F Gavin McKenna - Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL (2026 Draft)

[BondraTime]

When people say 15 year old season, they mean D-3. Casually, 18 year old season = D season, 17 = d -1, 16 = d-2, 19 year old = D+1 etc

Im referring to McKenna the prospect on a prospect forum, of course me (and everyone else here) is referring to his D-3 season when we say 15 and are comparing to other players in their D-3 season.

You can keep dying on your hill but you are talking about something different than everyone else.

That’s unbelievable reasoning Let’s just throw all common sense out the window and create a template that doesn’t apply to ~75+ of a draft year. Drafted in your 17 year old season? That’s actually your D-1 because…

Of course guys with late birthdays have better “15” year old seasons, you’re literally not allowed to play in Junior in your 15 year old season, barring exceptional

Jeez, Celebrini is going to be playing in the NHL in his draft year, that’s amazing

For a reference, 25%ish of the draft were drafted in their 18 year old season, that number is essentially stagnant through every draft.

68ish% are drafted in their 17 year old season.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

So.

He's like good and shit?

 

[Just Linda]

That’s unbelievable reasoning Let’s just throw all common sense out the window and create a template that doesn’t apply to ~75+ of a draft year. Drafted in your 17 year old season? That’s actually your D-1 because…

Of course guys with late birthdays have better “15” year old seasons, you’re literally not allowed to play in Junior in your 15 year old season, barring exceptional

Jeez, Celebrini is going to be playing in the NHL in his draft year, that’s amazing

For a reference, 25%ish of the draft were drafted in their 18 year old season, that number is essentially stagnant through every draft.

68ish% are drafted in their 17 year old season.

I typod that whole thing.

I meant 17 year old as the draft year, but you knew what I meant.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

So.

He's like good and shit?

He's a better version of 17 year old Kucherov, he's not at 17 year old McDavid level.

 

[frontsfan67]

So.

He's like good and shit?

Buddy’s gonna put up a lot of points

 

[Bubbles]

When people say 15 year old season, they mean D-2. Casually, 18 year old season = D season, 17 = d -1, 16 = d-2, 19 year old = D+1 etc

Im referring to McKenna the prospect on a prospect forum, of course me (and everyone else here) is referring to his D-3 season when we say 15 and are comparing to other players in their D-3 season.

You can keep dying on your hill but you are talking about something different than everyone else.

Edit: 17 is D, 16 is D-1 etc. Y'all know what I meant lol.

That's why most people use the "D" system instead of whatever age a person is. Outside of a few people here, no one uses age to age comparisons. The D system eliminates arguments about 16,17,18 or whatever.

 

[coooldude]

That's why most people use the "D" system instead of whatever age a person is. Outside of a few people here, no one uses age to age comparisons. The D system eliminates arguments about 16,17,18 or whatever.

Well, it certainly tries.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

He's a better version of 17 year old Kucherov, he's not at 17 year old McDavid level.

He's 16 until 4 months.

You almost have to compare McKenna's U18 season to McDavid's U17 season. Almost 1 year apart.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He's 16 until 4 months.

You almost have to compare McKenna's U18 season to McDavid's U17 season. Almost 1 year apart.

Yes that's his age, but this is still his 17 year old season (2024-25)

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Yes that's his age, but this is still his 17 year old season (2024-25)

He will probably do much better than McDavid 2013/14 with only 3 weeks older.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Not exactly the best tourney historically to be making long term prognostications based on point totals:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/hlinka-gretzky-cup/stats/all-time-season

Some good players at the top including a couple HOF's but also a couple nobodies. Scroll down to the PPG group. Stamkos, Malkin, etc.
I think GK's gonna be fine, no matter how old he actually is lol

 

[Bjorn Le]

He just finished his 16 year old season, not his 15 year old season, insane how many times that needs to be said

In the same season that McKenna just finished, Celebrini led the USHL in scoring by a disgusting, disgusting amount, and bypassed the Hlinka for the WJ camp.

