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Maple Leafs sign No. 1 draft pick McKenna to three-year entry-level contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed the top selection from the 2026 NHL draft to a three-year entry-level deal. The 18-year-old winger participated in the team's development camp this week.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs signed the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The signing came one week after the team selected the player during the draft held in Buffalo, New York. The winger has already taken part in Toronto's development camp this week.
Background on the player The 18-year-old recorded 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games during a freshman season at Penn State. He set program records for assists and points by a rookie and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Before entering college hockey, the player collected 79 goals and 244 points in 133 games with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers.
In the 2024-25 season he recorded 129 points in 56 regular-season games and added nine goals and 38 points in 16 playoff games.
Contract and roster considerations The contract allows the player to participate in training camp this fall, where he could compete for a role in the team's offense. The player gave up his preferred jersey number during development camp after the team signed a veteran goaltender to a three-year, $21 million deal.
