.
