BUFFALO – Gavin McKenna noticed the video proof fairly shortly.
The Maple Leafs beat the chances final month to win the NHL’s draft lottery and safe the primary total decide.
The Buffalo Sabres — this yr’s occasion hosts — opened their second-round playoff sequence with the Montreal Canadiens at some point after the ping-pong balls fell in Toronto’s favour.
An excited Maple Leafs fan, in the meantime, had already secured a blue-and-white McKenna jersey along with his acquainted No. 72 splashed throughout the again, and was cruising round KeyBank Heart earlier than a pair of Atlantic Division rivals battled on the ice.
The 18-year-old winger from Whitehorse is hoping these crisp threads don’t go to waste.
“It doesn’t actually really feel actual, however it’s fairly cool,” McKenna stated of doubtless listening to his identify known as first Friday inside the identical rink the place the Maple Leafs took Auston Matthews with the highest choice a decade in the past. “Toronto is such a giant fan base and passionate fan base. If I do get drafted there, I’d be pumped.
“It was fairly cool to see (the jersey).”
No. 1, briefly, has been on his thoughts.
“I’ve considered it,” McKenna stated Thursday. “Wherever I get picked, I’m excited. It’s the NHL draft. I get to expertise it with my household and undergo it with them.”
The highest-ranked North American skater in line with NHL Central Scouting has been within the eye of the 2026 draft storm since bursting onto the Western Hockey League scene at age 14 with a four-assist debut for the Medication Hat Tigers again in 2022.
McKenna went on to place up 97 factors (34 targets, 63 assists) the next marketing campaign earlier than main the Canadian Hockey League with an eye-popping 129 factors (41 targets, 88 assists) in 2024-25.
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However as an alternative of working it again with the Tigers, he determined to go the NCAA route this previous season, becoming a member of Penn State and enjoying in opposition to larger, stronger competitors on a U.S. faculty circuit that’s extra structured in hopes of being higher ready for the following stage.
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McKenna received off to a troublesome begin earlier than ending with 51 factors (15 targets, 36 assists) throughout 35 video games. One other bump within the highway got here in February throughout an on-campus altercation the place McKenna allegedly broke a person’s jaw.
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania subsequently dropped probably the most severe cost of aggravated assault. McKenna, who was not suspended by the workforce and hasn’t shared his model of occasions publicly, nonetheless faces fees of misdemeanour easy assault, together with harassment and disorderly conduct.
“Lot of ups and downs this yr,” stated McKenna, additionally a member of Canada’s bronze-medal squad on the world junior hockey championship. “Simply attempting to battle by that stuff and simply block out all of the noise and keep humble and keep constructive by all of it. I realized lots.”
Maple Leafs common supervisor John Chayka, who visited McKenna within the Yukon just lately and is seeking to get the Authentic Six franchise again on observe after a disastrous 2025-26, stated Friday at head coach Jim Hiller’s official introduction in Toronto that the group has selected the primary decide.
“Wonderful story,” Chayka stated of McKenna, whereas on the identical time declining to point what route the group will go. “By no means had a expertise coach till he was 13, didn’t have a skating coach till he was 13, he’s not on the health club till he was 15.
“Simply that Canadian story of being out on the rink, love of the sport, ardour for the sport.”
Ivar Stenberg, rated because the No. 1 European skater, is hoping he can nudge McKenna out of high spot.
The San Jose Sharks, in the meantime, maintain the second decide and the Vancouver Canucks are slated to go third earlier than the Sabres, who jumped to No. 4 this week following a blockbuster cope with the Chicago Blackhawks that despatched defenceman Bowen Byram to the Windy Metropolis, and the New York Rangers spherical out the top-5.
“It’s been enjoyable,” Stenberg, a Swedish winger, stated of going by the draft course of. “(McKenna’s) a superb man, actually good hockey participant, too. No matter occurs, it’s gonna be good for each.”
The Calgary Flames personal the No. 6 and No. 30 picks, whereas the Winnipeg Jets are sitting at No. 8.
The Ottawa Senators, who dealt the No. 9 choice they received from the Florida Panthers within the Brady Tkachuk swap final weekend to San Jose for a bundle that included ahead William Eklund, are slotted in at twenty fifth and thirty second.
Vancouver additionally has the twenty fourth choice, and Montreal owns No. 28, whereas the Edmonton Oilers traded their decide to the Sharks within the deal for defenceman Jake Walman in March 2025. Rounds two by seven of the draft go Saturday.
The prospects have been watching the wheeling and dealing from afar as common managers have swapped picks, prospects and stars over a busy stretch.
North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, the No. 4-ranked North American skater, didn’t communicate to the Sabres on the mix earlier this month, however might now be in Buffalo’s crosshairs after the commerce with Chicago.
“We’ll see what occurs,” stated the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., product. “It’s a ready recreation now.”
It’s a second these youngsters have dreamt about. Now it’s simply over the horizon.
“Very grateful for the place I’m at,” McKenna stated. “If I had been a younger child telling myself that is the place I’d be, speaking in entrance of (reporters) on the NHL draft, I’d be pumped.
“I attempt to keep grateful by all of it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 25, 2026.
-With recordsdata from Curtis Withers in Toronto.
© 2026 The Canadian Press