NHL Draft sees Toronto select Gavin McKenna first overall

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jun 29, 2026, 12:17 PM

Last updated Jun 29, 2026

NHL Draft sees Toronto select Gavin McKenna first overall
Summary

The 2026 NHL Draft concluded with Toronto selecting Gavin McKenna first overall at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The San Jose Sharks had a notable draft, landing Ivar Stenberg second overall and Keaton Verhoff. Other key trades included John Carlson moving to Carolina and Pavel Dorofeyev heading to the Rangers. The Tampa Bay Lightning were criticized for their draft strategy, while the Edmonton Oilers failed to address pressing needs. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted well, including Xavier Villeneuve, who is expected to contribute positively alongside Connor Bedard.

Source Links
By the Numbers
  • Gavin McKenna drafted first by the Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Ivar Stenberg selected second by the San Jose Sharks
  • John Carlson traded to Carolina
  • Tampa Bay Lightning criticized for draft choices
  • Chicago Blackhawks draft Xavier Villeneuve
Latest Updates
  • 12:17 PMYahoo SportsBiggest winners & losers from 2026 NHL Draft
What they're saying
"

The NHL draft has concluded, and many teams were seen as winners, while some didn’t identify talent as well. Gavin McKenna went first overall and was the first Big Ten player to be drafted since Owen Power in 2021. There…

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days