Gavin McKenna is not only the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but he is also one of the most anticipated prospects in decades with a predraft buzz that rivals what Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid had. Before he gets to the NHL Draft, however, he has to play the 2025-26 season. On Tuesday, he announced that he will be playing that season at the collegiate level, officially committing to Penn State in what is a seismic move for the program, college hockey as a whole and the future of prospect development. From a Penn State perspective, it comes on the heels of the programs first ever Frozen Four appearance and makes the team an early season favorite to win it all this season. But even more than simply being a win for Penn State, it’s also a huge win for college hockey. In years past, a prospect like McKenna would have likely played in the Canadian major junior leagues (the CHL) before being drafted by an NHL team. That was due not only to the quality of play in the CHL,Read More
Gavin McKenna’s Penn State commitment is seismic move for NCAA hockey, player development
