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

[daver]

Finishes with 56GP 41G 88A 129P; good for 2.30PPG, the highest d-1 total in the 21st century in the CHL. Ridiculous (perhaps farewell) season for Medicine Hat

PPG vs. the pack

McKenna's PPG 2.30, #10 PPG of 1.50 (53% better)

Bedard's D-1 PPG 1.61, #10 PPG of 1.39 (16% better)

McDavid's D-1 PPG 1.77, #10 PPG of 1.49 (19% better)

Crosby's D-1 PPG 2.29, #10 PPG 1.38 (66% better)


Jump in PPG in D season & vs. the pack:

Bedard - 1.61 to 2.51 (66%) , #10 PPG of 1.45 (73% better)

McDavid - 1.77 to 2.55 (44%), #10 PPG of 1.57 (62% better)

Crosby - 2.29 to 2.71 (18%), #10 PPG of 1.31 (106% better)



Jump in PPG from D-2 to D-1 season:

McKenna - 1.59 to 2.30 (45%) #10 PPG - 1.51

McDavid - 1.05 to 1.77 (69%) #10 PPG - 1.43


Obviously junior numbers aren't the be all, end all of prospect evaluation, Tavares was #4 in PPG in his D-2 season and Bedard has not been close to Crosby/McDavid level through two seasons, but he certainly has followed up an impressive D-2 season with an even more impressive D-1 season.

His goalscoring really improved in the last part of the season. It will be interesting to see if that continues into the playoffs.

 

[eklund2chicago]

Hard to say I was going to include Bjorck but he needs a little bit of growth but i think he has grown this year.

I wonder if all 3 of Djurgardens top draft guys for 25 stay there next season when he moves up?

Swedish fans, any info?

Eklund and Frondell both recently signed extensions with Djurgården. If Djurgården stays in Hockeyallsvenskan it will probably be their + Björck’s team. That would be really fun to see. If Djurgården goes up Frondell and Eklund probably will have middle six roles but idk about Björck. I think he’s too talented to leave out so he will probably get a spot.

Anyway, in some form Frondell, Eklund and Björck will be one the same team next year.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Hope to see McKenna at North Dakota or Michigan next year. He's outgrown the Dub

 

[Corso]

Hope to see McKenna at North Dakota or Michigan next year. He's outgrown the Dub

Lots of turmoil in North Dakota right now. Apparently, they had a high end CHL recruit all lined up but an injury and now a coaching change put the breaks on that.

Look for Michigan to really concentrate on the portal this spring rather than chase high end CHL players (though they still might land one.)

 

[covfefe]

I'm sure Kelowna will take a run at him too. This will be one of the more interesting stories of the offseason.

 

[PlayersLtd]

McKenna is infinitely more valuable to Medecine Hat than any haul of offseason picks and players anyone could conjure up to force a trade within the Dub.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm sure Kelowna will take a run at him too. This will be one of the more interesting stories of the offseason.

View attachment 998530

There's no way Hat is trading him. They'll be losing a few important players who are aging out, but all that means is they'll be making moves to add some talent around him. They'll be a contender next year as well as this year.

 

[wetcoast]

I'm sure Kelowna will take a run at him too. This will be one of the more interesting stories of the offseason.

View attachment 998530

The Hat has enough younger players that they won't "sell" McKenna to Kelowna.

Kelowna could probably be one of the worst host teams for the Memorial Cup in recent history.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

Okay cool, glad to know I'm not the only one wondering if he's going back to the W next year or possibly overseas, ala Matthews.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Okay cool, glad to know I'm not the only one wondering if he's going back to the W next year or possibly overseas, ala Matthews.

Dub or NCAA. European Pro is super unlikely

 

[PlayersLtd]

The Hat has enough younger players that they won't "sell" McKenna to Kelowna.

Kelowna could probably be one of the worst host teams for the Memorial Cup in recent history.

Saskatoon Blades 2013?

 

[goavsblue8]

It is domination but Crosby, McDavid, Bedard all 3 phenomenal CHL players and touted as “generational” from their draft year all stayed in the CHL for their whole careers and look at them now. Well aware they didn’t have the option but I think McKenna should absolutely come back.

Would be very foolish going to the NCAA which is a different league and you may have an off year like James Hagens and fall a bit

What happens if McKenna goes to the NCAA, slow start and then gets injured and is out for most of the year. Then some other kid who was 2/3/4 ranked is dominating doing even better than expected?

