Great skater but turns the puck over more than most Decision making at times is suspect. Trying to do too much and it is not working.
I would say he had a slightly or maybe moderately disappointing tournament. I think its still clear that he is easily the most talented offensively in the 07 age group and has the highest upside of any player.Let’s be real, he had a very disappointing Hlinka.
Doesn’t mean he’s not on pace to be a great player, but it wasn’t his best hockey. Might slow down the hype a little at this point, and that also could be a positive.
All people are saying is that he may not be as good as Crosby/McDavid. Does that really qualify as "putting a damper on?"Thinking folks should maybe pump the brakes on making assessments of this kid based on the Hlinka. That was a very disjointed Canadian team, despite being loaded with talent. They were never fully in sync, and never really unloaded on anyone. They played ok defensively, and were bailed out by some pretty solid goaltending.
The value in these tournaments from a scouting standpoint is playing against elite competition could expose a particular weakness. Can someone cite an instance where he was exposed? I saw a player who was creating chances against every team he faced. Is it a problem he didn’t finish more? Sure, but I don’t think can argue that he’s historically shown a lack of finish, so a five-game sample isn’t enough to really put a damper on what’s been a good start to his prospect career.
Bedard isn't a Bedard level prospect.I would say he had a slightly or maybe moderately disappointing tournament. I think its still clear that he is easily the most talented offensively in the 07 age group and has the highest upside of any player.
But for those people who labelled him better than Bedard or a generational talent or whatever, then year they will probably slow down. It was pretty ridiculous to begin with - he isn't a Crosby, McDavid or Bedard level prospect and never has been. He is still amazing though. I have no doubt he could become a top 10 or even top 5 offensive talent in the NHL someday, but I don't see the type of player who is considered the best for a decade like Crosby or McDavid were, nor is he anywhere near them at the same age. Honestly I could see him becoming the next Spezza type and I don't mean that in a bad way. Spezza had finishes of 4 and 6 in pts and would have 2-3 100 point seasons if he could stay healthy. Or something like a Huberdeau, maybe with more seasons like his peak.
Regardless, he's an amazing prospect and we shouldn't really take it as a slight when he falls short of ridiculous expectations that like 10% of posters on here repeat and try to speak into existence. I know Button said it too but it is literally his job to promote these guys. He's still the favorite to go #1 in 2026 and could very well be an elite offensive superstar in the NHL, nothing about this tournament made me think otherwise.
He just finished his 16 year old season, not his 15 year old season, insane how many times that needs to be saidPeople put too much stock on the Hlinka tournament.
His WHL performance is a much better indicator who he is than a summer tournament.
Cayden Lindstrom just went 4th overall, Basha was considered a late first by many in the draft.
McKenna is 2 years younger than both and scored at a higher pace.
He's only 16 now, he's still 2 years away from being drafted. He has good size for a 16 year old, he's likely going to grow another inch or two before he makes it to the NHL.
He's already a good step above where Celebrini, Fantilli, and Carlsson were at when their 15 year old seasons ended, he's on pace to be quite a bit higher than those guys are and those 3 all project to be high end NHL centres.
No he's not at the level of McDavid, Crosby, or Tavares at the end of their 15 year old seasons but his developmental numbers are still pretty similiar to Bedard. Watching him play this year (as a 15 year old), you could see he can already keep up to 18/19 year olds in junior.
Generational title wouldn't be appropriate for him but superstar tier is well within his grasp.
Every great player had tournaments where they didn't break out and do great things. Bedard had one when he was 15 where he was less than a point per game, those things happen.
People are reading way to much into the Hlinka like they always do.
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.
1 | Mack Celebrini | Chicago | 86 |
2 | Ryan Walsh | Cedar Rapids | 79 |
3 | Nick Moldenhauer | Chicago | 75 |
4 | Jack Harvey | Chicago | 74 |
5 | Jayden Perron | Chicago | 72 |
5 | Ryan St. Louis | Dubuque | 72 |
1 Mack Celebrini Chicago 86 2 Ryan Walsh Cedar Rapids 79 3 Nick Moldenhauer Chicago 75 4 Jack Harvey Chicago 74 5 Jayden Perron Chicago 72 5 Ryan St. Louis Dubuque 72
7 points is disgusting, disgusting?And also, Celebrini was 16-17 that year.
1. |
![]() ![]() | Chicago Steel | 50 | 46 | 40 | 86 | 1.72 | 62 | 27 |
2. | ![]() ![]() | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | 61 | 30 | 49 | 79 | 1.30 | 29 | 21 |
3. | ![]() ![]() | Chicago Steel | 55 | 30 | 45 | 75 | 1.36 | 18 | 10 |
Yes, that's how seasons work in Junior leagues. He was in his 16 year old season, exact same as McKenna. McKEnna being a late birthday doesn't magically turn his seaosn into an exceptional status season, that he was denied.
When people say 15 year old season, they mean D-2. Casually, 18 year old season = D+1 season, 17 = d, 16 = d-1, 19 year old = D+2 etcHe 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.
We have literally always talked about prospects in terms of their birth year because that's what the cutoff for jumping to the next level of hockey is. Last season was Zeev Buium's 18 year old season because he turned 18 before January and did not have to accelerate his schooling or hockey path to play in the NCAA. Last season was Macklin Celebrini's 17 year old season because he was 17 all year and did have to accelerate his schooling to play in the NCAA. Last season was Carter Yakemchuk's 18 year old season, and his third season playing in the CHL. Last season was Sam Dickinson's 17 year old season; and his second year playing in the CHL.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.