{"id":402986,"date":"2026-01-12T06:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T06:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/402986\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T06:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T06:13:13","slug":"insider-says-gavin-mckenna-wants-to-play-for-this-canadian-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/402986\/","title":{"rendered":"Insider Says Gavin McKenna Wants to Play for This Canadian Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

There might not be a consensus first-overall pick anymore for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, but if there\u2019s one prospect most likely to emerge as a true superstar from the class, it\u2019s Gavin McKenna.<\/p>\n

McKenna was the overwhelming favorite to go number one for quite some time, though an underwhelming start to his college hockey career has cooled that buzz<\/a>. Despite that, teams around the league will still be frothing at the chance to land the uber-talented winger, and while he won\u2019t have any say on his future home, one insider believes he may already have a preferred destination: the Calgary Flames.<\/p>\n

Radio voice Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 recently revealed on the Flames Talk podcast<\/a> that he\u2019s heard McKenna \u2014 a Whitehorse, Yukon native \u2014 would love the opportunity to become a Flame.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI know for a fact that Gavin McKenna wants to be a Calgary Flame\u2026 I know he would love to be a Calgary Flame. I know that. It has been confirmed to me by multiple different people that if Gavin McKenna were to become a Calgary Flame, he would jump at it and would love to represent the organization,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As intriguing as this is, we must keep in mind that reports like these should always be taken with a grain of salt.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old McKenna has recorded 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 18 games at Penn State this season. He\u2019s also coming off an impressive showing for Team Canada at the World Juniors, where he piled up 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in seven games en route to a bronze medal.<\/p>\n

Calgary Needs a Player Like Gavin McKenna<\/p>\n

While there\u2019s only so much the Flames can do to ensure it happens, they desperately need a talent like McKenna to escape the mushy middle they\u2019ve been stuck in of late.<\/p>\n

\"GavinGavin McKenna<\/p>\n

Bottoming out is often the only path forward, and right now, Calgary is firmly in that range, sitting 29th in the NHL and just five points ahead of last-place Vancouver.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the lottery balls will decide McKenna\u2019s fate, but for the Flames and their fanbase, it has to be encouraging to hear that a top-tier talent wants to play in Calgary \u2014 especially after all of the high-profile exits they\u2019ve seen in recent years.<\/p>\n

Next: Part 2: 5 Other Superstars Who Could Be On The Move In the Foreseeable Future<\/a><\/p>\n

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