Meanwhile he can have some fun and dominate some more with a healthy Lindstrom next year, Ritchie will be 19, they got some real talented young guys who will take a leap and the team will be EXCELLENT. Try and win a memorial cup and dominate- doesn’t get much more fun than that.

much better shot hes playing with lindstrom in ann arbor next year

 

[goavsblue8]

Lots of turmoil in North Dakota right now. Apparently, they had a high end CHL recruit all lined up but an injury and now a coaching change put the breaks on that.

Look for Michigan to really concentrate on the portal this spring rather than chase high end CHL players (though they still might land one.)

um will be in the portal but they are all over a BUNCH of high end chl guys

 

[macbowes]

Personally, I hope he stays in the CHL, as I don't want it to become a trend for the best Canadians play their draft seasons in the NCAA. Just have to hope he chooses to stay with Medicine Hat.

 

[Bubbles]

Personally, I hope he stays in the CHL, as I don't want it to become a trend for the best Canadians play their draft seasons in the NCAA. Just have to hope he chooses to stay with Medicine Hat.

It's a bit overblown. No one of any significance has left early. There's certainly no "trend".

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Personally, I hope he stays in the CHL, as I don't want it to become a trend for the best Canadians play their draft seasons in the NCAA. Just have to hope he chooses to stay with Medicine Hat.

Guys can only play their DY in the NCAA if they're a late birthday and graduate HS (McKenna is a late 2007, thus still graduates HS in 2025, but draft eligible in 2026) or you accelerate your education to graduate HS early (Cammalleri Toews, Wood, Celebrini) & thus play NCAA in your 17 year old season.

McKenna has outgrown the Dub. It would be great for him to move up a level and play for North Dakota, Michigan, Denver, but I completely understand if he stays in junior for cultural/personal comfort reasons.

 

[macbowes]

Guys can only play their DY in the NCAA if they're a late birthday and graduate HS (McKenna is a late 2007, thus still graduates HS in 2025, but draft eligible in 2026) or you accelerate your education to graduate HS early (Cammalleri Toews, Wood, Celebrini) & thus play NCAA in your 17 year old season.

McKenna has outgrown the Dub. It would be great for him to move up a level and play for North Dakota, Michigan, Denver, but I completely understand if he stays in junior for cultural/personal comfort reasons.

I know that Landon DuPont is accelerating his high schooling in an effort to give himself the option to play his draft season in the NCAA. Same goes for Liam Pue, who in a recent interview said he's trying to ensure he's done school for his 17 year old year. I can forsee a future where most of the highest-end Canadians leave the CHL after their D-1 season to play their draft season in the NCAA. As a Canadian CHL fan, I find this really disappointing, as the CHL is in my country mostly, and it's a shame that the league that has historically produced almost all the best NHL players is now losing its best players to the NCAA.

I get it, I understand the appeal for that class of player. It's a nice in-between step from junior hockey to pro-hockey. It's just a shame, as a CHL fan, and a Canadian, that our best players are going to be playing for American fans, instead of Canadian fans. I don't really believe that a player can outgrow the CHL, but I understand the appeal of the NCAA.

 

[goavsblue8]

It's a bit overblown. No one of any significance has left early. There's certainly no "trend".

None of the high end guys were going "defect" until their is season over. Narauto, Michigan hc, has said michigan has several high end chl silent commitments. Two i've heard are mews(somewhat out there) and jacob battaglia. then i've heard they are encouraged about where they are with martone(heard this will come down to if the nhl team that drafts him is good with it) and lindstrom. They think its them or a return to medicine hat for mckenna and it sounds 50/50. They are also after a high end chl goalie.

 

[Kingpin794]

There was nothing stopping Canadians from going to the NCAA early before. They could just as easily accelerated schooling and played their 16 year old season in some junior A league or USHL and gone to the NCAA. And yet almost none did.

 

[Bubbles]

None of the high end guys were going "defect" until their is season over. Narauto, Michigan hc, has said michigan has several high end chl silent commitments. Two i've heard are mews(somewhat out there) and jacob battaglia. then i've heard they are encouraged about where they are with martone(heard this will come down to if the nhl team that drafts him is good with it) and lindstrom. They think its them or a return to medicine hat for mckenna and it sounds 50/50. They are also after a high end chl goalie.

