Final 2026 NHL Mock Draft Drops by ESPN's Rachel Kryshak, Is Gavin McKenna Still No. 1 amid Rumors?

The long-anticipated selection of Gavin McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 overall held strong in the final 2026 NHL mock draft authored by ESPN's Rachel Kryshak on Thursday.

One day before the 2026 NHL draft commences, Kryshak predicted all 32 first-round picks. Here is a look at her projected top 10:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State (NCAA)

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, F, Frölunda (SHL)

3. Vancouver Canucks: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

4. Buffalo Sabres: Caleb Malhotra, F, Brantford (OHL)

5. New York Rangers: Alberts Šmits, D, Munich (DEL)

6. Calgary Flames: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)

7. Seattle Kraken: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Björck, F, Djurgårdens (SHL)

9. San Jose Sharks: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA)

10. Nashville Predators: Ethan Belchetz, F, Windsor (OHL)

Kryshak is in lockstep with Bleacher Report's Hannah Stuart when it comes to the very top of the draft, as both have McKenna going first to the Maple Leafs and Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg going second overall to the San Jose Sharks.

However, the only other top-10 pick that Kryshak and Stuart have in common in their final mocks is defenseman Keaton Verhoeff to the Sharks at No. 9.

Outside of the top two, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the rest of the first round, and a big reason for that is the fact that the top 10 was shaken up this week with some major trades.

The Buffalo Sabres acquired the No. 4 overall pick in a trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Sharks got the No. 9 overall pick from the Ottawa Senators in a trade for winger William Eklund.

After McKenna and Stenberg likely come off the board first and second, the Vancouver Canucks will play a big role in how the rest of the first round goes with what they do at No. 3.

Also, the Sabres figure to be a wild card, as they could either stick and pick, or flip No. 4 for an established player.

McKenna has been considered the likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft for years, as he posted 97 points in 2023-24 and 129 points in 2024-25 while in the WHL.

He followed that up last season by making the leap to the NCAA and registering an impressive 51 points in 35 games for Penn State.

Despite the fact that McKenna has seemingly done nothing on the ice to hurt his chances of going first overall, ESPN's Kristen Shilton reported this week that some NHL sources believe a "wafer-thin margin separates" him and Stenberg.

Stenberg has already tested himself by playing professionally, and he opened some eyes this past season by finishing with 33 points in 43 games in the Swedish Hockey League as an 18-year-old playing against much older and more experienced players.

While that suggests Stenberg should be able to transition immediately to the NHL and be an effective player, McKenna is still the man to beat when it comes to going first overall.