McKenna Leads North American Skaters in Central Scouting Midterm for 2026 NHL Draft
Gavin McKenna of Penn State is the No. 1 North American skater in NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings for the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, with Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra rounding out the top five; Ivar Stenberg leads the international list. McKenna has 19 points in 18 games this season and helped Canada win bronze at the World Junior Championship, earning multiple player-of-the-game honors. The draft is set for Buffalo in late June 2026. Dan Marr called McKenna an elite talent in a unique category, and Brady Knowling tops the top North American goalie list. The rankings also spotlight a mix of CHL, NCAA and international players likely to shape the first round.
