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By Ethan Carter — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Penn State left winger Gavin McKenna as the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft. The announcement was made by international pop icon Justin Bieber, a long-time Maple Leafs fan, from the stage in Buffalo, New York. McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, has been a prolific scorer throughout his career, validating long-standing projections that he was a top prospect in his age group.

McKenna expressed his excitement, noting the surreal experience of Bieber announcing his selection. The moment was further enhanced by a video message from Toronto captain Auston Matthews, welcoming McKenna to the team. McKenna acknowledged Matthews’s role as a shooter and described himself as a playmaker, suggesting they could complement each other on the ice.

Draft Day Highlights and Surprises

The draft, held in Buffalo, featured a lively atmosphere with cheers and boos exchanged between Maple Leafs and Sabres fans. Bieber, upon taking the stage, was met with boos from the Buffalo crowd as he spoke about his affection for the Maple Leafs. He then announced McKenna’s selection, with McKenna walking out to Bieber’s song “Yukon” and posing for photographs with the singer. Bieber also joined McKenna during his on-stage interview, stating that being there was a dream.

McKenna is accustomed to the spotlight, having accumulated 79 goals and 244 points in 133 games with Medicine Hat in the WHL. He later transitioned to the NCAA, where he recorded 51 points, tying for fourth nationally. McKenna also became the highest pick from the region.

The draft also saw other significant selections and trades. The Vancouver Canucks selected center Caleb Malhotra with the No. 3 pick, bringing him to a team coached by his father, Manny Malhotra. Caleb Malhotra, from British Columbia, finished second among OHL rookies with 84 points last season. He noted that his father was unaware of the Canucks’ draft plans and now holds bragging rights for being selected four spots higher than his father, who went No. 7 in the 1998 draft.

Following the selection of three forwards with the initial picks, including Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg to San Jose at No. 2, a series of defensemen were chosen. Buffalo picked Daxon Rudolph at No. 4, followed by Latvia’s Alberts Smits going fifth to the Rangers. Chase Reid, from Michigan, was selected seventh by Seattle, becoming the first American-born player chosen in this run of defensemen. Smits, who played professionally in Finland and Germany and represented Latvia at the Milan Cortina Olympics, became the highest-drafted Latvian player.

Team Transitions and Draft Format

McKenna’s selection is a key part of the Maple Leafs’ rebuilding efforts under new general manager John Chayka. The team finished last in the Atlantic Division last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since Matthews joined the team. McKenna noted that his goal is to prove himself to play alongside Matthews.

This year marked the NHL’s second consecutive decentralized draft. Unlike previous years where draft picks joined their new team’s front office on stage, this format had top prospects seated with their families in a lounge area in front of the stage. After being selected, each player was interviewed on a couch on stage, with a backdrop representing their new team.

The first round also featured more trades involving NHL players compared to recent years. The Rangers acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas in exchange for picks 26 and 92, and a 2028 first-rounder. Boston obtained JJ Peterka from Utah for two first-round picks. Additionally, St. Louis traded two of its picks to Anaheim for Mason McTavish. The draft opened with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman receiving traditional boos as he took the stage, joined by Sabres forward Josh Doan and NFL Bills tackle Dion Dawkins.

Daxon Rudolph expressed his admiration for McKenna’s moment, stating it was amazing to see him selected first with Justin Bieber.

Source: sports.yahoo.com