Penn State's Gavin McKenna headlines 2026 NHL Draft preseason projections

On July 8, shockwaves were sent through the hockey world with the commitment of Gavin McKenna to Penn State men's hockey.

Before arriving at Happy Valley, the Whitehorse, Canada, native was tabbed as the bona fide No. 1 overall pick through various national publications throughout his junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) of Canada, where he was already taken as a No. 1 overall selection in 2022.

This already-decorated resume earned McKenna the label of a generational talent before the age of 18.

His commitment and subsequent $700,000 NIL deal boost the outlook inside Pegula Ice Arena for the foreseeable future, as the Nittany Lions never earned a commitment of this magnitude prior.

Just over a month later, praise for the Nittany Lions' emerging star has grown. In The Athletic's latest NHL Draft report by prospect expert Scott Wheeler, McKenna is ranked as the only tier one player in the entire class.

With 244 career WHL points in only 133 games, McKenna is equipped with high-class scoring and playmaking ability, which helped boost his name recognition across juniors.

"McKenna is a captivating offensive winger who had one of the most productive age-adjusted seasons in modern CHL history last season," Wheeler wrote. "He’s a fabulous, flowing skater with natural straight-line and corner speed, great edges and a rare ability to make plays while flying around out there."

With a six-foot, 165-pound frame, he knows how to navigate inside and outside the zone to free himself around physically bigger players.

This is what experts believe is McKenna's strong suit: his agility and comfort level with the puck that is mature beyond his years. It is an intangible that can't be taught, which is perfectly paired with his excellent technical aspects.

"When he’s on the ice, the talent divide is always clear, even when he has played with top players. Though he’s a natural playmaker first, he’s also got scoring elements, has tons of pre-shot deception in his movements," Wheeler continued. " . . . And while he’s lean, he’s also got a really good stick defensively, taking back and lifting a lot of pucks."

McKenna earned all the recognition he's received. With the future he is predicted to have, it's no doubt that the star winger will fit into Hockey Valley's rising reputation.

As for his future, Penn State will have to wait until October to see McKenna donning the blue and white, yet it's anticipated to be a great season for both sides as the NHL braces for its newest once-in-a-generation talent.

"He projects as a first-line, star and maybe even superstar winger," Wheeler wrote.