NHL Mock Draft 2026: Gavin McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs as we pick for every lottery team

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after entering the lottery with an 8.5 percent chance to land the top selection. The San Jose Sharks jumped from No. 9 to No. 2, winning the second draw.Immediately after the conclusion of Tuesday night’s lottery, a collection of our NHL reporters combined for a mock draft of the first 16 picks. This is their best attempt to predict what will happen on draft day based on their knowledge of the teams they cover and what those teams covet in players.The 2026 NHL Draft will take place in Buffalo, N.Y., on June 26 and 27.1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)A franchise-altering talent ticks so many boxes for the Leafs: Drafting McKenna is the silver lining after a miserable season, it gives the Leafs a winger to play alongside Auston Matthews for years — and potentially helps convince him to stay long-term — and it could help the team get new buy-in from a beleaguered fanbase.Oh, McKenna could also make the Leafs way better next season, which was undoubtedly a priority for the organization. — Joshua KlokeAdvertisement