Leafs’ No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna signs entry-level contract
Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Gavin McKenna reacts 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 One week after picking him first overall in the NHL draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Gavin McKenna to his three-year entry-level contract on Friday.
Toronto paid McKenna the maximum allowed salary under the collective bargaining agreement.
Starting this year, the maximum compensation for entry-level deals is $1.025 million in Year 1, $1.075 million in Year 2 and $1.125 million in Year 3.
Per The Athletic, McKenna is also eligible to receive up to $1 million in Schedule A bonuses and $2.5 million in Schedule B bonuses each season. Both are tied to performance targets or recognition like All-Star selections and postseason awards.
McKenna, 18, was widely expected to be the top pick after a standout freshman season at Penn State, where he played left wing and tallied 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games. McKenna also played for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships, when he notched 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in seven games for the bronze medalists.
A native of Whitehorse, Yukon, McKenna was the third No. 1 overall pick in Maple Leafs history after Wendel Clark (1985) and Auston Matthews (2016).
--Field Level Media
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