Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, is officially on the board.
Tuesday, in the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5-4 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators, McKenna registered his first NHL point: a primary assist on a John Tavares goal 4:56 into the second period. The moment was poignant as McKenna is living with Tavares during his rookie NHL season.
Gavin McKenna’s first NHL point
The 18-year-old sniper then quickly followed that up with his first NHL goal, snapping a shot to the top left corner past Predators goaltender Juuse Saros with 5:29 remaining in the frame. Leafs superstar Auston Matthews and forward Jack Roslovic assisted on McKenna’s milestone goal.
Gavin McKenna first NHL goal
Matthews went on to win the game with 14 seconds remaining in overtime.
“Yeah, that’s one I’ll remember forever,” McKenna told TSN postgame. “A great play by Auston. Yeah, I didn’t even really realize it went in. The goalie kind of blocked it a little, but then when I saw the puck land, it was no better feeling than that.
When McKenna was asked if anything compared to the feeling, he said no.
“I would say being drafted, but that one feels a little bit better.”
McKenna added that he planned to send his milestone first NHL goal puck home to his family in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
“They’ll put it in my little trophy case and keep it there forever,” he said, adding, “That one was for you guys. Love you, guys. That feels pretty special. I can’t thank you guys enough. I wouldn’t be here without you.”
While speaking to the rest of the media, McKenna revealed he may have found a new off-ice superstition.
McKenna’s first goal and first multi-point night in the NHL came just hours after he opened up to reporters about the pressure he felt after going his first three games in the NHL without a point. When asked what his ‘Welcome to the NHL’ moment was, McKenna admitted the league was a big step up.
“How hard it is,” McKenna said. “Like, you come in, you believe in yourself — and I still believe in myself. But, yeah, especially in the Toronto media, with putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. So, maybe that’s my welcome to the NHL.”
McKenna’s goal drought for a first overall pick was the longest since Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, who needed five games to score with the Montreal Canadiens.
“Learning from last year and learning from these first few games is going to be key,” McKenna said astutely. “And just sticking with it, being confident, I know it’s going to come.”
No. 1 overall picks from 2004-2026: Games until first NHL goal
| Draft | Player | First NHL goal |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Steven Stamkos | 9th game |
| 2014 | Aaron Ekblad | 9th game |
| 2010 | Taylor Hall | 8th game |
| 2019 | Jack Hughes | 8th game |
| 2007 | Patrick Kane | 7th game |
| 2017 | Nico Hischier | 7th game |
| 2020 | Alexis Lafrenière | 7th game |
| 2013 | Nathan MacKinnon | 5th game |
| 2018 | Rasmus Dahlin | 5th game |
| 2021 | Owen Power | 5th game |
| 2022 | Juraj Slafkovsky | 5th game |
| 2026 | Gavin McKenna | 4th game |
| 2005 | Sidney Crosby | 3rd game |
| 2015 | Connor McDavid | 3rd game |
| 2006 | Erik Johnson | 2nd game |
| 2012 | Nail Yakupov | 2nd game |
| 2023 | Connor Bedard | 2nd game |
| 2025 | Matthew Schaefer | 2nd game |
| 2004 | Alex Ovechkin | 1st game |
| 2009 | John Tavares | 1st game |
| 2011 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | 1st game |
| 2016 | Auston Matthews | 1st game |
| 2024 | Macklin Celebrini | 1st game |
McKenna has also made headlines and drawn online criticism for missing three optional skates during his first week with the Leafs, including the morning skate before his NHL debut. But those decisions were made in turn with the Leafs, who are looking to manage McKenna’s time on the ice at 18.
