Diehard Maple Leafs Fan Justin Bieber Announces Gavin McKenna as No.1 Pick by Team in 2026 Draft

Gavin McKenna was tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games this season.

Diehard Maple Leafs Fan Justin Bieber Announces Gavin McKenna as No.1 Pick by Team in 2026 Draft

Gavin McKenna and Justin Bieber (Image via NHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday selected Gavin McKenna as the No.1 draft pick. This announcement was made by popular music star and diehard Maple Leafs fan, Justin Bieber.

The Toronto-based side is currently in the middle of an overhaul. In May, the Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) announced the hiring of Mats Sundin and John Chayka.

While Sundin was announced as the new senior executive advisor, Chayka was named as the general manager. He thus became the 19th GM in franchise history.

Two days later, the team won the NHL Draft lottery. While social media was left divided with this, many expected the team to select McKenna as the No.1 pick.

That’s exactly what happened. At the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center, the team selected him as the No.1 overall pick.

They, however, had a unique way to announce it. Among the crowd present at Buffalo, New York, was Justin Bieber. The 32-year-old pop star is a huge fan of the Maple Leafs and has shown his love for the team on many occasions.

On Friday, he had the honor of announcing Gavin McKenna as the No.1 pick. After sharing the stage with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the Canadian international took the mic and announced that the Maple Leafs would like to draft him.

Mr. McKenna, we would like to draft you to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Justin Bieber announced on stage as Maple Leafs drafted Gavin McKenna

McKenna, who was drafted as the No.1 pick by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), scripted history. He became just the 3rd player, after Connor Bedard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to be drafted as the No.1 pick in the WHL and the NHL draft.

The 18-year-old was the 6th youngest player in men’s college hockey this season. As per reports from NHL.com, he was tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games. He was also the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year in the 2024-25 season while playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Speaking of the draft, Ivar Stenberg was picked No.2 by the San Jose Sharks. Center Caleb Malhotra was selected No.3 by the Vancouver Canucks. Earlier this month, his father, Manny Malhotra, was named as the head coach of the team.

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Gavin McKenna received warm welcome from current Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews

The moment the Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery, it was clear that they would go for Gavin McKenna as the No.1 pick. After he got drafted No.1, he received a warm welcome from current team captain Auston Matthews.

Auston Matthews and Gavin McKenna
Auston Matthews and Gavin McKenna (Image via X/@NHL)

In a video message, the American international expressed that the team could not wait for him to get started in Toronto.

Congratulations, we’re just as excited to have you join the Maple Leafs, and cannot wait to get started. You’re coming to a franchise with an amazing history and fanbase and we’re all working to write the next great chapter together, and you’re going to be a very important part of that.

Auston Matthews said regarding Gavin McKenna

Coincidentally, this is the same arena where the Maple Leafs drafted Matthews as the No.1 pick in 2016. Since then, the forward has gone on to become one of the top names in the NHL and currently leads the team as their captain.

This is also just the third time the Maple Leafs have gone No.1 in the draft. Apart from him and Matthews, the other name the team drafted as the No.1 overall was Wendel Clark in 1985. He was later traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1994.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, the team had a season to forget in 2025-26. They finished last in the Atlantic Division with a 32-36-14 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

They later sacked the head coach, Craig Berube. A few days ago, the team announced Jim Hiller as the new head coach.

It will be interesting to see how the Maple Leafs bounce back from the disappointments of last season. With McKenna in their team, they would be hoping for a swift response and to get back into playoff action.

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