The Leafs reportedly inform Gavin McKenna of their plans for the 1st overall pick

According to a report from Boston Bruins reporter Shawn Hutcheon, the Toronto Maple Leafs have informed top prospect Gavin McKenna that they intend on drafting him 1st overall later this month at the 2026 NHL Draft.

There has been some speculation that the Leafs would select the likes of forward Ivar Stenberg or defenseman Chase Reid over McKenna. Well... according to Hutcheon, that speculation can end.

Few hockey prospects in recent memory have generated as much excitement a McKenna. The Whitehorse, Yukon native has spent years establishing himself as the projected top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, dominating virtually every level of hockey he has played. After starring in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers and helping Canada earn success on the international stage, McKenna continued to strengthen his reputation during his freshman season at Penn State, where he emerged as one of the NCAA's most dangerous offensive players. His combination of elite hockey IQ, playmaking ability, skating, and offensive creativity has led many scouts to view him as a franchise cornerstone talent.

As the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, the connection between McKenna and the Leafs has become one of the biggest storylines in hockey. Toronto unexpectedly won the draft lottery and secured the first overall pick, putting the organization in position to select the player many analysts have considered the likely No. 1 choice for several years. While Leafs management has publicly stated that it will evaluate all options, McKenna remains the overwhelming favorite to hear his name called first.

Should Toronto ultimately draft McKenna, the impact on the franchise could be immediate and significant. The Leafs have spent years searching for elite young talent to complement their core, and McKenna projects as a player capable of stepping directly into a top-six role. His vision and passing ability would give Toronto another dynamic offensive weapon, while his ability to create offense off the rush could help transform the team's attack. Scouts have praised his pace, creativity, and ability to elevate the players around him, traits that are difficult to find even among top prospects.

Perhaps most importantly, McKenna would provide the Leafs with a potential franchise player for the next decade. Toronto's disappointing 2025-26 season created an unexpected opportunity to reset its future, and selecting McKenna could accelerate that process dramatically. Whether he begins his NHL career on the wing or eventually transitions to center, his offensive ceiling is high enough to become the face of the franchise. For a fanbase desperate for a new era of success, drafting Gavin McKenna first overall could represent the beginning of something special. Even McKenna himself has acknowledged that joining the Leafs would be a tremendous opportunity, calling it a situation in which he would feel "pretty fortunate" to land.