Why Gavin McKenna Projects as a Franchise Centre, and Why Penguins Fans Must Dream to Get Him

Gavin McKenna has been the projected #1 pick for years now, having been one of the most dominant players to come out of western Canada and earn exceptional status to play in the CHL a year early, McKenna has been one of the most dominant players at his age in the history of Canadian junior hockey, and is on the path to becoming a potential future NHL superstar.

McKenna has been compared to Blackhawks young star Connor Bedard, who like McKenna was a dominant junior player who had been equally as exceptional at the same age. McKenna and Bedard are coincidentally cousins by familial marriage.

In his draft -1 season, McKenna had 41 goals, 88 points, & 129 points in just 56 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers. His 2.30PPG is the highest in CHL history since Mario Lemieux in 1982-83.

Sidney Crosby is a single digit behind McKenna with a 2.29. Connor Bedard had a 1.58, and Connor McDavid with a 1.77PPG.

McKenna is considered the best prospect since Bedard, and above recent top prospects such as Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer, & James Hagens, and well above the rest of the 2026 NHL Draft field.

Headed to the NCAA with Penn State University next season, McKenna will get to prove himself against older, stronger competition. McKenna's biggest weakness has been his lighter frame at 165lbs, which limits his defensive strength. With a greater funding for physical training in college, McKenna could quickly bulk up and make his one question mark a strength.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are on the rebuild with what could be the end of their legendary run with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, & Kris Letang, they could quickly turn a new corner with McKenna at the helm.

Gavin McKenna projects as a potential franchise talent who could ultimately lead an NHL team one day.

Luke Sweeney of Dobber Prospects says that McKenna's season could not only be impressive, but one of the best seasons in NCAA history by a draft eligible.

McKenna is a highly creative puck-moving forward who is able to seamlessly create offense and score on his own. McKenna excels at generating scoring chances for himself and others and has elite hands and vision, as well as being a highly skilled skater.

As mentioned, McKenna's defense is something that still needs work in refining his game to get stronger and more controlled in his shutdown abilities, but even with average defense there's still a very good chance that McKenna becomes an NHL superstar.

Gavin McKenna at his best could be both the future of the NHL as well as the face of the league, at least the face of a franchise, and could make almost any team a winning one from the moment he steps onto the ice.