McKenna's NHL Draft Stock: Upside vs. Concerns

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Gavin McKenna is the talk of the 2026 NHL draft class.

This 18-year-old left-winger from White Horse, Yukon, now plays for Penn State in College

Hockey.

At 6-speed tall in 170 pounds, he shoots left and tops most scout rankings, including

number one on several mid-term lists from NHL.

Central scouting and others.

Last season in the Western Hockey League, with the medicine hat tigers, he wrecked up

129 points as a 17-year-old, joining in.

He league group with Connor Bedard.

McKenna switched from junior hockey to the NCAA to face tougher, older competition, and

boosts his skating and defense.

He figured it would ease his NHL jump by building strength and maturity around pros.

Early on with Penn State, he notched a goal in 4 assists in three games, but scouts noted

wheat play away from the puck, like soft forechecking and, avoiding hits.

Reactions from fans and experts are mixed now.

Once seen as a sure-fire generational star like Bedard, some compare him to Shane Wright,

a height pick who under-delivered.

His puck handling dazzles with top-tier vision, deception, and no-look passes.

He even set a Penn State points record in one game.

But at the recent World Juniors, despite strong scoring, he faded in key moments, especially

5 on 5, and defensively.

Lately, things are turning around.

Back from the tournament, he's exploded for 32 points in 17 games, with better even

strength play and a plus-six rating.

Still, his habit of hanging on the perimeter, waiting to strike, exposes him against elite

foes.

Plus, a pending court day for harassment and disorderly conduct from a drop to salt charge could sway

teams.

Overall, McKenna stays a top 3 lock.

He never won for his playmaking upside like Mitch Marner or Nikita Kusherov.

Teams debate highest-sealing vs. safest pick with rivals like Ivar Stenberg in the mix.

He just needs to grind on physicality and off-puck effort to hit 80 plus NHL points.

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