Justin Bieber makes the call as Maple Leafs land Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft

The NHL Draft’s top decision went to Toronto, with the Maple Leafs selecting Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick. The selection was announced during the draft stage in Buffalo, and it was made by Justin Bieber, who the report described as a lifelong Maple Leafs fan and an international pop icon.

For McKenna, the moment ended the long wait that comes with being a projected headliner prospect. The story framed it as nerves easing as the Leafs’ pick finally arrived, turning draft anticipation into an organization commitment at the league’s highest spotlight.

Buffalo followed with a high-end defensive prospect of its own, taking Prince Albert blue-liner Daxon Rudolph at No. 4. The next selection in the top five also underscored how the draft’s early run mixed forward momentum with building at other positions, with Latvia’s Alberts Smits going fifth to the New York Rangers.

The Maple Leafs’ choice reflects a common draft-night blueprint for teams that want both upside and a clear path into their long-term forward group. Taking a Penn State forward as the top pick also highlights how the NHL’s talent pipeline continues to value NCAA development, where prospects often refine playmaking, physical detail, and game-to-game consistency against high-level opposition.

The unusual framing of the announcement added an extra layer to an already high-stakes night. Bieber’s presence, as described in the report, became a fan-focused centerpiece, tying star power outside hockey to the franchise moment inside it, where one selection can define the identity of a summer rebuild for years.

The next step for all three prospects is the transition from draft-day attention to the grind of the pro development timeline. For McKenna and the Leafs, the questions will center on how his game translates to the pace and defensive structure of NHL play. For Rudolph and Smits, the focus shifts to how their skills fit into their clubs’ prospect systems and what roles they can earn as development schedules unfold.