Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna knows how to handle the pressure.
Following his draft night after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him No. 1 overall, McKenna spoke with SportsCenter about his mindset and how he views pressure as a privilege.
As the projected first overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft for about a year, the former Nittany Lion embraced the expectations of his performance. McKenna logged 51 points on 15 goals and 36 assists, earning a spot as a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist. The season didn't end how he or the rest of the Penn State squad wanted, but McKenna learned how to overcome adversity and rise to the occasion.
"There's always going to be pressure in the game," McKenna told SportsCenter after being drafted. "Being a high-end prospect, there's always going to be pressure on me, so it's something I just had to learn over the years to deal with and at the end of the day, I'm just playing hockey. I'm playing a game that I love and grew up playing, so I'm just going to try and have fun with it."
McKenna said it was an honor to be the first pick in the draft, and the last thing he will do is disappoint his new fan base.
"I'm a player who makes all the players around me better. I'll do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 27, 2026
No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna on what Maple Leafs fans should expect from him 😤 pic.twitter.com/jjGN0naEKv
Gavin McKenna says he'll "do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup"
The Maple Leafs didn't make the playoffs in 2025-26, which was the first time since the 2015-16 season they did not qualify. The season prior, Toronto lost in the second round to the Florida Panthers. The last time it made a Stanley Cup Final appearance was in 1967, which was the only season it won the Stanley Cup too.
There's a lot of pressure on the Maple Leafs to not only get back into the playoffs, but hoist the Cup at the end of the season. That kind of pressure and expectation is something McKenna is ready for.
The former Penn Stater could be the piece Toronto has been missing. Heading into the 2026-27 season, only time will tell how McKenna adapts to the NHL and what kind of player he will be for the Maple Leafs.
One thing is for certain, though: McKenna will put it all out on the ice to bring victory back to Toronto.
"My style of play. I'm a player who makes all the players around me better," McKenna said when asked what fans can expect from him. "I'll do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup. That's all I want is just to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto."
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