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

[Kshahdoo]

1 goal in 3 games, doesn't look that great. Both Bedard and Michkov looked way better at the same age.

 

[ViD]

1 goal in 3 games, doesn't look that great. Both Bedard and Michkov looked way better at the same age.

I mean who looks insanely good in this tournament except for ASP ? Hagens ?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

1 goal in 3 games, doesn't look that great. Both Bedard and Michkov looked way better at the same age.

Those guys didn't have to play for Dave Cameron, to be fair.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Those guys didn't have to play for Dave Cameron, to be fair.

Coach and team style is important of course, but still 1+0 after 3 games... Of course there is always a chance he'll break through and start scoring, but right now he doesn't look like the next one.

 

[yessir29292]

Coach and team style is important of course, but still 1+0 after 3 games... Of course there is always a chance he'll break through and start scoring, but right now he doesn't look like the next one.

McDavid had 4 points at this age… Crosby had 5

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Coach and team style is important of course, but still 1+0 after 3 games... Of course there is always a chance he'll break through and start scoring, but right now he doesn't look like the next one.

Whole team except Schaefer until injured just don't look very good.

In any case the next one will be on the team next year

 

[Mathieukferland]

Those guys didn't have to play for Dave Cameron, to be fair.

Bédard did, and in the 9 official games across the two tournaments he had 13 points in 9 games. I still think McKenna will still be a star in the NHL what he’s doing in the CHL at his age is almost never before seen, but I don’t think he’s on the level of Bédard or even Celebrini

 

[jj cale]

From what I've seen I'd dare say neither Mckenna, Bedard or Michkov are on Celebrini's level.

 

[1Gold Standard]

From what I've seen I'd dare say neither Mckenna, Bedard or Michkov are on Celebrini's level.

Celebrini is having a banger of a rookie season. He hasn't surpassed/eclipsed Bedard yet IMO. but it is possible, But yes, Celebrini is another tier of prospect that neither Mckenna or that other player can match.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Bédard did, and in the 9 official games across the two tournaments he had 13 points in 9 games. I still think McKenna will still be a star in the NHL what he’s doing in the CHL at his age is almost never before seen, but I don’t think he’s on the level of Bédard or even Celebrini

Stop letting your "facts" get in the way of my socially approved Dave Cameron mockery.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

McKenna needs to finish and do more, but there have been passes he's made that probably should result in goals & thus points for him if his Canadian teammates could actually beat a goalie.

Hoping he puts on a show against the States, but because this is Dave Cameron hockey we're seeing, not gonna hold my breath

 

[Bubbles]

You gotta laugh at people comparing a just turned 17 year old and comparing to people that have been drafted already and playing in the NHL. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

What a player does post draft is irrelevant to what a player is/was pre draft. It's really separate things.

It would be valid to to compare bedard and celebrini's pre draft accomplishments to McKenna, but not post draft accomplishments.

 

[macbowes]

My one criticism of McKenna so far in this tournament compared to any of McDavid, Bedard, or Celebrini is he's not as inside driven, and doesn't drive the net like any of those players do, and he plays a softer game in general. You'll often see him take little looping routes, avoiding contact. I think he does it so he can stay open, or keep his head up and try to get to his next spot quicker, but I think it results in him giving up body position, and skating himself out of the play sometimes. Could definitely be a symptom of being the youngest player playing deferential in a high pressure tournament, so I don't want to read into it too much, but it also partially explains why he's a winger, and not a center, like those other guys. It will be much more interesting to watch him next year, when he will be the guy, instead of being the young kid.

 

[jj cale]

Celebrini is having a banger of a rookie season. He hasn't surpassed/eclipsed Bedard yet IMO. but it is possible, But yes, Celebrini is another tier of prospect that neither Mckenna or that other player can match.

Everyone including me figured Michkov would basically run away with the calder this year but if Celebrni stays healthy it won't be close, you watch them both play and Celebrini just impresses you so much more as a player, different tier maturity of a game from michkov and that really is saying something because Michkov is really good.

But he's just flat out better.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

From what I've seen I'd dare say neither Mckenna, Bedard or Michkov are on Celebrini's level.

Michkov has more points this season in the NHL. Not allowed to do whatever he wants either. Torts has him on a leash.

 

[Faceboner]

My one criticism of McKenna so far in this tournament compared to any of McDavid, Bedard, or Celebrini is he's not as inside driven, and doesn't drive the net like any of those players do, and he plays a softer game in general. You'll often see him take little looping routes, avoiding contact. I think he does it so he can stay open, or keep his head up and try to get to his next spot quicker, but I think it results in him giving up body position, and skating himself out of the play sometimes. Could definitely be a symptom of being the youngest player playing deferential in a high pressure tournament, so I don't want to read into it too much, but it also partially explains why he's a winger, and not a center, like those other guys. It will be much more interesting to watch him next year, when he will be the guy, instead of being the young kid.

