Six players who could challenge Gavin McKenna for first overall in 2026
It feels like a foregone conclusion: Gavin McKenna will be the first name called when the lottery winner steps up to make its pick next June. He’s the reigning CHL Player of the Year, the most heavily recruited NCAA player ever, and his trophy case is already stacked with MVPs, gold medals, and scoring titles.
But with 10 months still to go before the hockey world gathers to watch the next wave of NHL hopefuls find new homes, it’s too soon to write the ending. Development isn’t always linear, and surprises happen.
McKenna holds a commanding, perhaps even untouchable, lead in the race. Still, ignoring the possibility of a late push would be shortsighted. So here are six players with the skill, the drive, and the upside to at least make it interesting.