2026 NHL Draft Odds: Gavin McKenna Leads No. 1 Pick Race

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NHL Draft Odds are now settled at the top of the 2026 board. Gavin McKenna cashed as the No. 1 overall pick favorite when the Toronto Maple Leafs selected the Penn State left wing first overall at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

The fast betting recap: McKenna went No. 1 to Toronto, Ivar Stenberg went No. 2 to the San Jose Sharks, Caleb Malhotra went No. 3 to the Vancouver Canucks, Daxon Rudolph went No. 4 to the Buffalo Sabres, and Alberts Smits rounded out the top five with the New York Rangers.

Below, we’ll break down the final NHL Draft results, No. 1 pick betting recap, top-five results, first-round order, biggest market wins, biggest draft surprises, team winners, future NHL betting impact, and final draft takeaways.

NHL Draft Odds Results

The 2026 NHL Draft Odds results were clean at the very top. Gavin McKenna was the heavy favorite to be selected first overall, and Toronto did not overthink the board. The Maple Leafs took the most dynamic playmaker in the class and immediately gave their new front office a franchise-level offensive piece.

Ivar Stenberg also landed where the market expected him to go, joining the San Jose Sharks at No. 2. That result made the top of the board feel orderly, even though the rest of the first round produced several important twists.

The main lesson for bettors is simple: the No. 1 market was priced correctly, but most of the actionable value sat behind McKenna. Exact-position, top-five, and defenseman markets were more interesting than laying heavy chalk on the first pick.

For broader hockey futures after the draft, readers can compare updated markets on the NHL odds page as rookie landing spots start affecting team prices.

The final grade for the main market is clear: McKenna was the right prediction, but the price was never friendly. The sharper betting conversation was always behind him.

McKenna Goes No. 1 To Maple Leafs

Toronto selected Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick, ending any late speculation that the Maple Leafs might pivot toward Ivar Stenberg or trade the pick. From a betting perspective, this was the cleanest result possible for the favorite.

McKenna’s profile made him difficult to pass on. He brings elite vision, playmaking, creativity, and the kind of offensive ceiling that can change Toronto’s top-six picture quickly. For a Maple Leafs team trying to reset its next era, taking the highest-upside forward was the logical move.

The market had this one right. Anyone who grabbed McKenna before the price shortened was rewarded. Anyone who waited until draft day probably faced a number too expensive to justify from a value standpoint.

No. 1 Pick Betting Result: Gavin McKenna to Toronto was the correct call.

Top Five NHL Draft Results

The top five started with two forwards, then quickly shifted toward defense. Toronto took McKenna at No. 1, San Jose took Stenberg at No. 2, Vancouver took center Caleb Malhotra at No. 3, Buffalo took defenseman Daxon Rudolph at No. 4, and the Rangers selected defenseman Alberts Smits at No. 5.

That top-five structure mattered for bettors because it confirmed two key themes. First, the McKenna-Stenberg top two was real. Second, the defenseman race was not as simple as Chase Reid being the first blueliner off the board.

Buffalo and the Rangers both went defense before Seattle landed Reid at No. 7. That made the top-defenseman and exact-position markets much more volatile than the No. 1 pick market.

The top-five takeaway is that the forward board held at No. 1 and No. 2, but defense became the story immediately after Vancouver took Malhotra.

First-Round NHL Draft Results

The first round produced a strong mix of chalk, team fit, and surprise value. McKenna and Stenberg were the cleanest top-of-board results, while San Jose, Seattle, Buffalo, Vancouver, and Calgary shaped much of the opening-night conversation.

San Jose came away with Stenberg at No. 2 and Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9, then moved up later in the round for Ryan Lin. Seattle landed Chase Reid at No. 7 after he slipped lower than many pre-draft projections. Buffalo added Daxon Rudolph at No. 4 and Ilia Morozov at No. 20.

Here is the key first-round result table for the top half of the board and the most important betting-market names.

The most important betting result outside McKenna was the defenseman order. Rudolph, Smits, Carels, Reid, and Verhoeff all went inside the top nine, which made defense props much more active than the No. 1 pick market.

NHL Draft Betting Results

The NHL Draft betting results were mixed depending on the market. The No. 1 pick favorite cashed, but it was not a value-friendly late bet. The No. 2 Stenberg angle was stronger because San Jose followed the clean forward path instead of taking a defenseman immediately.

