McKenna Watch

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Rumor was that Shane Wright was a cocky, arrogant kid, and didn't do well in pre-draft interviews. We didn't have the insight that they had.

Wright showed his true colors when he glared at the Habs' table on the draft floor on his way up to the podium. I'm sure he and his agent (and the Habs) explained it away as being something else, but that's what it was.

Basically things being close to equal top 4, this is clearly what did him in.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Basically things being close to equal top 4, this is clearly what did him in.

He's got a really punchable face, too.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by devo22

Sure, it's just a snap shot after 17 games. But still:

so 7 out of 11 players with 20+ points and 4 out of 7 players with 10+ goals so far were top 3 picks. That obviously won't guarantee team success or anything, and there are obvious outliers like Kaprizov and Geekie as well. Still, would be nice to go to the top 3 well for a change and draft a game changer.

I would wager that the ones that are drafted outside the top 3 picks are the ones that will fall off.

[fotze2]

Apparently Michigan State was chanting overrated to him last night as Penn State was blanked 5-0.

[TOfan]

Scott Wheeler with a McKenna piece this morning after a firsthand view over weekend in Michigan.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...hl-draft-2026/

Sounds like the decision to go NCAA may be double edged. He has put up good numbers so far, particularly for a 17 year old but some concerns in his game. Sounds like his compete level is starting to be questioned with some perimeter play and giving up on back checking in the eyes of some NHL scouts.

Wheeler’s take is he’s not ready to say Verheoff, Stienberg, or Belchetz is ready to challenge for 1OA but the conversation may shift before seasons end.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Mckenna/verhoeff
DuPont/joseph
Schultz/Pue

The next couple years could be huge if the flames actually bottom out

I have the privilege of watching Schultz and Pue here in Regina. My god. If we had 1 or both of them.

Schultz is also a better person than he is a player too. The time he makes for EVERYBODY who wants to talk to him, and with the biggest smile ever. I became an instant fan when he walked into my kids dressing room after my kid's CanSkate to say hi to one family, and handled the subsequent swarming with grace and patience

That aside, what's Schultz can do on the ice is something else. Watched him as a 14yo dominate midget AAA.... That was crazy

Sent from my SM-F946W using Tapatalk

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Scott Wheeler with a McKenna piece this morning after a firsthand view over weekend in Michigan.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...hl-draft-2026/

Sounds like the decision to go NCAA may be double edged. He has put up good numbers so far, particularly for a 17 year old but some concerns in his game. Sounds like his compete level is starting to be questioned with some perimeter play and giving up on back checking in the eyes of some NHL scouts.

Wheeler’s take is he’s not ready to say Verheoff, Stienberg, or Belchetz is ready to challenge for 1OA but the conversation may shift before seasons end.

I think we are seeing the difference between major junior vs. college, especially for a 17 year old.

Much like we saw the difference between major junior and the NHL for Zane.

Few handle it seamlessly.

McKenna has 14 points in 12 games, which for a freshman is considered pretty good. And for a 17 year old?

[Scroopy Noopers]

I’m all for being able to pick this guy at 2 as well…

[Roko]

McKenna will be just fine. He is small and young for college. That’s a hard league.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think we are seeing the difference between major junior vs. college, especially for a 17 year old.

Much like we saw the difference between major junior and the NHL for Zane.

Few handle it seamlessly.

McKenna has 14 points in 12 games, which for a freshman is considered pretty good. And for a 17 year old?

Yeah, for sure.

One of the points raised by Wheeler was if McKenna didn’t go to the NCAA, would scouts have questioned him for staying in a league he already dominated? Could that have been seen as McKenna not wanting to take on the bigger challenge.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think we are seeing the difference between major junior vs. college, especially for a 17 year old.

Much like we saw the difference between major junior and the NHL for Zane.

Few handle it seamlessly.

McKenna has 14 points in 12 games, which for a freshman is considered pretty good. And for a 17 year old?

For other recent forwards drafted out of the NCAA it is

Similar to James Hagens production
Far worse than Celebrini who was a lot younger than McKenna in his draft year
Far worse than Fantilli
Similar to Matthew Wood
Similar to Beniers
Similar to Kent Johnson
Better than Brady Tkachuk
Far worse than Jack Eichel

Make what you will of these facts but it is possible to absolutely dominate the NCAA in your draft year, Celebrini, Fantilli and Eichel did it. Also possible that McKenna hits a heater and gets closer to the numbers of the guys who dominated that level of hockey.

The good news for Flames fans is Reschny is putting up similar numbers and he is only 8 months older. Wytennbach is putting up similar numbers and he is 10 months younger.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think we are seeing the difference between major junior vs. college, especially for a 17 year old.

Much like we saw the difference between major junior and the NHL for Zane.

Few handle it seamlessly.

McKenna has 14 points in 12 games, which for a freshman is considered pretty good. And for a 17 year old?

Due to the CHL transfer this is the most talent the NCAA has likely ever had as well so the league has leveled up with a ton on 1st rounders and hopefuls making the jump

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Due to the CHL transfer this is the most talent the NCAA has likely ever had as well so the league has leveled up with a ton on 1st rounders and hopefuls making the jump

Great reminder for many. It’s not apples to apples with guys of the past. Much tougher league now. McKenna as a flame whether first or second overall is the goal

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Due to the CHL transfer this is the most talent the NCAA has likely ever had as well so the league has leveled up with a ton on 1st rounders and hopefuls making the jump

That doesn’t really make a difference in terms of how hard the league is for CHL players that were already dominating the CHL

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That doesn’t really make a difference in terms of how hard the league is for CHL players that were already dominating the CHL

Weird take to say adding a ton of talent to a league doesn’t make a difference for how difficult the league would be to play in. Care to elaborate on that?

[Enoch Root]

He's only played 12 games.

First, college is a pretty big change for a 17 year old. And second, maybe they have played some really strong teams to start the year.

I think we need to see a lot more than 12 games before making historical comparisons.

[dammage79]

This is very Flames fan esque. They're currently in the hunt for 1st OA and are now working very hard to somehow prove that the presumptive 1st OA pick is a bust.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He's only played 12 games.

First, college is a pretty big change for a 17 year old. And second, maybe they have played some really strong teams to start the year.

I think we need to see a lot more than 12 games before making historical comparisons.

That is fair. He is about 33% of the way through his season. See where his point total is at around the 18 game mark which would be roughly half way through the season to make historical comparisons.

For their schedule, this past weekend against Michigan State was the first time they have played a team ranked in the top 15 this season. They have had an easy schedule to start but it gets tougher now.

[Badgers Nose]

I’m just looking forward to the ‘we really need to find Gavin an elite centre’ talk for 20 seasons. Haha

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by devo22

Sure, it's just a snap shot after 17 games. But still:

so 7 out of 11 players with 20+ points and 4 out of 7 players with 10+ goals so far were top 3 picks. That obviously won't guarantee team success or anything, and there are obvious outliers like Kaprizov and Geekie as well. Still, would be nice to go to the top 3 well for a change and draft a game changer.

Could also indicate that the vets know they can ramp up slowly and the kids haven't figured that out yet, are eager to go and are hammering hard and early.....


Until all the games are played and eveyone is even, old and young, good and lousy teams etc....you really can't tell a thing. Just cherry-picking.