{"id":358120,"date":"2025-12-16T01:01:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/358120\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T01:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:01:19","slug":"gavin-mckenna-opens-up-about-falling-draft-stock-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/358120\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin McKenna Opens Up About Falling Draft Stock"},"content":{"rendered":"

The hockey world appears to be growing bored with Gavin McKenna. After years as the unquestioned best prospect of the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft class, a slow start to his college hockey career has led to a surprising slide down draft rankings.<\/p>\n

McKenna most notably fell to fourth on Corey Pronman of The Athletic\u2019s latest draft board<\/a>, now behind the likes of Tynan Lawrence, Keaton Verhoeff, and Ivar Stenberg.<\/p>\n

This is widely viewed as one of the deepest and most talented classes we\u2019ve seen in quite some time, but that didn\u2019t stop eyebrows from being raised when McKenna failed to crack the top three<\/a> of Pronman\u2019s rankings.<\/p>\n

The Whitehorse, Yukon native is currently gearing up for a return to the World Juniors, looking for redemption after he and Team Canada suffered a disappointing quarterfinal loss to Czechia last year. While that\u2019s his number one focus at the moment, McKenna was also asked about the noise surrounding his underwhelming start at Penn State.<\/p>\n

McKenna said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of chatter on my year but it\u2019s a growth year. I\u2019m playing harder guys. I could have stayed in the Dub & put up a bunch of points but I wanted to challenge myself & I\u2019ve been getting challenged,\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked whether that talk fires him up, McKenna didn\u2019t hesitate<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah,\u201d<\/p>\n

The 17-year-old has tallied 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in his first 16 games as a Nittany Lion, solid production, though not exactly the gaudy numbers he\u2019s used to racking up.<\/p>\n

Gavin McKenna Can Remind Everyone He Deserves to Go First Overall<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no better stage to put on a big-time performance during your draft year than at the World Juniors Hockey Championships, especially for Team Canada.<\/p>\n

\"GavinGavin McKenna Team Canada World Junior Championships<\/p>\n

Fans\u2019 memories of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and, more recently, Connor Bedard dominating the tournament and living up to the hype can be rekindled with McKenna.<\/p>\n

Despite producing just one point at last year\u2019s World Juniors, the then 16-year-old gave the hockey world a glimpse of his immense talent, and the anticipation for his second go-round is palpable.<\/p>\n

Motivated by not only last year\u2019s disappointment, but also the criticism surrounding the start of his college hockey career, McKenna should come flying out of the gates on Boxing Day against \u2014 who else but \u2014 Czechia.<\/p>\n

Next: Oilers-Maple Leafs No Longer McDavid vs. Matthews as the Gap Widens?<\/a><\/p>\n

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