Penguins May Get Consolation Prize of the Century if They Miss Out on Gavin McKenna Next Year

It is no secret that the Penguins will struggle this upcoming year. With a roster that missed the playoffs in back-to-back years and with core pieces like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell being in constant trade rumors, it is obvious the Penguins do not plan on making the playoffs.

With this, some fans are already turning their heads toward the upcoming 2026 NHL draft, which could yield the Penguins a generational talent in Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna. After putting up a mind-boggling 129 points in 56 WHL games, McKenna won the CHL MVP as a 17-year-old and is expected to be the best prospect since Connor McDavid.

However, to land McKenna, the Penguins would need to be a bit lucky, as they would need to win the draft lottery. Unfortunately, the Penguins were not so fortunate last year, as the New York Islanders and Utah Mammoth won the lottery, leaving the Penguins picking 11th instead of 9th. This coming year, they will almost certainly have better odds but could lose out again.

While all the eyes have been on McKenna, the consensus number two prospect in the class is 6'4" defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who scored 21 goals and 45 points as a 16-year-old in the WHL last year. Verhoeff is widely regarded as one of the best defensive prospects of a generation. When Elite Prospects scout Cam Robinson asked fans who was better, Verhoeff or 2025 1st overall pick Matthew Schaefer, the results were skewed in Verhoeff's favor.

While there were obviously those saying Schaefer, it seems like the public prefers Verhoeff and his size to Schaefer and his skating.

Verhoeff is committed to playing for North Dakota in the NCAA this year and is widely anticipated as being one of the best freshmen and defensemen in the NCAA. If the Penguins were to lose out on Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff is not a bad consolation prize at all.