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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.
