Gavin McKenna Left Arizona State Fans Booing and Never Looked Back: Here's Why He's the No. 1 Pick Lock
Gavin McKenna walked into enemy territory in October as a 17-year-old and left with a game winner and a legendary trash talk moment that basically clinched his path to the top of the 2026 NHL draft. The Penn State winger heard it from Arizona State fans at Mullett Arena during his first college shift, and it never stopped. "They were giving it to me," McKenna said. "Anytime I touched the puck I'd hear the boos and hear the 'overrated' chants." His response? He went straight into the noise and won the game.
The Moment That Defined Everything
Tied 2-2 with less than two minutes left, Penn State had a power play. McKenna collected a cross-ice pass in the right faceoff circle and ripped a one-timer through traffic. Goal. Game winner. And then came the celebration that changed everything: "I hit the 'forks down' celly," McKenna said. "That was pretty fun." That one moment, the noise, the response, the swagger? That's what defined his entire draft year and shaped how every team vying for the No. 1 spot views him.
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McKenna was already being compared to recent No. 1 picks like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini before he even got to Happy Valley. His decision to commit to Penn State only cranked up the pressure. "When you get a player like that, it's kind of like, 'holy cow,'" Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said. "You don't expect that to happen here, and then it does." In an NIL-driven landscape, McKenna's commitment was viewed as one of the most significant in college hockey history. Reports circulated about a record-breaking deal, with opponents jeering about a $700,000 figure (whether accurate or not). The 6-foot, 170-pound winger handled every ounce of it.
McKenna himself kept it real about the pressure: "I've almost got to be perfect at all times." And you know what? He pretty much has been. The 2026 NHL draft lottery happens tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Don't expect any surprises at the top.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.