McKenna Watch

[shutout]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

He's a 165lbs 17 year-old kid playing his first season in a league full of guys in their 20s. His first year in the Dub was only 18pts in 16 games too.

Give him a few minutes to grow (physically) and get used to things a bit.

Which is why I think there is a possibility that he goes back to college next year instead of straight into the NHL. He is still going to be smaller than he needs to be and it would be better for him to have a truly dominate college year before making the next jump.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Let's just hope Huska isn't still the coach by then, because I think his coaching style stifles the offensive creativity of players.

I think he can coach an offensive style. The reason why this team isn't scoring is because he's coaching them to play it safe since they don't have top end scoring talent.


He won't be around once this team starts to get good but he would probably get a few goals out of that team.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by shutout

Which is why I think there is a possibility that he goes back to college next year instead of straight into the NHL. He is still going to be smaller than he needs to be and it would be better for him to have a truly dominate college year before making the next jump.

No chance he goes back to college.

[The Yen Man]

Does the big influx of CHL and top prospect talent this year also make the NCAA years not as comparable to as when Celebrini played? I'm really hoping McKenna lives up to the hype and the Flames somehow get him.

It would be so on point for the Flames to have them finally get a chance to draft a franchise talent 1st overall, only for that talent to end up a bust. I personally don't think it goes that way, but as a Flames fan, I'm conditioned to not expect nice things ever lol.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Buff

I think he can coach an offensive style.

[Royle9]

Saw this thumbnail lol

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Saw this thumbnail lol

McKenna even looks like a main character to Wolf and Parekh's supporting characters.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Saw this thumbnail lol

Jesus, that's almost pornographically airbrushed. Some fanboy had some time.

[Wastedyouth]

What's going on with Gavin McKenna at Penn State? https://share.google/dyCF20bmzLLBGdN2i

For those worrying about McKenna.

[Sandman]

These concerns about McKenna are either overblown, or completely unfounded. He's still the best player in the draft, and still a budding superstar in the NHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

What's going on with Gavin McKenna at Penn State? https://share.google/dyCF20bmzLLBGdN2i

For those worrying about McKenna.

No one should be allowed to post about McKenna until they read this article.

He has ONE primary assist 5 on 5 because his limemates' shooting percentage is in the toilet. The kid is every bit the stud he was last year- only difference? His linemates aren't.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Situation matters.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No one should be allowed to post about McKenna until they read this article.

He has ONE primary assist 5 on 5 because his limemates' shooting percentage is in the toilet. The kid is every bit the stud he was last year- only difference? His linemates aren't.

There’s been a few references to the article since it was posted the other morning and I think a bunch of people already read it based on the thanks it got.

That’s not a proper conclusion to make from it, though. There are other factors at play here that the article goes into, it just makes the point that if their shooting percentage was better they’d be scoring more goals and he’d have most assist. But it’s a bit odd that the entire line is just suffering from “bad luck” that couldn’t be anybody’s fault.

[Enoch Root]

It happens, especially in small sample sizes. In the video, he's setting guys up perfectly but they're not scoring. It is irrelevant that they don't score, it only matters that he's teeing them up. He is every.bit the elite offensive playmaker he has been for the last couple years (and his whole life).

That's what is being drafted, not what his linemates do

[Itse]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Jesus, that's almost pornographically airbrushed. Some fanboy had some time.

Probably AI.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

2027 could be a great year (knock on wood)

New building opening, Calgary has its own "Mc" player that every one drools over leading the way, and Edmonton's is on the way out or has already left.

The year the tables turn.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It happens, especially in small sample sizes. In the video, he's setting guys up perfectly but they're not scoring. It is irrelevant that they don't score, it only matters that he's teeing them up. He is every.bit the elite offensive playmaker he has been for the last couple years (and his whole life).

That's what is being drafted, not what his linemates do

I don’t think anybody has argued that his elite playmaking ability has vanished, have they?

The only question is how it’s translating, and the reasons it’s translating the way it is (which is a bit more of a complex answer) and how that might look when the competition ratchets up another level.

There are players that can make things happen all by themselves regardless of who they play with and players that need certain kinds of line mates to be at their best. Maybe this tells us McKenna is the latter.

[Enoch Root]

Actually, people have been arguing that.

He's a playmaker, so having finishers on his line is obviously important. But that's what a good top line is all about

[Calgary4LIfe]

When you watch highlights, it is there - the vision and ability to get pucks onto sticks in prime shooting locations. He ability to evade and make things develop out of thin air. This kid is a marvel, really. Ever since he set foot in the WHL.


I think the article makes two good points:


1) If he had more competent line-mates, he would have way more primary assists - he is setting them up in prime locations. It isn't about those points counting every time he sets them up, but rather just taking an average shooting percentage. Hard to argue with it when you see what he is doing on the ice.


2) He could be even more impactful by helping more defensively, which would lead to even more offensive opportunities. He should be digging in more, and I suspect under a good coach, they will demand him to do so, which will then just help him reach an even higher level. Once he gets a little bit more weight on his frame, I think he will be more willing to engage.