Gavin McKenna opens up about his projected No. 1 pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of his 2026 NHL draft

As the Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to decide on the 2026 NHL Draft, projected top prospect Gavin McKenna has spoken about his possibilities and continues to dominate discussions surrounding the No. 1 overall pick. Earlier, Maple Leafs GM John Chayka admitted that the franchise might not simply use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select their expected top prospect, Gavin McKenna, and prefers to explore all possible ways before concluding.The Maple Leafs GM has revealed that the organization is not completely ruling out the possibility, but assured to keep the trade options and will look for every possible way for the benefit of the team. Meanwhile, McKenna has shown confidence in joining the club and discussed the prospect of joining Toronto after the Maple Leafs secured the first overall selection despite entering the lottery with just an 8.5% chance, as reported by The Big Lead on Saturday.Gavin McKenna has opened up about his possibility of joining the Toronto Maple Leafs after the general manager of the team, John Chayka, reportedly admitted that the club is exploring other possible ways to pick their No.1 overall, despite the McKenna hype. However, McKenna stated that he will feel fortunate enough to join the club.Speaking to the Toronto Sun, he stated, “Going to a Canadian market would be pretty special. The situation the Leafs are in right now it’s pretty crazy that they got the first overall pick; their team is probably going to be fighting for the playoffs next year. I’d be pretty fortunate to go there.”He further stated that he has gone through a similar process of media speculation. But the player believes in trusting the process and staying confident in times like this, “We’ve gone through similar things with media and the pressure,” McKenna said to the media. “He’s always a brain I like to go to… He kinda just tells me to trust the process and stay confident. Sometimes it’s hard, but hockey is a big confidence game.” It is to be noted that McKenna has been widely regarded as the top prospect in the 2026 class for several years. He is known for his good playmaking skills and skating prowess, goal scoring abilities, making him one of the most coveted draft prospects in recent years of the hockey world.Speaking about the franchise's options ahead of the draft, general manager John Chayka has made it clear that every scenario must be considered if it benefits the club's long-term future.Discussing the possibilities of keeping all options open for the greater good of the team, John Chayka stated, "I would say the probability is we take the pick just realistically... Obviously, everything is for sale at the right price, but to date, nothing is compelling that we’re seriously considering, but there’s still time."In fact, the 18-year-old has recently recorded 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games. Though the Maple Leafs are keeping their options open, reports suggest that McKenna will join the club as and when the draft begins in June 2026.