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Auston Matthews is ready to 'write the next great chapter' with Gavin McKenna

The veteran forward shares a hopeful message with the next Toronto Maple Leafs star.
BySydney Ciano|
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Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Gavin McKenna poses with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and singer Justin Bieber after being selected with the first pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Gavin McKenna poses with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and singer Justin Bieber after being selected with the first pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images | Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna is officially a Toronto Maple Leaf. Though he hasn't signed his contract technically, Toronto is certainly bringing the young star up to the next level immediately.

The Maple Leafs drafted McKenna No. 1 overall on Friday evening, and he's already expected to join their top line on the ice. Slotting into that left wing role, McKenna will be next to center Auston Matthews and opposite of right-winger William Nylander.

Toronto drafted Matthews No. 1 overall 10 years ago in the 2016 NHL Draft. On Friday, he couldn't attend the draft in Buffalo, but he shared a message to the rising Maple Leaf star.

"Gavin, welcome to the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'm sorry I'm not able to be there with you guys today. It was 10 years ago when I was standing right where you are," Matthews said. "I know how exciting this is for you and your family, and what an incredible honor it is. 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 fan base, and we're all working to write the next great chapter together; and you're going to be a very important part of that."

McKenna said to reporters following his draft night that his goal is to play alongside his new captain in Toronto. Matthews' 2025-26 season came to an end earlier than expected due to injury, but he still totaled 53 points on 27 goals and 26 assists across 60 games.

“My captain … He’s on the first line," McKenna said during media of Matthews. "I’ll have to prove myself to play with a player like that, but that’s my goal.”

In 2025-26, McKenna turned his season around and ended up as the Big Ten Scoring Champion and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He logged 51 points on 15 goals and 36 assists over 35 games. Though he'll go through an adjustment period at the professional level, just as he did in the NCAA, McKenna's ability to change the trajectory of his season should give Toronto and Maple Leafs fans hope for how he'll adapt to the NHL.

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