Maple Leafs fans will love Gavin McKenna’s post-draft comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted winger Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. McKenna made his goals very clear in an interview he gave to ESPN.

“I’m a player who makes all the players around me better. I’ll do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup,” McKenna said to the outlet.

"I'm a player who makes all the players around me better. I'll do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup."

No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna on what Maple Leafs fans should expect from him pic.twitter.com/jjGN0naEKv

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 27, 2026

McKenna’s selection was met with much fanfare, as pop singer Justin Bieber joined him onstage for pictures. The young winger was blown away by his draft experience.

“This isn’t what I imagined when I was a young kid,” McKenna said, per ESPN. “This is so much better. It’s a special moment. One I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

The Maple Leafs are coming off a bad 2025-26 season that saw the club miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Craig Berube was fired as head coach, and replaced by former assistant Jim Hiller.

Toronto’s general manager John Chayka believes that McKenna will be a key player in the team’s future.

“Gavin is an exceptional young man with tremendous talent and character,” Chayka said. “Throughout this process, we had the opportunity to get to know him and his family, and each interaction strengthened our belief in him as both a player and a person.”

Toronto has won 13 Stanley Cup titles, and is a historic NHL franchise. The team hasn’t won a Stanley Cup though in more than 50 years, with the last title coming in 1967.

McKenna is excited for a chance to end that drought.

“When you go to a fanbase like that and you do well, it’s the best spot to be,” McKenna said. “It’s the greatest market out there. I’m confident in myself, and I want to do good. So hopefully the fanbase falls in love with me and it’s a good time. I’m super excited and honored to be part of this team.”

Maple Leafs fans are excited to see what this young winger will do.

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