The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET tonight at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Analysts across the league have finalized their mock drafts in the final hours before the first round. The consensus projection sends 18-year-old Penn State forward Gavin McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs with the No. 1 overall pick. McKenna secured the top ranking following a standout NCAA freshman season where he recorded 51 points in 35 games.
This is the second time in the last 11 years that Toronto holds the first overall selection. The immediate intrigue shifts to the San Jose Sharks holding the No. 2 pick. Front office debates center on choosing between Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg and highly touted defenseman Chase Reid, according to NHL.com.
San Jose enters the night with major draft capital. The team possesses three first-round selections at numbers 2, 9, and 27. They acquired the No. 9 pick in a late-stage trade sending William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators. That transaction completely shifted the full draft order just days before the event.
Representatives from all 32 teams are currently gathering on the floor in Buffalo. A flurry of additional late-stage trades has continually altered the 1st-round selection order. The broadcast is set to go live at 7:00 PM ET as the Maple Leafs go on the clock.