Penn State Could End Up Being The Epicenter Of The Hockey Universe If Gavin McKenna Ends Up Signing In Happy Valley
Jonathan Kozub. Getty Images.When the NCAA finally decided to allow college athletes to make money off their Name, Image, and Likeness, I think all they had in mind was that college athletes could make a few hundred bucks for signing autographs. They could be given a free meal by the local diner on campus. If you wanted to get really out of control, maybe a local car dealership would give them whatever they wanted to drive around for the couple years they're on campus.
I don't think anything could have prepared the NCAA for the NIL Deal ultimately opening the door for college hockey programs to offer Gavin McKenna more money to sign with their program next year than he would make as a rookie in the NHL.
For anyone who doesn't know, Gavin McKenna is currently the best hockey player on the planet not currently in the NHL. He can't even get drafted to an NHL organization until next summer since he's still just 17. He's not even in his draft year yet and he was just named the CHL Player of the Year.
41 goals, and 129 points in 56 games this season while leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Memorial Cup finals this year. The kid is an absolute mutant. It feels like we've had a ton of "generational talents" coming up throughout the past 10 or so years. Guys like McDavid, Matthews, Bedard, etc. Maybe the adjective "generational" just doesn't cut it anymore, but Gavin McKenna is undoubtedly in that same tier as McDavid.
And now the best hockey prospect on the planet is one quick phone call away from spending his draft year in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.
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College hockey has always been Boston and Minnesota. You can also group Upstate New York, Wisconsin and Michigan in there. But when you think about the centers of the college hockey universe, it's Boston and Minnesota. But now you have a Penn State team coming fresh off of their first appearance in the Frozen Four, potentially adding the best player in North America to their roster. NHL scouts in the barn every night. Packed house for every game. If ever there was a time to make a Flyers vs Penguins game happen at Beaver Stadium, it would be if Gavin McKenna is on campus.
Or he goes to Michigan State. And it's still pretty cool, but significantly way less sweet. Either way, college hockey wins and continues to become the clear path for future superstars in the NHL. Smell ya later, CHL.