Pop superstar Justin Bieber took the stage at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday night to announce the Toronto Maple Leafs' first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, introducing 18-year-old forward Gavin McKenna to an electric crowd.
Bieber's Surprise Appearance
Dressed in a red zip-up hoodie adorned with a Canadian flag, Bieber greeted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and acknowledged the families of other top prospects before making the selection official. "What's going on Buffalo? What's up Toronto?" Bieber said as he entered the arena. He then read McKenna's name, saying, "Mr. McKenna, we would like to draft you to the Toronto Maple Leafs."
Bieber, a self-proclaimed die-hard Maple Leafs superfan, expressed his excitement: "Oh man, the child in me is ecstatic right now. I've been a Leafs fan since I was just a little boy. These nights are so special. I'm so grateful to be here."
McKenna's Historic Selection
McKenna, a forward from Yukon, becomes the first No. 1 pick for Toronto since Auston Matthews in 2016 and only the third in franchise history, joining Wendel Clark (1985) and Matthews. He chose Bieber's song "Yukon" as his walk-up music in honor of his home province.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews congratulated McKenna via video message: "I know how exciting this is for you and your family, and what an incredible honour it is. You're coming to a franchise that has an amazing history and fanbase, and we're all working to write the next great chapter together. You're going to be a very important part of that."
Fan Reaction and Bieber's Fandom
Fans on social media praised Bieber's involvement. One enthusiast wrote, "Whatever you think about it, that's a story McKenna will tell forever even when he is 60. One of the biggest artists to live announced your draft pick." Another commented, "Not a pop fan, but Biebs was the right call." A third called it a "great idea."
Bieber has a long history of supporting the Maple Leafs. He co-designed the team's "Next Gen" alternate jersey, dedicated his 2021 song "Hold On" to the team, and famously skipped the 2025 Met Gala to watch a playoff game against the Florida Panthers. After a Game 7 loss last year, he wrote on Instagram, "I don't remember a time in my life when I haven't been obsessed with the leafsssss. This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I'm happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it."
A Night to Remember
Sportsnet's Ailish Forfar asked Bieber if he was "manifesting a Yukon boy to your hometown team" when he wrote the song "Yukon." Bieber laughed and replied, "Um, sure, yeah." He added that he is "absolutely" planning to attend Maple Leafs games this season wearing McKenna's jersey.
Bieber's unwavering fandom, unlike Drake's sporadic attendance at Raptors games, has endeared him to Leafs Nation. His presence at the draft underscored his commitment to a franchise chasing its first Stanley Cup in nearly 60 years.
