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NHL Notebook: 2026 NHL Draft top prospect Gavin McKenna will play for Penn State in 2025-26
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jul 11, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 11, 2025, 10:59 EDT
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The top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft is attending college.
According to Gavin McKenna himself, the top prospect in next year’s draft will attend Penn State in 2025-26.
The Whitehorse, Yukon native tore up the Western Hockey League season in 2024-25, scoring 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games as a 17-year-old. In the post-season, he added nine goals and 38 points in 16 games, helping the Medicine Hat Tigers capture their sixth Ed Chynoweth Cup. Unfortunately, they fell short in the Memorial Cup Finals to the London Knights.
Penn State will undoubtedly benefit from this, as McKenna is the overwhelming favourite to go first overall in the 2026 draft. Last season, Penn State made their first Frozen Four in the National Championship, led by Calgary Flames prospect Arsenii Sergeev. They’ll be without Sergeev, as he signed his entry-level contract shortly after.
There will be a Flames’ prospect to play for Penn State next season, as 2024 draftee Luke Misa transferred from the Ontario Hockey League to Penn State to begin the 2025-26 season.

Oilers trade for Ike Howard

Sticking with collegiate hockey news, the reigning Hobey Baker winner, Ike Howard, was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. In return, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired 2024 draft prospect Sam O’Reilly.
Last season with Michigan State University, the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games. Unfortunately for Michigan State, they fell 4-3 in the regional semifinals to Cornell University.
Immediately after, Howard signed his entry-level deal, meaning he won’t be attending MSU for his senior year. It’s projected that Howard will make the Oilers’ opening roster in a top-six role.
As for O’Reilly, he played for the Memorial Cup-winning Knights, scoring 28 goals and 71 points in 62 regular season games. In the post-season, the right-shot forward scored seven goals and 22 points in 17 games.

Sharks trade Henry Thrun to Maple Leafs for Ryan Reaves

On Thursday evening, the San Jose Sharks traded defenceman Henry Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Ryan Reaves.
Thrun was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 draft by the Anaheim Ducks and attended Harvard University for three seasons. He was traded to the Sharks in 2023 and played eight games with them, with two assists in 2022-23. Thrun played 51 games in 2023-24, scoring three goals and 11 points, followed by a two-goal, 12-point season in 60 games last season.
The Leafs received a seventh defenceman, but were also able to trade Reaves’ $1.35 million cap hit. Reaves played just 35 games with the Leafs in 2024-25, picking up two assists and just 28 penalty minutes.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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