Story byThe Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.

Penn State's Gavin McKenna signs with Maple Leafs

• Penn State's Gavin McKenna signs with Maple Leafs

The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.Tue, Jul 7, 2026·2 min read

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna put pen to paper on his three-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the holiday weekend.

McKenna, the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL draft, becomes the fifth different Nittany Lion from the 2025-26 roster to ink an NHL contract as he made his entry-level deal with Toronto official Friday evening.

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McKenna joins teammates Charlie Cerrato (Carolina), Aiden Fink (Nashville), Matt DiMarsico (Colorado) and Kevin Reidler(Ottawa) who also inked deals following the conclusion of the season, and he is now the 17th Nittany Lion to sign an NHL contract.

In his lone year in Hockey Valley, McKenna was named a second-team All-American, a Hobey Baker top-10 finalist, a Big Ten all-freshman team member and all-Big Ten second-team selection as well as becoming the first Nittany Lion to win the Big Ten scoring title and earn Big Ten freshman of the year honors.

McKenna was also twice named the HCA national rookie of the month in October and February while earning four Big Ten weekly awards, including first star of the week on a pair of occasions.

Back in February, McKenna set program records with eight points and seven assists in an 11-4 victory over Ohio State, helping the Nittany Lions to their most goals scored in a Big Ten game and tying the overall single-game program record for goals.

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Five of McKenna's seven assists were primary assists, while the eight points were the most in an NCAA Division I game in 39 years. His seven assists that night were also the most in a game since 1983 and the most by an individual on a Big Ten team both pre and post league inception.

The eight points and seven assists were each the most in a single game in the 13 years of the Big Ten Conference.

Overall, the rookie set or matched nine program records this season and finished the year as just the third Nittany Lion to hit the 50-point mark in a single season. He set the freshman single-season record with 51 points, the second-most, on 15 goals and a Penn State single-season record 36 assists.

McKenna finished the season third in the Big Ten and tied for fifth nationally with his 51 points, while his 36 assists were good for second nationally only behind Michigan's Michael Hage. The rookie also set the Penn State record by averaging 1.46 points per game, a mark good for tops in the Big Ten and second in the nation.