So a couple of D+1 guys? And a maybe on Martone? Not exactly a trend. We are talking about guys leaving for the NCAA at D-1 or D year. I'm not counting guys that were going NCAA before the decision.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I know that Landon DuPont is accelerating his high schooling in an effort to give himself the option to play his draft season in the NCAA. Same goes for Liam Pue, who in a recent interview said he's trying to ensure he's done school for his 17 year old year. I can forsee a future where most of the highest-end Canadians leave the CHL after their D-1 season to play their draft season in the NCAA. As a Canadian CHL fan, I find this really disappointing, as the CHL is in my country mostly, and it's a shame that the league that has historically produced almost all the best NHL players is now losing its best players to the NCAA.

I get it, I understand the appeal for that class of player. It's a nice in-between step from junior hockey to pro-hockey. It's just a shame, as a CHL fan, and a Canadian, that our best players are going to be playing for American fans, instead of Canadian fans. I don't really believe that a player can outgrow the CHL, but I understand the appeal of the NCAA.

I understand your sentiment, but you have to get used to the reality that NCAA (18-23 year olds) is going to be above the CHL (16-20 year olds) on the development pyramid. The CHL was above forever due to far far better talent in Canada, but the growth of the game in the States has improved the whole NCAA with more future NHL talent.

I believe that it's rare for a normal good CHLer to outgrow junior in their 18 or 19 year old season to go to the A, but there are certainly guys who could move up a step to the NCAA to face age appropriate competition instead of taking a monster jump up to pro. Michael Dal Colle didn't gain anything from going back to the O in his 19 year old season, that season could have been much better at one of the handful of NCAA powers where he would have been challenged/pushed far more.

The new reality means the CHL will lose players earlier, whether it to be the AHL (under a new CHL-NHL Agreement) or most certainly the NCAA following the ruling of CHLers now being NCAA eligible.

The benefit the CHL will have is that far more US players will go up to the O, Dub, and the Q before going to the NCAA. Chase Reid would have never gone to Sault Ste Marie if it meant he wasn't still eligible to go to Michigan State in the future.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

So a couple of D+1 guys? And a maybe on Martone? Not exactly a trend. We are talking about guys leaving for the NCAA at D-1 or D year. I'm not counting guys that were going NCAA before the decision.

McKenna nor no one else is going to the NCAA for their D-1 unless they really accelerate their schooling. Most D-1 seasons are your 16 year old season, which would mean graduating HS 2 years early. If you're a Canadian late bday, then it's only 1 year of acceleration to graduate HS early.

 

[goavsblue8]

There was nothing stopping Canadians from going to the NCAA early before. They could just as easily accelerated schooling and played their 16 year old season in some junior A league or USHL and gone to the NCAA. And yet almost none did.

Yeah because the chl is where most elite 16 year old canadiens want to play. Truth is most guys have always wanted to do both(chl and ncaa), they just had to choose previosuly. Now that they dont have to choose most guys will try to do both.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

There was nothing stopping Canadians from going to the NCAA early before. They could just as easily accelerated schooling and played their 16 year old season in some junior A league or USHL and gone to the NCAA. And yet almost none did.

Because the USHL, BCHL, etc have no prestige in the minds of most hockey players on both sides of the border. With the new rules of the CHL being NCAA eligible, a Canadian kid can now still play for the London Knights or Kitchener Rangers and then move on to Michigan when ready. That's enticing.

 

[macbowes]

I understand your sentiment, but you have to get used to the reality that NCAA (18-23 year olds) is going to be above the CHL (16-20 year olds) on the development pyramid. The CHL was above forever due to far far better talent in Canada, but the growth of the game in the States has improved the whole NCAA with more future NHL talent.

I believe that it's rare for a normal good CHLer to outgrow junior in their 18 or 19 year old season to go to the A, but there are certainly guys who could move up a step to the NCAA to face age appropriate competition instead of taking a monster jump up to pro. Michael Dal Colle didn't gain anything from going back to the O in his 19 year old season, that season could have been much better at one of the handful of NCAA powers where he would have been challenged/pushed far more.

The new reality means the CHL will lose players earlier, whether it to be the AHL (under a new CHL-NHL Agreement) or most certainly the NCAA following the ruling of CHLers now being NCAA eligible.

The benefit the CHL will have is that far more US players will go up to the O, Dub, and the Q before going to the NCAA. Chase Reid would have never gone to Sault Ste Marie if it meant he wasn't still eligible to go to Michigan State in the future.

Honestly, I think the CHL->NCAA->Pro path will probably be ideal for most of the top-end talent, but it's just me being sad about the CHL losing those players.