Now that Gavin McKenna has announced he is taking his talents to Penn State next season, attention turns to some of the NHL’s other top prospects.
While McKenna is making the move to the NCAA from the CHL ahead of being the projected No. 1-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, some of the top players from 2025 have to contemplate similar moves over the next few weeks or months.
A few have already made up their minds. For example, No. 8-overall pick Jake O’Brien will go back to the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs after signing an entry-level contract with the Seattle Kraken if he does not make the NHL team (players who sign entry-level contracts can’t play in the NCAA). Same goes for No. 11-overall pick Ben Kindel of the Pittsburgh Penguins and WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, and No. 27-overall pick Lynden Lakovic of the Washington Capitals and WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
On the other hand, No. 14-overall pick Jackson Smith of the Washington Capitals (formerly of the WHL Tri-City Americans) has committed to Penn State and No. 18-overall pick Cole Reschny (formerly of the WHL Victoria Royals) has committed to North Dakota.
It could get tricky for NCAA teams to determine whether to hold roster spots for potential star players. It’s a brand new world, so there’s no precedent.
Here’s a look at some teams and players who have yet to fully state their intentions for next season.
No. 1-overall pick Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders, OHL Erie Otters)
It’s generally considered more challenging for defencemen to jump right to the NHL as compared to forwards. Owen Power, the last defenceman before Schaefer to go first overall, spent one more year at Michigan after the Buffalo Sabres took him in the top spot in 2021.
Still, an immediate leap to the NHL is the goal for the supremely talented Schaefer, despite the fact he was limited to 17 games last season because of injury.
“I haven’t thought about (college) at all,” Schaefer told reporters at Islanders development camp. “My goal is to play at the end of the season here on the Island. This is where I want to be. I haven’t thought about anything else. I can’t wait to just work hard this summer, so I’m here.”
No. 2-overall pick Michael Misa (San Jose Sharks, OHL Saginaw Spirit)
Misa’s brother Luke, a Calgary Flames prospect, has committed to Penn State (previously OHL Brampton Steelheads).
Could Michael join him (and McKenna)?
“I don’t really know. I mean, my goal is to play in the NHL, so that’s kind of where my head’s at right now,” Misa said, per San Jose Hockey Now.
Before the draft, Misa said playing with his brother would be intriguing.
“The chance to play with him has been a dream for a while,” he said, per NHL.com. “It’s never actually happened, but maybe someday it will.”
No. 4-overall pick Caleb Desnoyers (Utah Mammoth, QMJHL Moncton Wildcats)
The Wildcats named Desnoyers their team captain for next season shortly after returning home from their run to the Memorial Cup and a QMJHL title.
However, Desnoyers has left the door open to looking at the NCAA.
“I’ll see what it takes to make the NHL. My goal right now is to surprise everyone and make the team next year. I’m the first person to realize how tough and hard it’s going to be, but I’m the first person also to do everything it will take,” Desnoyers said, per the Salt Lake Tribune. “I’m a big person who trusts the people around him — agents, family and with the organization here — we’ll take the best decision.”
No. 6-overall pick Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers, OHL Brampton Steelheads)
The power forward is another player who has been in the NCAA rumour mill for months.
“Martone obviously has all kinds of offers,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said, per Broad Street Hockey. “He wants to play in the NHL, and that’s a discussion we’ll have with his agent. As much as we want him to play, we have to make sure we do what’s best for him. We’ll figure that out in the coming weeks and see what he wants to do, and go from there.”
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Former Steelheads star goalie Jack Ivankovic, a second-round Nashville Predators pick, committed to Michigan earlier this off-season. Before the draft, he said he’d love to keep playing with Martone in Ann Arbor.
“Obviously Porter’s one of my best friends,” Ivankovic said, per NHL.com. “Been on him a little bit. But at the end of the day, I’ll let him be and let him make his own decision.”
No. 19-overall pick Justin Carbonneau (St. Louis Blues, QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
The QMJHL’s second-leading scorer last season, Carbonneau is debating between going to Boston College or returning to the junior ranks.
“That’s one of the topics to talk (about) with the Blues,” he said, per The Athletic. “Boston College is a great option for me to develop with older guys, or in Blainville. Two good options, but some talks that I’m going to do with St. Louis and decide in the next few days.”
