The 2026 NHL Draft is two days away, and Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna is expected to go No. 1 overall to kick off the two-day event.
Here's everything you need to know about the draft and the Nittany Lions' 2025-26 star freshman:
How to watch the 2026 NHL Draft Round 1
- Date:Â Friday, June 26
- Time:Â 7 p.m. ET
- Venue:Â KeyBank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
- How to Watch (TV):Â ESPN
- Streaming:Â ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
2026 NHL Draft Round 1 Draft Order
Following the Carolina Hurricanes' Game 6 win versus the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft was officially set. From No. 1 overall to No. 32 overall, here's where the teams will pick in Round 1:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. New York Rangers
6. Calgary Flames
7. Seattle Kraken
8. Winnipeg Jets
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Nashville Predators
11. St. Louis Blues
12. New Jersey Devils
13. New York Islanders
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. St. Louis Blues (from Detroit Red Wings)
16. Washington Capitals
17. Los Angeles Kings
18. Washington Capitals (from Anaheim Ducks)
19. Utah Mammoth
20. Buffalo Sabres (from Edmonton Oilers via San Jose Sharks)
21. Philadelphia Flyers
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Boston Bruins
24. Vancouver Canucks (from Minnesota Wild)
25. Ottawa Senators (from Tampa Bay Lightning via Seattle Kraken via Florida Panthers)
26. New York Rangers (from Dallas Stars via Carolina Hurricanes)
27. San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo Sabres)
28. Montreal Canadiens
29. St. Louis Blues (from Colorado Avalanche via New York Islanders)
30. Calgary Flames (from Vegas Golden Knights)
31. Carolina Hurricanes
32. Ottawa Senators
Gavin McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs betting odds
McKenna is projected to go No. 1 overall to the Maple Leafs on Friday. While there has been some talk of forward Ivar Stenberg overtaking that top spot, FanDuel doesn't even list a betting option for the first overall pick.
Instead, McKenna has his own section of betting odds regarding his NHL future given the forward plays in at least one game for any franchise in 2026-27.
- McKenna to record 20-plus goals: -245
- McKenna to record 25-plus goals: +196
- McKenna to record 30-plus goals: +600
- McKenna to record 50-plus points: -700
- McKenna to record 55-plus points: -250
- McKenna to record 60-plus points: +140
- McKenna to record 70-plus points: +750
- McKenna to record 30-plus goals and Maple Leafs make the playoffs: +500
- McKenna to record 30-plus goals and Maple Leafs win Atlantic Division: +1,300
Key facts and stats about Gavin McKenna
- Height: 5-foot-11
- Weight: 170 pounds
- Age: 18
- Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
- Position: Left-wing forward
- 2025-26 stats (Penn State): 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists), five power play goals, two game winners, five blocks
- Accolades: 2026 Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist, Big Ten Scoring Champion (38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists in 24 Big Ten matchups), Big Ten Freshman of the Year, B1G All-Freshman Team (unanimous selection), All-B1G Second Team, two-time HCA National Rookie of the Month, four-time Big Ten Star of the Week (two-time First Star honoree), Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team
- Record-setter: Penn State single-season record in assists (36), set program freshman record for points (51) and assists (36), third player in program history to hit 50-point mark in a single season, single-game Penn State records in points and assists (eight and seven, respectively, vs. Ohio State), single-game point record in NCAA Divison I history in 39 years (eight vs. Ohio State), single-game assist record in NCAA Division I history since 1983 (seven vs. Ohio State), Big Ten point and assist records (vs. Ohio State)
How to watch the 2026 NHL Draft Rounds 2-7
- Date:Â Saturday, June 27
- Time:Â 11 a.m. ET
- Venue: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
- Streaming: NHL Network, ESPN+, Sportsnet
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