2026 NHL Draft set for June 26-27

The 2026 draft is a rather important one. After a disastrous attempt at decentralizing the draft for the first time last year in Los Angeles, many are hoping the league puts on a much better product next year. With the majority of the 32 teams voting in favor of keeping the event decentralized, meaning management staff doesn’t need to be in the same building as the players they are selecting, it’s up to the NHL to make better on a subpar effort in 2025.

While it’s still way too early to tell which team will hold the first-overall pick (though many already have their thoughts on who’s in the running), there’s one player who is, right now, a unanimous pick to be selected No. 1 next year. Gavin McKenna has seemingly checked all the boxes on what’s expected out of a top prospect during his time with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. He’s fast, has great vision, and has a scoring touch that complements his incredible playmaking ability.

McKenna is going to be facing a different type of competition this season, as he made headlines by committing to Penn State University for next season.