He was the first-ever college superstar, and college hockey turned him down because he brought the spotlight with him, so Gavin McKenna will have to shine in the NHL.
When it is all said and done, Gavin McKenna is one of the most revolutionary hockey athletes ever, and that is before he even reached the NHL. Now, is he a transcendent-level talent? We will see, but one thing can not be overstated: he elevated and changed the world of junior and college hockey forever.
The term NIL, or name, image, and likeness, has significantly changed college athletics forever. Athletes can now make significant amounts of money before their professional careers even start.
The reports are that McKenna earned close to three-quarters of a million dollars USD and brought a level of stardom to college hockey that had never been seen before.
McKenna also had a camera crew following him around everywhere; the microscope and target appear bigger when you're the one drawing headlines and creating a few himself.
McKenna chose Penn State to be the face of the program, and the rest of college hockey did not love it
Penn State is not your traditional powerhouse in college hockey despite them being a traditional college powerhouse in other sports.
But the NIL has been the great equalizer in college athletics; it is no longer what your school has to offer, and if they can get you ready for the pros, or get you the easiest and best path to the pros, it is now nearly the minor leagues for the big four sports leagues.
The sport is now dominated by rich boosters who pay players, contribute to programs financially, etc. Take a look at the most recent college football champions, held by historically one of the weakest programs in history, with Indiana; the same thing is starting in hockey, and Gavin McKenna was the first one to make that leap.
The biggest booster in college hockey right now is Terry Pegula, who owns both the Buffalo Sabres and Bills and is a Penn State alumnus.
This program at Penn State made waves in recent years; high draft picks and players are now signing onto Penn State at the start of what could be a meteoric rise in terms of records set by the program going forward, and that certainly does not sit well with the old folks of college hockey.
Your traditional powerhouses for hockey include Michigan, the University of Denver, Boston College, Boston University, North Dakota, and the University of Minnesota, and guess what, McKenna did not choose them.
He chose Penn State to be the face of the team, program, and lead a program to where they haven't gone before.
In doing so, he became one of the most polarizing figures in college hockey, from being charged with felony assault and battery (though that was later dismissed) to scoring eight points in one game to then doing the Connor McGregor strut after a play; it has all been under the microscope and scrutinized.
Toronto spent a decade with stars who shrank from the spotlight, and just watched one leave to escape it
Gavin McKenna has a level of dawg in him that we have not really seen at the Junior level in a while; the kid has swagger, he has the it factor to him, and he actively wants to be where the lights shine brightest.
Is he a perfect Leaf? Who knows, but his attitude and mentality are something that is incredibly lacking with the stars this team has possessed over the years. There just is no fight; there is an incredible amount of talent, but very little in the way of the heart of the players and the fight they bring.
McKenna is different; he doesn't mind fighting or putting himself in the middle of danger, and he has a competitive spirit and drive that could lead him to being one of the best players ever and we're only a short while away from finding out why.
Who do the Leafs draft at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Maple Leafs hired a head coach who already helped develop Matthews and Nylander