Who will be tanking for Gavin McKenna in 2025-2026?

[Hockeyville USA]

A lot of teams are improving and will try to get out of their rebuild/muck they're in before then (Chicago, San Jose, Columbus, Montreal, Anaheim, Ottawa), others should still be contending (Florida, Carolina, Edmonton, Dallas, Toronto, New York Rangers).

So who will fall off a cliff and unintentionally tank (New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, Washington, St Louis, Tampa, Boston, Los Angeles, Winnipeg), who will outright tank (Calgary, others listed previously), or who could be good but won't be and tank (Seattle, Utah, Philadelphia, Buffalo)?

Really interested who will end up in McKenna range, since he looks to be the truth.

Click to read more...

 

[Voight]

As a Blackhawks fan, we really didn't start the rebuild that long ago. Next year is still a rebuilding year and man I would absolutely love to have McKenna.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Pittsburgh

 

[koyvoo]

Pittsburgh

After having already drafted Hagens the previous year..

 

[Schennanigans]

My top two picks would be Columbus and Pittsburgh.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

My top two picks would be Columbus and Pittsburgh.

Both unintentionally tank or would they be intentionally tanking?

 

[Tachycineta]

The workhorse from Whitehorse cannot be replaced.

 

[Hammman]

As a Blackhawks fan, we really didn't start the rebuild that long ago. Next year is still a rebuilding year and man I would absolutely love to have McKenna.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Chicago barred from winning the lottery until 2028 because they won the last two years? Or does winning second place not count?

 

[Dread Clawz]

San Jose will still be tanking. Funnily enough, it could be Pittsburgh.

 

[Schennanigans]

Both unintentionally tank or would they be intentionally tanking?

I’m not really sure. These two just stand out to me over anyone else.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Chicago barred from winning the lottery until 2028 because they won the last two years? Or does winning second place not count?

I believe "winning" = moving up. Retaining original spot does not equal "winning".

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

LA

Blake gets bombed this year and we have to start over

 

[TheNumber4]

Which of these classless teams will purposely tank for him? Maybe Pittsburgh, I could see them blowing it up.

Won't be the Oilers though since they've never tanked for a 1st overall ever.

 

[amnesiac]

Calgary

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Pittsburgh

This.

We’re cooked.

 

[trick9]

I don't think Penguins will intentionally tank but at the same time, i can see them being a brutal team already this season which might lead to Crosby moving on if he still wants to play in the Playoffs.

If he doesn't move on, i don't see how Penguins will finish with a top-6 pick.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

I think Calgary and Pittsburgh.

 

[Reality Czech]

After lose for Hughes and fail for Nail, I'm having a hard time coming up with a pun for McKenna.

 

[ozzie]

2 more years in the WHL is crazy, when you consider what he has already done. Obviously needs to bulk about abit for that frame and work on a few things. But still, are people using 'generational' for him or just franchise player? On track to be better and bigger than Bedard?

I suspect the teams at the bottom now will still be there when this draft comes up. Chicago, San Jose, Columbus, etc are pretty poor franchises.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Lines up perfectly for when Pittsburgh bottoms out

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

I could see an intentionall tank in the Habs near future.

One, it worked out OK for the Leafs when they tanked for Matthews.

Two, in order to build and populate a "Robidas Island" you need players with injuries and the Habs have had more than their share of injuries the last few years.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I could see an intentionall tank in the Habs near future.

One, it worked out OK for the Leafs when they tanked for Matthews.

Two, in order to build and populate a "Robidas Island" you need players with injuries and the Habs have had more than their share of injuries the last few years.

I think their prospect pool is too strong and I don't think Hughes and Gorton have any intention of building that weak of a roster for 2025-26.

 

[LeProspector]

Nobody, because he isn’t a special talent.

 

[BondraEra]

There is no such thing as “unintentional tanking”.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

There is no such thing as “unintentional tanking”.

The 2003-04 Capitals weren't planning on Alex Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin in July of 2003. They had just made the playoffs and picked at 18 in 2003, so I don't think their focus was on the 2004 Draft