The kid hadn’t even unpacked his draft-night suit yet. But on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the Toronto Maple Leafs made him the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna was at Rogers Centre throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Blue Jays game against the Texas Rangers.
The Blue Jays posted a video of the 18-year-old on the mound, and the crowd gave him a loud welcome. Nothing fancy with the pitch. Just a clean strike to the plate. The kind of moment that reminds you how fast life changes when you get drafted first overall.
McKenna’s already feeling the love in Toronto
McKenna, who played college hockey at Penn State, became the first Nittany Lion ever taken with the top pick in the NHL Draft. The Maple Leafs won the draft lottery back in May — their first time doing so since 2016, when they landed Auston Matthews. Franchise-altering picks have a way of repeating themselves in this city.
McKenna told reporters on Saturday that the phone call from Leafs general manager John Chayka was something he’ll never forget.
“One of, if not the best phone call I’ve ever received,” McKenna said. “Just a special moment when you hear that and you realize you’re going first. It’s a pretty special moment and something I’ve worked towards for my whole life, so that phone call was a big relief.”
He also talked about what it’s been like walking around Toronto already. Strangers asking for photos. Fans buzzing about him before he even wore a Leafs jersey.
“Toronto as a city is an amazing place,” McKenna said. “They love their sports, they love their hockey team, they’ve got so many passionate fans. So, I’m excited, and even when I was in the city before I was drafted, people were coming up to me and asking me for photos. They all seem like great people, so I’m excited to meet all these people and just get comfortable in the city.”
What’s next for the top pick
McKenna’s schedule doesn’t slow down. He’s expected to report to the Leafs’ development camp, which starts soon. That camp will be his first real taste of the organization’s structure, and it’ll give the front office a look at where he fits in their long-term plans.
The Blue Jays invitation was a nice touch. A cross-sport welcome from one Toronto team to another’s newest star. It’s the kind of thing that can make a young player feel like he’s already home, even before he’s played a single game in a Maple Leafs sweater.
The pressure in this city is real. But McKenna seems ready for it. Or at least, he’s not running from it.
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