Full Breakdown
Gavin McKenna Signs Entry-Level Deal and Chooses No. 92 Jersey for Toronto Maple Leafs
7/5/2026, 1:40:06 PM
Core Event and Background
On July 3, 2026, 18-year-old left wing Gavin McKenna signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and announced he will wear No. 92 for the 2026-27 season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna was the first WHL player taken first overall since Connor Bedard (2023). He entered the draft after a WHL Player of the Year season (2025), a CHL Player of the Year award, and a 51-point freshman year at Penn State.
Data & Statistics
The deal lists base salaries of $1.025 M, $1.075 M and $1.125 M for years 1-3, a $1.075 M cap hit. Schedule A bonuses can reach $1 M per season, Schedule B $2.5 M, for a potential $13.725 M total. Guaranteed money is $3.225 M (some reports $3.23 M). McKenna’s junior record includes 244 WHL points and 38 playoff points in 16 games.
Official Statements & Responses
The Leafs posted the contract on X and noted the jersey change. McKenna said he gave No. 72 to veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky out of respect for the Stanley Cup champion and said he was excited to join the club with his family.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans questioned the $1 M-plus salary for a player without NHL experience, calling the signing a “huge mistake” and targeting GM John Chayka and adviser Mats Sundin. Some praised it as a “great signing” and urged critics to “forget the haters.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the salary breakdown: some list only base salaries, others separate salary and signing bonus (e.g., $922 k salary + $102.5 k bonus in Year 1). The guaranteed total is reported as $3.225 M in some outlets and $3.23 M in others. Performance criteria for Schedule A and B bonuses are not disclosed.
Why It Matters
The contract is among the highest-valued entry-level deals in the modern CBA, setting a benchmark for future top picks. Choosing No. 92 merges two retired Leafs numbers (9 and 27), honoring franchise history while showing deference to Bobrovsky. The moves come as Toronto aims to rebound after missing the 2025-26 playoffs.
What’s Next
McKenna will attend the Leafs’ 2026-27 training camp, aiming for a roster spot and a potential role with Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Bonus eligibility depends on games, points and playoff performance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Any time you got a guy like that coming in who's been in the league for that long, won two Stanley Cups, I'm not going to take his number,” — Gavin McKenna, Rookie forward
- “I'm going to go number 92. I said that 9 and 27 are up in the rafters and wanted to have a little bit of both in there. So 92, 9 replacing the 7.” — Gavin McKenna, Rookie forward
- “I think pressure is a privilege,” — Gavin McKenna, Press conference, June 2026
- “Huge mistake, Leafs will regret this for years to come.” — Anonymous fan, X comment, July 2026