The top-five defenseman market was more chaotic. Daxon Rudolph went No. 4, Alberts Smits went No. 5, Carson Carels went No. 6, Chase Reid slid to No. 7, and Keaton Verhoeff went No. 9. If bettors expected Reid to be the first defenseman off the board, that ticket missed. If they targeted defense volume inside the top 10, the board paid off.

For future hockey markets after the draft, the NHL picks page is the better place to track how rookie landing spots eventually affect futures, season props, and team outlooks.

Best Betting Result: McKenna No. 1 and Stenberg No. 2.

Best Value Result: Stenberg to San Jose at No. 2.

Biggest Miss: Chase Reid did not become the first defenseman selected.

Biggest Draft Surprises

The biggest surprise was Chase Reid slipping to Seattle at No. 7. Reid had the profile of a top-three or top-five defenseman, but Buffalo, the Rangers, and Calgary all selected defensemen before the Kraken finally stopped the slide.

The second surprise was how quickly defense became the center of the first round. After three straight forwards to open the draft, four straight defensemen went from picks No. 4 through No. 7. Then San Jose added another defenseman at No. 9 with Verhoeff.

The third surprise was San Jose turning a top-heavy draft position into a deeper rebuild night. Stenberg was the headline at No. 2, but Verhoeff at No. 9 and Ryan Lin later in the round made the Sharks one of the clear first-round winners.

Team Winners From The NHL Draft

The biggest team winner was San Jose. The Sharks got Ivar Stenberg at No. 2, added Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9, and moved up for Ryan Lin later in Round 1. That is a major talent injection for a team already building around young core pieces.

Toronto also won because it simply took the best player on the board. McKenna was the favorite for a reason, and the Maple Leafs avoided getting cute. Seattle deserves a strong grade too because Chase Reid falling to No. 7 gave the Kraken one of the better value picks in the opening round.

Buffalo’s draft also had a clear identity. Daxon Rudolph at No. 4 and Ilia Morozov at No. 20 gave the Sabres two important pieces in the first round, one on the blue line and one down the middle.

The draft winner conversation matters for futures bettors because prospect momentum can shape long-term perception, even if most players do not immediately change next season’s standings.

NHL Futures Impact

The NHL futures impact is different by team. McKenna can affect Toronto’s perception faster than most drafted players because the Maple Leafs already have established offensive stars. If he earns an NHL role quickly, Toronto’s futures market could get more aggressive.

San Jose’s impact is more long-term. Stenberg, Verhoeff, and Lin give the Sharks one of the most exciting young cores in hockey, but bettors should be careful about treating draft wins like instant Stanley Cup value. Prospect depth matters, but development timelines still matter more.

Seattle’s value is also more future-focused. Reid gives the Kraken a high-end defenseman prospect, but his betting impact will depend on timeline, roster fit, and how quickly he becomes an NHL contributor.

For broader futures and market movement, the sportsbook reviews page can help readers compare where NHL futures and team markets are deepest after the draft.

Recent No. 1 Overall Picks

Gavin McKenna now joins the recent list of No. 1 overall NHL Draft picks. His selection gives Toronto its first No. 1 pick since Auston Matthews in 2016 and immediately makes him one of the league’s most watched young forwards.

The recent No. 1 list is a reminder that draft betting does not end when the pick is made. Rookie futures, Calder markets, team totals, and long-term team outlooks all adjust after the top prospect lands.

Final NHL Draft Takeaways

The biggest NHL Draft takeaway is that the No. 1 pick market was right. Gavin McKenna was the favorite, Toronto selected him first overall, and bettors who trusted the cleanest board read were rewarded.

The second takeaway is that the best betting value was not necessarily at No. 1. Stenberg to San Jose at No. 2 was a cleaner value angle, and the top-10 defenseman markets created more movement than the McKenna market.

The third takeaway is that San Jose had the strongest first-round draft night. Stenberg, Verhoeff, and Lin gave the Sharks a major boost, while Seattle landed one of the best value picks when Reid fell to No. 7.

Final No. 1 Pick Result: Gavin McKenna to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Best Value Result: Ivar Stenberg to the San Jose Sharks at No. 2.

Biggest Surprise: Chase Reid sliding to the Seattle Kraken at No. 7.

Betting involves risk. NHL Draft markets can move quickly before picks are announced, and post-draft futures can overreact to prospect hype. Always confirm current prices before placing a wager and only bet what you can afford to lose.

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