Toronto Maple Leafs win NHL Draft Lottery, become likely landing spot for Gavin McKenna
The 2026 NHL Draft may still be a month away, but Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna’s likely landing spot became known Tuesday night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery, cementing their status at the top of the draft with the No. 1 overall pick — and making them the likely landing spot for McKenna. The Maple Leafs had an 8.5% chance of winning the lottery, good for fifth best among the 16 non-playoff teams who were eligible. Had the Leafs fallen out of the top five, they would have sent their pick to the Boston Bruins.
Toronto went 32-36-14 this season, finishing last in the Atlantic Division and second to last in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs last had the first pick a decade ago when they took center Auston Matthews, who has become one of the best players in the NHL and has been the subject of trade rumors with the team’s downturn.
While Matthews’ future is up in the air, landing McKenna would give Toronto a franchise cornerstone to begin the post-Matthews era if the Leafs choose to do so.
McKenna is highly likely to begin his career with Toronto next season, but it is possible the Leafs could want him to spend another year in college. Following Penn State’s season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament, he told the Centre Daily Times he would do whatever his new team asked.
While the destination is known, McKenna won’t officially hear his name called until June 26, when the first round will take place in Buffalo, New York.
