Tonight, May 5, the NHL Draft Lottery takes center stage in Secaucus, NJ, and all eyes are on one name: Gavin McKenna. While teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs vie for a chance to climb the draft board, only one franchise will earn the right to potentially select this generational talent.
Comparisons are already flying, with names like Matthew Schaefer, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard being tossed around. But McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, doesn't neatly fit any of those molds—and that's perfectly fine. Dig into his game, and you'll find an offensive wizard whose style echoes Patrick Kane or even Nikita Kucherov, a player McKenna has openly said he models his play after.
The numbers tell a compelling story. During his monster 2024-25 season with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, McKenna exploded for 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in just 56 games, earning WHL and CHL Player of the Year honors. He also led the Tigers to a WHL Championship and a Memorial Cup finals appearance, where he tallied three goals and six points in four games. For context, Kane's draft year with the OHL's London Knights saw him rack up 62 goals and 145 points in 58 games before being selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. Now, 19 years later, the Blackhawks hold the second-best odds in tonight's lottery—a full-circle moment that adds intrigue.
McKenna's production comes primarily from the perimeter and off the rush, but his hockey IQ is what truly sets him apart. Like Kane in 2007, he's the best passer in his draft class, and his 88 assists led not just the WHL, but the entire CHL. His forechecking and vision draw direct parallels to the future Hall of Famer.
Of course, the comparisons extend to weaknesses as well. Both players entered the draft with questions about defensive details and physical grit. Kane evolved from a one-way player into a more complete two-way force over his career. McKenna has already shown growth in that area over the past year, suggesting he's on a similar trajectory.
For the lucky team that wins tonight's lottery, McKenna represents more than just a top prospect—he's a franchise-altering talent who could reshape an organization's future for years to come.