Gavin McKenna on What It Would Mean to Hear His Name Called by the Maple Leafs

The 2026 NHL Draft is basically here. And for the first time in franchise history, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first overall pick. That happened back in May when they won the draft lottery, and the speculation ever since has been relentless. Who do you take when you have the top spot? The answer, for most analysts and mock drafts, has been one guy.

Gavin McKenna.

The Penn State forward has been the consensus No. 1 prospect all season. ClutchPoints has had him at the top of every mock draft. Scouts talk about him like he’s a game-breaking talent, the kind of player who can change the direction of a franchise. And with the draft just hours away, McKenna sat down with Sportsnet and talked about what it would feel like to hear Toronto call his name.

“It doesn’t really feel real. It’s pretty cool. Toronto has such a passionate fan base. If I do get drafted there, I’d be pumped,” McKenna said.

That’s not just media training talking. The kid seems genuinely excited about the possibility, and for good reason. Playing in a hockey market like Toronto comes with pressure, but it also comes with a level of love and attention that most players never experience. McKenna seems to understand that.

The Road from Medicine Hat to Happy Valley

Before he was a Nittany Lion, McKenna was tearing up the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He put up numbers that made scouts pay attention. But jumping from major junior to college hockey isn’t always a smooth transition. McKenna admitted it took him a little while to adjust when he got to Penn State.

But by the end of the 2025-26 season, he was one of the best players in all of college hockey. That adjustment period didn’t last long. He found his footing, and his game took off. That kind of adaptability is exactly what NHL teams want to see in a top prospect.

Nothing Is Guaranteed

It’s not a done deal that the Maple Leafs pick McKenna. The team hasn’t announced anything, and there’s always the chance someone else jumps up the board. But McKenna is the betting favorite to go first overall. The odds are in his favor.

At some point Friday night, his name will almost certainly be called. And if it’s the Maple Leafs doing the calling, Toronto is about to get one very pumped young hockey player.