Following a group decision between Hockey Canada and Gavin McKenna’s camp, it’s been confirmed that the projected first overall pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft won’t represent his country during the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Instead of following Sidney Crosby’s example in joining Canada at the Worlds, McKenna will stay in North America preparing for the Combine and pre-draft events.
“[McKenna] and his agent decided it would be better for the top prospect to stay home and work on his goal of adding strength and mass over the offseason,” as reported by Tom Hunter on his X account. “Committing to playing in the World Championship is more than a month long process.“
The Toronto Maple Leafs own the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, and it seems like a given that they will select the 18-year-old out of Penn State. According to reports, the Maple Leafs have no worries about McKenna. The winger’s abilities and playmaking leave little room for doubt around the league.
McKenna’s size is reason for concern
If there is one asterisk—and perhaps the main reason behind the speculation surrounding his draft stock—it is his size. McKenna is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, according to NHL.com. Barring an unprecedented growth spurt between now and June 26, McKenna will not be any taller by the time the Maple Leafs announce their pick at KeyBank Center. However, he can still get bigger and stronger.
Gavin McKenna at 2026 IIHF World Juniors.
That appears to be the goal, and one major reason why McKenna has not flown across the Atlantic to join Team Canada in Switzerland for the 2026 IIHF World Championship. If there is a silver lining for McKenna that should keep him confident about being selected first overall, it is the fact that his biggest competition, Ivar Stenberg, is not much bigger than he is. According to Elite Prospects, Stenberg is listed at 6-foot-0 and 181 pounds.
The two best prospects in this year’s class are undersized wingers, which leaves room for speculation. A 6-foot-2 center like Caleb Malhotra could give them a run for their money for the No. 1 spot, but for now, McKenna still appears to have the upper hand.
No McKenna vs Stenberg showdown
While stepping down from Team Canada’s roster for the World Championship may be the right decision for McKenna, fans across the globe would have loved to see him play alongside the likes of Crosby and Celebrini on a major international stage. Moreover, when Canada makes its debut against Sweden in Group B, everybody will wonder what could have been, as Stenberg will be on the ice while McKenna will not.
The top two prospects in the 2026 draft class could have headlined a showdown that likely would have been the first of many. Instead, Sweden’s top forward line—featuring Viggo Björck at center with Ivar Stenberg and Lucas Raymond on the wings—will have an average age of 20 years old. Meanwhile, it will go up against Canada’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, and Mark Scheifele, whose average age is 30 and which combines for 2,846 NHL points.
It does not sound like a fair matchup, but it might be the perfect setting for Stenberg and Björck to send a message. Who knows? Maybe it shakes up draft projections.