The only tournament Bedard played in as a 15 year old he had 14 in 7 games. The only tournament he was less than a point per game was as a 16 year old in the World Juniors. McKenna never played in any international tournaments in his 15 year old season.

The USHL is a much, much weaker league than the WHL and Celebrini was 16 for his full 16 year old season while McKenna was 15 until December. It is not really comparable. Maybe Celebrini would’ve put up similar numbers to McKenna in his 16 y/o season due to better linemates (although McKenna was certainly his team’s offensive driver), but what McKenna did is certainly worth special attention.

 

[BondraTime]

The USHL is a much, much weaker league than the WHL and Celebrini was 16 for his full 16 year old season while McKenna was 15 until December. It is not really comparable. Maybe Celebrini would’ve put up similar numbers to McKenna in his 16 y/o season due to better linemates (although McKenna was certainly his team’s offensive driver), but what McKenna did is certainly worth special attention.

Of course it’s worth special attention, he’s the consensus 1st overall for a reason, same as Celebrini.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The USHL is a much, much weaker league than the WHL and Celebrini was 16 for his full 16 year old season while McKenna was 15 until December. It is not really comparable. Maybe Celebrini would’ve put up similar numbers to McKenna in his 16 y/o season due to better linemates (although McKenna was certainly his team’s offensive driver), but what McKenna did is certainly worth special attention.

It is not much, much weaker with emphasis put on the second much. It’s probably weaker, but any sort of much weaker would be overdoing it.

 

[Bjorn Le]

It is not much, much weaker with emphasis put on the second much. It’s probably weaker, but any sort of much weaker would be overdoing it.

Nope, it is much much weaker. Because it is a feeder league for the NCAA, at the top talent level it punches above the BCHL and CHL feeder leagues and therefore it does fairly well in terms draft picks, but outside the top talent the depth is 2-3 steps lower than the CHL. The USHL is also a younger league than the CHL, which exacerbates the skill difference. It’s why Celebrini, who would’ve been a 70-85 pt player as a 16 year old in the WHL most likely, can walk into the USHL as a 16 year old and instantly be the best player in the league.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nope, it is much much weaker. Because it is a feeder league for the NCAA, at the top talent level it punches above the BCHL and CHL feeder leagues and therefore it does fairly well in terms draft picks, but outside the top talent the depth is 2-3 steps lower than the CHL. The USHL is also a younger league than the CHL, which exacerbates the skill difference. It’s why Celebrini, who would’ve been a 70-85 pt player as a 16 year old in the WHL most likely, can walk into the USHL as a 16 year old and instantly be the best player in the league.

Extremely weak argument. NCAA is much better than any junior league, so the idea that USHL is a feeder league is irrelevant. And the WHL will probably be a feeder league soon for the NCAA also. Every hockey league in the world except the NHL is a feeder league. Hockey isn’t set up like soccer/football. There’s one great league and everything else is about players trying to do their best to reach that one singular league.

Besides, if you think the depth of the USHL is lower than that of the Q, you have no clue what you’re saying. More draft picks, the pool of talent they’re pulling from is much stronger than the Q (whole of USA+ imports vs. whole of Quebec/Maritimes + imports), and the rate of good Q territory players joining the USHL as opposed to good USHL territory players joining the Q is drastically in favor of the USHL. I won’t get into the USHL vs. OHL or WHL arguments in depth because the Q is such an easy victory for the USHL at this point, but being rational here, I think the USHL is pretty much on par with the OHL and behind the WHL (not by that much).

There’s no reasoning here if you can’t admit the USHL is being than the Q.

And lastly, the USHL isn’t really younger than the CHL leagues. You evidently just don’t follow the league to understand this. There are 2003 and 2004 born players this year in the USHL. The CHL leagues I believe are only allowed 2004 born players as an overager, and a limited amount. As far as I understand, there’s no limit for how many older players USHL teams are allowed.

