Photo credit: Matthew O’Haren – Imagn Images.
A top prospect for the 2026 National Hockey League Entry Draft has left the Vancouver Canucks with a big decision to make, if they land the first overall pick.
While the Vancouver Canucks might be entering a rebuild and sitting dead last in the National Hockey League’s overall standings with 18 wins through 57 games, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for fans of this team.
“The last-place team will have just a 27.1 per cent chance to land the first overall pick and a 19.8 per cent chance at picking second.” Rob Williams of Daily Hive said last month.
He added, “Because the first two picks are the only two selections awarded via the lottery, the maximum number of spots the 32nd team can fall is two. That makes the odds of picking third overall 53.1 per cent.”
Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect leaves Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin with tough decision to make
While there has been a bit of talk that the Vancouver Canucks really like Ivar Stenberg, for good reason, with Patrik Allvin taking a trip to Sweden earlier this month to watch the 18-year-old, the play of Gavin McKenna over the last couple months can’t be overlooked.
Prior to the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, McKenna wasn’t playing too well, however upon returning to Penn State University following Canada’s bronze medal win, the Whitehorse, Yukon native has taken his game to the next level.
On Friday night, as Penn State took on Ohio State, McKenna proved to world and National Hockey League General Managers & scouts that he should be the one to have his name called first in June’s draft.
Penn State defeated Ohio State by a score of 11-4, with Gavin McKenna setting a new school record by picking up a whopping eight points (one goal, seven assists – five of which were primary), along with seven shots.
“🏒 Gavin McKenna sets a Penn State men’s hockey program record with 8 points in tonight’s 11-4 win over Ohio State:
• 1 goal
• 5 primary assists
• 2 secondary assists
• 7 shots on goal
Dynamite. 🧨 #NHLDraft” @PuckReportNHL said.
With his eight-point effort on Friday, McKenna now sits at 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists), 34 penalty minutes and is a plus-two in 27 games and is trying to do everything in his power to get Penn State back to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive year.
Whether it’s Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, the Vancouver Canucks are going to get a really good player, should they land the first overall pick, but with the former’s recent play, it’s going to make that decision even tougher for Patrik Allvin and his scouting staff.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Gavin McKenna leaves Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin with a big decision to make
If the Vancouver Canucks get the first overall pick, do you think they should select Gavin McKenna?