Prominent Hockey Prospect Awaits NHL Decision Three Months Post-Assault Allegation

The long-suffering fans of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs received a welcome boost on Tuesday night when the team secured the top spot in the draft lottery.

The Maple Leafs will have the first pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, a selection that promises access to a pool of talented players. Leading the pack is Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, who is widely expected to be the top choice.

John Chayka, the newly appointed general manager of the Maple Leafs, has been monitoring McKenna’s progress well before stepping into his role in Toronto.

“I’ve been following him for several years, and his skill set is exceptional,” Chayka commented. “His creativity, puck handling, and shooting abilities are remarkable. It’s a strong package, and I look forward to discussing it further with our scouts. There’s a lot of enthusiasm around many players, including Gavin.”

Despite having only an 8.5 percent chance, Toronto managed to win the draft lottery. The team faced the possibility of losing its first-round pick to the Bruins if they didn’t land within the top five. Instead, they’ll now give up first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 to Philadelphia and Boston.

It’s unclear which pick will go to the Bruins and which will be awarded to the Flyers. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly has called it a complicated situation, which has yet to be resolved.

McKenna’s remarkable run at Penn State was nearly sidetracked by a felony assault charge that was later dropped.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will pick first overall in next month’s NHL Draft, when a flurry of top stars will be available. Most notably, Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is expected to go first 

Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland on January 5

The 18-year-old from Canada’s Yukon Territory was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment on January 31 after an off-campus altercation. 

Video showed McKenna punch another man, who suffered a broken jaw according to authorities.

The following week, Centre County District Attorney and State College Police announced that the video was not clear evidence McKenna acted with intent to cause serious harm and as a result, decided to drop the aggravated assault charge, which carried a potential 20-year prison sentence.

McKenna still faces misdemeanor counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment.  

He was at the bar Doggie’s Pub in downtown State College with friends following an outdoor game against Michigan State, according to student news website Onward State.

Toronto won the lottery, followed by San Jose, Vancouver, Chicago and the New York Rangers

Detailed view of the Draft Lottery Percentages to start the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery set 

The website reports that McKenna allegedly assaulted an unidentified individual, leaving him with a broken jaw.

The incident which led to McKenna allegedly throwing a punch has not been officially confirmed.

However, multiple reports indicate that the Penn State hockey team was in a private room at the bar when a person unrelated to the team began verbally harassing a member of McKenna’s family.

Vancouver, which had the best odds at the top pick, will select third on June 26 in Buffalo.

San Jose has the second pick, while Chicago, the New York Rangers, Calgary, Seattle, Winnipeg, reigning-champion Florida and Nashville round out the top ten.

Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg is expected to get some consideration for the top pick, but McKenna’s one season with the Nittany Lions may be tough to beat. In addition to his 15 goals, McKenna added 36 assists as Penn State reached the NCAA Tournament.  

The Leafs have not raised the Stanley Cup since 1967. They last picked first overall in 2016, when they selected American phenom, Auston Matthews.