As things stand, the New Jersey Devils will have a chance at a top pick in the upcoming NHL Draft this summer. Since coming out of the Winter Olympics break, the Devils have lost back-to-back games and have only scored one goal in each game. Things have not changed one bit for this hockey team, which puts them in a position to obtain a top-2 pick in the draft, possibly. The first two picks seem pretty locked in, barring any injuries. One of those players is Gavin McKenna, who is viewed as a potential milestone player for franchises. Canadian star Gavin McKenna, who plays for the Nittany Lions, could be the next big thing in Newark, New Jersey.
I can confidently say that Gavin McKenna is the most prized prospect coming out of the NHL Draft since Connor Bedard back in 2023. An 18-year old, 6-foot left winger with an offensive skillset so elite that he has been compared to players like Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane.
Let's go back to the beginning of McKenna's career, where he played in the WHL for the Medicine Hat Tigers for three years. From 2022 to 2025, Gavin McKenna had 244 points in just 133 regular-season games. He had a remarkable point streak of 54 games, 190 days, posting a total of 137 points during that span. In his final year with the Medicine Hat Tigers, he had 129 points in 56 games, yes, you read that right. On top of those ridiculous numbers, he won the WHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and won the WHL MVP in 2023-2024.
After three successful seasons in the WHL, Gavin McKenna then committed to Penn State for the 2025-26 season. As of today, he has 43 points in just 28 games played for the Nittany Lions. The college hockey season is almost over, as Penn State just has four more regular-season games before tournaments begin.
Player Profile
As I mentioned earlier, Gavin McKenna has been compared to offensive masterminds like Patrick Kane and Connor McDavid. Stats are one thing, but how a player plays on the ice to create goals is another important aspect to consider when evaluating prospects.
Gavin McKenna is a winger who utilizes all three zones, doing his best to be involved in every play while also making the best decisions with the puck. He has already proved that he can score, scoring 79 goals in the WHL and 13 goals in college, with games remaining this year. McKenna tends to score most of his goals between the circles. His speed and puck skills before his scoring chances are truly a delight to watch.
McKenna is an all-around offensive player; not only does he score, but his gift to read plays before the puck even gets to him is unbelievable. He seems to be a couple of steps ahead of his opponent every single game. With this ability, it's a big problem for the other team once he enters the offensive zone. McKenna lures opponents his way to create open ice and scoring chances for his teammates, as mentioned, he uses every piece of the ice.
With every top prospect, it comes with some cons, and for Gavin McKenna, it's his defensive play. This is something that can be worked on as he gets older, as it goes for every young player. With his offensive talent, his defensive liability is definitely something fans can bear with for the time being.