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Phenom McKenna Leads Top North American Hockey Draft Prospects
13 Jan
Summary
- Gavin McKenna is ranked the top North American skater by Central Scouting.
- Four of the next five top prospects are defensemen with varied styles.
- The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship significantly impacted rankings.
NHL Central Scouting has identified Penn State's freshman forward Gavin McKenna as the top-ranked North American skater in its midterm draft rankings. McKenna has accumulated 19 points in 18 NCAA games and was a standout for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded 14 points in seven games.
The rankings feature a strong contingent of defensemen following McKenna, with four of the next five projected skaters being blue-liners. Central Scouting noted that these defensemen each possess distinct playing styles, making them unique prospects for NHL teams.
These midterm rankings also reflect the influence of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The list of top prospects includes both North American and international skaters, with forward Ivar Stenberg of Sweden leading the international category.
