The NHL world waited in anticipation for the 2026 No. 1 overall pick to be announced Friday night.
As expected, it was Penn State’s Gavin McKenna selected by the Maple Leafs. But the bigger surprise was who announced the pick.
Fellow Canadian and devoted Maple Leafs fan Justin Bieber announced the selection in Buffalo on Friday night.
Before the draft commenced, the NHL shared that a special guest would be taking the stage to announce the pick.
Bieber’s presence brought on mixed reactions, however.
About halfway through Bieber’s nearly three-minute appearance, boos were heard spreading through Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.
Fans had opinions on social media as well, with many commenting on the length of Bieber’s opening spiel.
“CEASE YOUR SPEAKING BIEBER,” one fan wrote on X.
“Wow the Leafs made this cringy as hell with Bieber,” another griped.
Others had more well-thought-out opinions on the subject. One fan commented on how the biggest moment of McKenna’s life felt more centered around Bieber than McKenna.
“Really feel like the NHL dropped the emotional ball on this,” the tweet read.
Immediately after the pick, McKenna posed for a picture with Bieber and sat down for an interview with ESPN and Sportsnet alongside the singer.
McKenna hails from Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. Bieber has a song named “Yukon” on his 2025 album “Swag.”
The scene was slightly awkward, considering the anticipation surrounding the pick. McKenna is a franchise-altering selection for a team in need of an immediate boost. The 18-year-old has been receiving attention from the media and fans since he started high school.
Now, he will take the biggest stage in hockey, in one of its biggest markets.
He might also now have Bieber in his corner.
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