Pop star Justin Bieber received a mixed reaction from fans during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ No. 1 overall pick reveal at the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night, with loud boos heard across the venue. Bieber, a longtime supporter of the Maple Leafs, appeared as part of the team’s announcement before the franchise selected highly rated forward Gavin McKenna with the top overall pick. While some fans cheered the singer’s appearance, others expressed their disapproval, creating an awkward moment during the broadcast. Despite the reaction surrounding Bieber, the spotlight quickly shifted to McKenna, whose selection marked a major moment for the Maple Leafs’ future ambitions.— NHL (@NHL) There was hardly any suspense surrounding the Maple Leafs’ top selection, as McKenna had widely been expected to hear his name called first. Yet while the choice itself followed predictions, the announcement delivered an unexpected twist. Fans in Buffalo were greeted by an appearance from Canadian singer Justin Bieber who stepped up to reveal the pick. Earlier in the evening, the NHL had hinted that a mystery guest would be making the announcement, building anticipation before Bieber’s surprise reveal. As Bieber’s nearly three-minute segment progressed, noticeable boos started to ripple through the crowd inside KeyBank Center in Buffalo.— NHL (@NHL) McKenna entered the draft carrying an impressive resume after a standout freshman campaign at Penn State. Despite being among the youngest players in NCAA men’s hockey this season, the 18-year-old forward quickly emerged as one of college hockey’s top offensive talents. He recorded 51 points - scoring 15 goals and adding 36 assists in 35 appearances - placing among the NCAA leaders in both total production and points-per-game average. His performances also earned him recognition as one of the finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in men’s college hockey.— NHL (@NHL) Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 170 pounds, McKenna also made history with his selection. He became only the fifth NCAA men’s hockey player to be drafted first overall and the first since Macklin Celebrini went to San Jose in 2024. The Yukon native also joined rare company by becoming only the second player from Canada’s Yukon Territory to hear his name called in the opening round, following Dylan Cozens in 2019.Toronto’s path to securing the top selection came after a difficult season that saw the team finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-36-14 record. Lottery luck changed the organization’s fortunes on May 5. Toronto picked No. 1 overall for the third time in franchise history.— NHL (@NHL) A decade ago, the Maple Leafs used the No. 1 overall pick on captain Auston Matthews, who has since developed into one of the league’s premier stars. The organization previously struck first overall in 1985 when it selected forward Wendel Clark. Clark went on to build a lengthy NHL career spanning 15 seasons, with the majority of those years spent in a Maple Leafs sweater, becoming one of the franchise’s most recognizable figures.