Gavin McKenna: The New Ice Hockey Promise and the Paradigm Shift in Sport
The anticipation is at its peak. When Gavin McKenna is selected in the first position of the NHL draft in 2026, an event many anticipate, it will mark a milestone in multiple aspects. This 17-year-old, considered a prodigy, represents hope for a struggling team and a new face for the promotion of the league. McKenna, after a standout season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, where he accumulated 129 points in 56 games, has been compared to figures like Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov. But, beyond his individual talent, McKenna symbolizes a radical change in the path of NHL prospects, driven by the transformations between the NCAA, the Canadian Hockey League, and the NHL itself. McKenna’s decision to leave Canadian junior hockey to join the Penn State University men’s hockey program surprised the hockey world. Instead of staying in the CHL, where he could have continued his dominance, McKenna will face more experienced and stronger players in the Big Ten as an 18-year-old freshman. It was a very difficult decision. There are many excellent options. But my family and I decided that the best place for me next year is Penn State. This choice comes at a time of significant changes for NHL prospects. The NCAA allowed Canadian junior hockey players to participate in Division I teams, modifying a decades-old policy that forced young athletes to choose between the CHL and college hockey. McKenna is one of the first players to make this transition, and undoubtedly, the most relevant.Gavin is elite. He has dominated youth hockey like few in the past.
Craig Button, TSN prospect analyst
Currently, Penn State has eight players selected by NHL teams. Recently, Jackson Smith became the first Penn State player to be selected in the first round of the draft, chosen 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. McKenna’s arrival could turn Penn State into a top-tier talent hotbed.It’s a good program. Penn State has a good setup.
Tony Granato, former Wisconsin coach in the Big Ten (2016-2023)
Agent Pat Brisson, with experience in managing other prominent prospects, such as Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, and Nathan MacKinnon, also represents McKenna. Brisson highlights McKenna’s determination and his unique vision of the game.I think, speaking specifically about Penn State, it has a pioneering spirit. It wants to be the first, and I think it feels very comfortable with that pressure.
Guy Gadowsky, Penn State coach
The decision by McKenna and other young Canadian talents could redefine the hockey landscape. The Supreme Court’s decision in 2021, in the NCAA v. Alston case, allowed for non-scholarship income in all divisions, facilitating NIL agreements in college sports. Recently, a $2.8 billion settlement in several federal antitrust lawsuits will allow universities to pay student-athletes directly, which could influence player decisions. Brisson assures that NIL money was not the main factor in McKenna’s choice. Granato agrees, arguing that McKenna will make a lot of money in a short time and that the decision was based on the respect and approach that Penn State offered him. Gavin McKenna is going to make more money than he will ever need in a very short period of time. So I don’t think it was about dollars and cents. I think it was about the respect and the approach that Penn State presented to him. Obviously, the money was to say how much they wanted him, but I think they were very committed to trying to make their program a top-tier team in the country. Granato believes the benefits for Penn State go beyond what happens on the court. McKenna’s presence could generate significant value for the university.From the beginning, [Penn State] is where I wanted to go. It was something I had in mind.
Pat Brisson, agent
If Gavin McKenna is going to be on television and in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the next 20 years, and is he going to have a Penn State logo next to him in all the things he’s going to achieve? The value he would bring to the university? I’d say that $700,000 or whatever is probably a pretty cheap investment.
Tony Granato
McKenna’s decision could solidify a new path for prospects: starting in the CHL and then moving to the NCAA before being drafted into the NHL, or immediately after. Button believes that McKenna’s path is the new norm. The analyst highlights the differences between the CHL and the NCAA, including the number of games and the type of life the players experience. Button is optimistic about these changes, believing that more options are opening up for player development. Near, however, is not convinced that this represents a new path for NHL prospects.Gavin McKenna leaving the WHL or CHL early isn’t the same as all the other changes that are happening. He’s a remarkable cog in the wheel, for sure. But this is such a giant and complicated environment we live in right now and that is changing so rapidly. I think almost everyone would recognize that it’s going to take some time to see what happens.
Dan Near, commissioner of the Western Hockey League
Near emphasizes the CHL’s player development history, noting that most of the first-round picks in the 2025 NHL draft come from Canadian junior hockey. The WHL commissioner believes that the transition to the NCAA before the draft will be occasional and that the CHL environment offers better preparation for player development. Near also highlights the importance of the welcoming environment and the CHL’s game program in preparing players for the professional level. He is also conducting a survey to find out the opinions of the players and improve the experience in the league. Button doesn’t believe that the changes in the prospect landscape are negative for the CHL, arguing that opportunities are opening up for both teams and players. Furthermore, the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHLPA, which begins in the 2026-27 season, will introduce significant changes. Among them, it will seek to limit the mandatory return rule for 19-year-old players coming from the CHL. The new CBA also establishes that the rights of players selected at 18 years old will be retained until the fourth June after the draft, and those selected at 19 years old, until the third June after the draft.I have no problem with people experimenting or trying things. I have no problem with other leagues that may be envious of the success we’ve had, or who wish to be declared our equals, trying to suggest that we should be a development league for the NCAA, which in turn would be a development league for the NHL.
Dan Near
This trend is already underway, with players like Cole Reschny and Malcolm Spence, who are joining the University of North Dakota and the University of Michigan, respectively. Button believes this will benefit both the NHL and the players. McKenna, like most players selected in the first position, will likely head straight to the NHL after next summer’s draft. His time in the NCAA, facing older and stronger players, is expected to prepare him for the next level.I think because of that fact, you’re going to have more high-profile players in college hockey. NHL teams are going to support going to college hockey because of that. There are a lot of great players who have had a lot of success in junior hockey and are looking for the next step, but who might not be ready to go to the NHL. I think college hockey is an attractive option for a lot of NHL teams.
Guy Gadowsky
If McKenna is selected first overall, he would join a select group of players, such as Nail Yakupov, Alexis Lafreniere, and Juraj Slafkovsky. Button compares his potential to that of Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov, highlighting his ability to control the game and his scoring ability.The guys who are confident and ready for that next challenge, that’s not going to scare them. They don’t care about falling in the draft. They care about improving.
Tony Granato
There are a lot of great Penn State fans who are very, very excited to see him play and see what he does in the future. I mean, they’re going to love him. They absolutely are going to love him and we’re thrilled that someone of his stature is tied to Penn State.
Guy Gadowsky