 

[Bjorn Le]

Extremely weak argument. NCAA is much better than any junior league, so the idea that USHL is a feeder league is irrelevant. And the WHL will probably be a feeder league soon for the NCAA also. Every hockey league in the world except the NHL is a feeder league. Hockey isn’t set up like soccer/football. There’s one great league and everything else is about players trying to do their best to reach that one singular league.

Besides, if you think the depth of the USHL is lower than that of the Q, you have no clue what you’re saying. More draft picks, the pool of talent they’re pulling from is much stronger than the Q (whole of USA+ imports vs. whole of Quebec/Maritimes + imports), and the rate of good Q territory players joining the USHL as opposed to good USHL territory players joining the Q is drastically in favor of the USHL. I won’t get into the USHL vs. OHL or WHL arguments in depth because the Q is such an easy victory for the USHL at this point, but being rational here, I think the USHL is pretty much on par with the OHL and behind the WHL (not by that much).

There’s no reasoning here if you can’t admit the USHL is being than the Q.

And lastly, the USHL isn’t really younger than the CHL leagues. You evidently just don’t follow the league to understand this. There are 2003 and 2004 born players this year in the USHL. The CHL leagues I believe are only allowed 2004 born players as an overager, and a limited amount. As far as I understand, there’s no limit for how many older players USHL teams are allowed.

When you start off your reply with the bold, I know it's probably not going to be worth my time replying, but when you then follow up with something like "I think the USHL is pretty much on par with the OHL", I really know it's not going to be worth my time. By any measure, draft eligible talent, depth, average skill level, coaching, etc. The same season why the WHL and OHL are much better leagues are why that is such a baseless assertion.

I bet you're the type of guy who thinks when the NCAA allows CHL players that all the best 18 year old players will leave their CHL team to join the NCAA.

 

[Bubbles]

Thank god this thread is a lot quieter during the WHL season, lol.

3A tonight. You could say he's had a bit of a slow start this season (no goals) but I think things will pick up soon. He hasn't much chemistry with Ritchie, which is surprising.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Slow start to the year, but still 7 assists in 5 games for McKenna

 

[Corso]

Slow start to the year, but still 7 assists in 5 games for McKenna

He really didn't perform to expectations during the Hilinka and hasn't exactly been on fire to start the season.

 

[Dan Patrick]

What are the expectations for this season? Is another 90+ point season good enough or do folks need him to break 100 points and surpass Mcdavid’s D-1 season?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What are the expectations for this season? Is another 90+ point season good enough or do folks need him to break 100 points and surpass Mcdavid’s D-1 season?

Not going backwards from last season, at the very least.

 

[hockey20000]

whats happened? he seems to be off to slow start 0 goals so far 8 points on pace for 91 .. medicine hat was suppose to be a power house this year expectted 105-120 point range for him tbh . hopfully he picks it up

 

[Bubbles]

My thoughts are that in order for McKenna to improve, he has to be moved to centre. Right now he's still a winger. And I think it's just too safe to always play next to Wiesblatt and have him do all the centre/defensive duties.

Or he's going to stay a winger like Lafrieniere.

Also, Ritchie is playing on the second line and not with Gavin. Willie D never disappoints me lol (Canucks fan here, I know all about Willie D's coaching)

 

[Plastic Joseph]

My thoughts are that in order for McKenna to improve, he has to be moved to centre. Right now he's still a winger. And I think it's just too safe to always play next to Wiesblatt and have him do all the centre/defensive duties.

Or he's going to stay a winger like Lafrieniere.

Also, Ritchie is playing on the second line and not with Gavin. Willie D never disappoints me lol (Canucks fan here, I know all about Willie D's coaching)

I mean, there is nothing wrong with being a winger. Personally he does not remind me of Laf in play style and would be more like a Marner or Kucherov type winger. I don't think he has it in him to play the physical style of Laf, he is more cerebral and calculated. But nothing inherently wrong with that kind of player being a winger.

But I also think he could/should at least be tried at C. He has all the skills offensively to be a Centre.