McKenna Poised to Go No. 1 in 2026 NHL Draft

Gavin McKenna is expected to headline the 2026 NHL Draft as the likely No. 1 overall pick when teams gather later this June. The highly touted forward has emerged as the clear favorite to open the draft, with scouts and evaluators projecting him as the player most likely to be selected first by whichever club holds the top choice.

If that projection holds, McKenna will join a select group of elite prospects taken first overall and immediately step into the spotlight as the centerpiece of the class. The draft, scheduled for June 26-27, is set to bring months of speculation to a close, but all signs point to McKenna hearing his name called first.