The Toronto Maple Leafs selected left wing Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick during the first round of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Friday at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
The selection kicked off the annual event, which featured several surprise picks in the opening round and altered player availability projections ahead of rounds two through seven scheduled for Saturday.
McKenna expressed deep gratitude for his family following his selection as the top draft choice before discussing his custom wardrobe choices.
"Getting to hug my family after all these years of hard work and sacrifices that we've all put into this, for it to finally be here and experience that moment, is something I'll remember forever," said McKenna.
The top draft pick also noted the emotional significance of the day and highlighted his attire, which honored his First Nations heritage, before outlining his upcoming offseason training schedule.
"It's one of, if not the best day of my life," said McKenna.
Following McKenna, the San Jose Sharks used the second overall selection to draft forward Ivar Stenberg, who expressed confidence in joining the active roster for the upcoming season.
Stenberg addressed potentially playing alongside center Macklin Celebrini, who accumulated 115 points last season after being selected first overall in the 2024 draft.
"That would be sick," said Stenberg.
The forward praised Celebrini's current standing among professional players, noting the potential impact of their pairing on the ice.
"He's one of the best in the world," said Stenberg.
The opening round continued with the Vancouver Canucks selecting center Caleb Malhotra at number three, followed by the Buffalo Sabres taking defenseman Daxon Rudolph fourth, and the New York Rangers choosing defenseman Alberts Smits fifth.
According to a report by Pension Plan Puppets, the draft order shifts left several highly rated prospects available for day two, including defenseman Alexander Bilecki and forward Ryder Cali.
The Ottawa Senators altered early consensus draft projections by selecting both Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover during the late stage of the first round.
The Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold the 60th and 69th overall selections in the second round, where prospects such as Niklas Aaram-Olsen, Mathis Preston, Simas Ignatavicius, Xavier Villeneuve, and Adam Goljer remain available.
Scouting reports highlight remaining top talents like right-shot winger Casey Mutryn from the US National Development Team and 6-foot-4 Swedish defenseman William Håkansson as prominent options entering the final rounds.
