NHL insider labels Penn State as favorite to land potential 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna

There is no hotter name in the NHL scouting world right now than Gavin McKenna. Despite not being eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna is widely viewed as the top prospect out there regardless of classification. And after destroying the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, it’s easy to see why.

However, there are questions about where McKenna will play during the 2025 season. Speculation has surrounded leaving the WHL in favor of college hockey in the United States. One NHL insider, Elliotte Friedman, has even labeled one Big Ten program as the favorite to land him.

“I was asking a few people around hockey what they thought,” Friedman said via 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “And informal straw poll, I would say Penn State. That’s who the favorite is but nothing is done until it’s done. I was told it would be premature to make an enormous proclamation but I asked around and said, ‘If you had to pick where he’s going to play next year,’ most of them said Penn State.”

NIL has completely changed the college hockey world, offering money to players who would otherwise play in other leagues before moving to the NHL. Reported offers have been in excess of $200,000 for guys who were previously in the CHL. For the most part, Big Ten schools have been in the middle of it all.

No reported numbers are out there on McKenna, who will have more options than Penn State. Friedman pointed out how the WHL wants him back in the league for one last go-round. Stateside schools are hoping they can pry him into college.

McKenna put up absurd numbers during the 2024-2025 season despite only being 17 years old. In 56 games played, he recorded 129 points with 41 goals and 88 assists. For a comparison, recent No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard put up 100 points in the WHL a year removed from being drafted back in 2021-2022, scoring 51 goals and assisting on another 49.

As for Penn State, they finished last season with a 22-14-4 record, finishing fifth in the Big Ten. They made their way into the NCAA Tournament before going on an incredible run to the Frozen Four for the first time in program history. A dream journey with wins against Maine and UConn was unfortunately halted by Boston University in St. Louis in the semifinals.

NHL teams will be crossing their fingers that ping pong balls bounce in their favor next summer to earn the No. 1 overall pick. McKenna will almost assuredly hear his name called, completely changing a franchise moving forward.

Until then, one more season is required before making the jump. As of now, Friedman likes where Penn State sits for McKenna.