McKenna is a winger if I'm not mistaken or did he switch to center

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

My one criticism of McKenna so far in this tournament compared to any of McDavid, Bedard, or Celebrini is he's not as inside driven, and doesn't drive the net like any of those players do, and he plays a softer game in general. You'll often see him take little looping routes, avoiding contact. I think he does it so he can stay open, or keep his head up and try to get to his next spot quicker, but I think it results in him giving up body position, and skating himself out of the play sometimes. Could definitely be a symptom of being the youngest player playing deferential in a high pressure tournament, so I don't want to read into it too much, but it also partially explains why he's a winger, and not a center, like those other guys. It will be much more interesting to watch him next year, when he will be the guy, instead of being the young kid.

I'd say that's more indicative of the coaching he's receiving in the tournament than his actual game, it seems to be an issue with the entire team right now.

 

[jj cale]

Michkov has more points this season in the NHL. Not allowed to do whatever he wants either. Torts has him on a leash.

Michkov has played 8 more games. Celebrini is at a point per game, Michkov isn't.

But it's not stats at all........it's watching them play, his game impresses you more, a fair amount more actually.

A different level from Michkov right now IMO, and I doubt I'm alone in thinking that. he's a year younger too to top it off..

Celebrini is so f***ing good.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Michkov has played 8 more games. Celebrini is at a point per game, Michkov isn't.

But it's not stats at all........it's watching them play, his game impresses you more, a fair amount more actually.

A different level from Michkov right now IMO, and I doubt I'm alone in thinking that. he's a year younger too to top it off..

Celebrini is so f***ing good.

Okay, and Celebrini plays three more minutes per game. Doesn’t play for a team that has a hard ass coach either that can bench him or scratch him any time he makes a defensive mistake.

I think Celebrini is very good, but I have watched both and it is at least close, if not in Michkov’s favor. Celebrini has played less games. Whether you like it or not, that matters. Michkov was PPG like 5 games ago, and then he went into a rookie slump, as they all do. More games may not actually favor Celebrini in the way you think.

They play the game differently. Celebrini is a reliable all zones center. His speed and details allow him to be a player who can control a game. Michkov is an offensive magician who can create scoring chances and finish them as good as anyone.

We’ll see how the rest of the season goes.

 

[NyQuil]

1 goal in 3 games, doesn't look that great. Both Bedard and Michkov looked way better at the same age.

Oh well.

 

[jj cale]

Okay, and Celebrini plays three more minutes per game. Doesn’t play for a team that has a hard ass coach either that can bench him or scratch him any time he makes a defensive mistake.

I think Celebrini is very good, but I have watched both and it is at least close, if not in Michkov’s favor. Celebrini has played less games. Whether you like it or not, that matters. Michkov was PPG like 5 games ago, and then he went into a rookie slump, as they all do. More games may not actually favor Celebrini in the way you think.

They play the game differently. Celebrini is a reliable all zones center. His speed and details allow him to be a player who can control a game. Michkov is an offensive magician who can create scoring chances and finish them as good as anyone.

We’ll see how the rest of the season goes.

Disagree but this is the Gavin Mckenna thread and I don't wanna be one of those guys.

Eye test so far tells me Celebrini all day long and I'll leave it at that.

 

[Mathieukferland]

A few notes from watching him in person

-when he doesn’t have the puck in the offensive zone, he glides a lot. That was probably the thing that surprised me the most in person.


-His hands are the best I’ve ever seen at that age

-he needs to learn to not always dust the puck off before shooting. Several grade A chances he made harder for himself by taking an extra stickhandle

-He looks very slight out there. If he is able to bulk up and add breakaway speed, look out. His skating (notably explosion) already progressed from his 15 to his 16 year, so there is clear ability to improve

 

[Andy Dufresne]

-He looks very slight out there

He's listed at 6' 165 lbs on his whl page. Brains, hands, vision A+++, physically he has long ways to go. Reminds me a bit of RNH at the same age.

 

[wetcoast]

Okay, and Celebrini plays three more minutes per game. Doesn’t play for a team that has a hard ass coach either that can bench him or scratch him any time he makes a defensive mistake.

I think Celebrini is very good, but I have watched both and it is at least close, if not in Michkov’s favor. Celebrini has played less games. Whether you like it or not, that matters. Michkov was PPG like 5 games ago, and then he went into a rookie slump, as they all do. More games may not actually favor Celebrini in the way you think.

They play the game differently. Celebrini is a reliable all zones center. His speed and details allow him to be a player who can control a game. Michkov is an offensive magician who can create scoring chances and finish them as good as anyone.

We’ll see how the rest of the season goes.

Do you really think that Michkov has been better than Celebrini this year?

A few notes from watching him in person

-when he doesn’t have the puck in the offensive zone, he glides a lot. That was probably the thing that surprised me the most in person.


-His hands are the best I’ve ever seen at that age

-he needs to learn to not always dust the puck off before shooting. Several grade A chances he made harder for himself by taking an extra stickhandle

-He looks very slight out there. If he is able to bulk up and add breakaway speed, look out. His skating (notably explosion) already progressed from his 15 to his 16 year, so there is clear ability to improve

He has had some bad luck but is getting scoring chances.

But everyone wants to see superstar improvement or else they look elsewhere for another player that's the way the hype machine works sometimes.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Do you really think that Michkov has been better than Celebrini this year?

I think it’s close. I’m not the one defying the stats that say it’s close and saying AINEC.