VP Sports & Entertainment presents: 2025 WHL Player of the Year Gavin McKenna inks entry-level contract with Toronto Maple Leafs

2025 WHL Player of the Year and 2026 NHL first-overall pick Gavin McKenna has put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club announced Friday.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound winger is the first player with WHL experience to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft since Regina Pats star Connor Bedard in 2023.

“I think pressure is a privilege,” McKenna said in a press conference after the pick was announced by pop star Justin Bieber on June 26. “When you go to a fan base like that, and you do well, it’s the best spot to be. I mean, you said it’s the biggest market out there, so I’m confident in myself, and I want to do good, so hopefully the fan base falls in love with me.”

McKenna, 18, broke into the WHL after being selected by Medicine Hat first overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft and put the league on notice with four assists in his debut in a call-up appearance.

His first full season saw him bury 97 points (34G-63A) in 61 games and earn WHL Rookie of the Year and WHL East Division First Team All-Star honours.

The Whitehorse, Yukon product erupted for 129 points (41G-88A) in 51 games in his sophomore spin to finish second in the league scoring race and help the Tigers top the Eastern Conference.

The 2025 WHL Playoffs saw McKenna log a monster 38 points (9G-29A) in 16 playoff matches to help the Tabbies win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions.

He was also named the WHL and CHL Player of the Year and wrapped up his WHL career with a whopping 244 points (79G-165A) in 133 regular-season games.

At the international level, McKenna has collected gold for Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and bronze at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he registered 14 points (4G-10A) in seven outings.

He spent 2025-26 with the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist.

McKenna is the first WHL alumnus to be selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs since franchise legend Wendel Clark (Saskatoon Blades) topped the 1985 NHL Draft.