McKenna Watch

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Especially if it's a winger - just play them with a C that has a good 200 ft game

#Reschny

Bure played with Messier, Linden, and Modano (with Lehtinen), so yeah.

Iggy played with Conroy.

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No one is debating whether Celebrini and Bedard are that way - we all know that they are.

What we're questioning is: why do you think McKenna isn't that way? What have you seen that makes you think he doesn't have the drive those guys do?

Because it was consistently brought up as a trait during their draft year.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

eliteprospects has a free article analyzing McKenna's college play so far:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/...-at-penn-state

From the same article:

There’s no nice way to put it: McKenna’s urgency is too low. He’s cheating for offence, gliding on backchecks, taking looping defensive routes that put him out of the play, and disengaging when the play isn’t directly in front of him. It’s the same story on the forecheck, as he regularly coasts to the puck carrier in a half-hearted attempt to angle, without ever touching the opponent.

These have a direct impact on McKenna’s offensive impact. He's not creating much offence as the driver in transition, largely because he's relying on flying the zone, 1-on-1s, and solo rushes to transport the puck. That's really antithetical to his game, as he's best in transition when getting his first rush touch deeper in the defensive zone, building speed, and working intricate passing plays. He's lethal when working the walls, but he's getting fewer opportunities to do that because his solo rush game means more one-and-dones while his lack of physical details means he's not turning the forecheck into offence.

[Enoch Root]

easy to fix - everyone's game slips into ruts

[ignite09]

I wonder where Mathew Schaefer, or Michael Misa would go in this draft?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by ignite09

I wonder where Mathew Schaefer, or Michael Misa would go in this draft?

Schaefer would go first overall, nobody in this draft would give him a scare for that position.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

^ And YET.. over a point per game.

Imagine when he starts playing more of the right way over 200 feet.

[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.

[JTech780]

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.

Again, I am not saying he isn’t going to be a good player, I just don’t think he is going to be as good as Schaefer, Celebrini or Bedard.

Celebrini was even younger in his NCAA draft year, and put up 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games. Fantilli was similarly aged to McKenna and put up 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games.

Points aren’t the end all, and many factors go into one player scoring more than another. That being said if he is a franchise player in the making then I need to see more production. I also need to see a player who is willing to fight through the tight checking, physicality and size at the NCAA level, because it isn’t going to get any better at the NHL.

[PepsiFree]

I think it’s OK to acknowledge the player’s faults or shortcomings and not just make up excuses for why they exist.

If he’s got the same knocks on him that he did in junior then those issues are obviously not related to the NCAA transition.

[FanIn80]

If you actually watch him play right now, you can see he's deferring to teammates and shying away from the dirty areas. That's a comfort issue, not skill related.

I hope he falls to 2 or 3 in the draft, but only if it's because we didn't win the lottery and one or two boneheaded GMs let him drop to us lol.

[dino7c]

The NCAA has 60 division 1 teams...its pretty hard to compare numbers, especially with a small sample size and in different years. Who you are playing and playing with makes a massive difference

[Calgary4LIfe]

Good. I hope he is overtaken in the rankings, and the Flames will have to 'settle' for him if they lose the lottery and draft in the 3-5 slot. Or if the Flames finish last, I will love reading all the 'Flames drafted the bust" clickbait write-ups.


McKenna is a franchise-altering player. I hope they have the opportunity to draft him. If they don't, there are legitimate franchise players at the top of this draft (and next). It will be extra fun to follow these prospects (as well as the regular prospects deeper into the draft as usual).


There will be prospects that fall. For instance, Roobroeck was thought of in the top 3-4. Now on some lists, he is around 10th. Maybe with Vegas' pick, the Flames get him too. Or they pick up a riser like Joe Iginla (I bet he rises). Plus, the Flames are likely to add another 1st this year (Andersson and Kadri - I bet one will bring a 1st for this draft, and the other a 1st for next year's draft).


The last draft was exciting. This one is going to be really fun.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think it’s OK to acknowledge the player’s faults or shortcomings and not just make up excuses for why they exist.

If he’s got the same knocks on him that he did in junior then those issues are obviously not related to the NCAA transition.

Team wet blanket, as always.

Those excerpts from the scouts were based on his first dozen games in the ncaa, not about knocks that have carried over.

The excuses are valid. Most players arent polished at his age, especially in transition to a new league they haven't cracked yet. To cheat a bit at the beginning doesnt mean the player is inherently flawed or that it cant be sorted out.

You'd find similar faults at various stages of development in other top players in other years that went on to be stars.

The talent level is undeniable at the end of the day, and that's why hes still the consensus #1 even with this stretch of decent but flawed play.

Make sure to come back around when the prevailing narrative changes after the WJCs.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Team wet blanket, as always.

Those excerpts from the scouts were based on his first dozen games in the ncaa, not about knocks that have carried over.

The excuses are valid. Most players arent polished at his age, especially in transition to a new league they haven't cracked yet. To cheat a bit at the beginning doesnt mean the player is inherently flawed or that it cant be sorted out.

You'd find similar faults at various stages of development in other top players in other years that went on to be stars.

The talent level is undeniable at the end of the day, and that's why hes still the consensus #1 even with this stretch of decent but flawed play.

Make sure to come back around when the prevailing narrative changes after the WJCs.

Go back and read pre-NCAA scouting reports and you’ll see a lot of the same knocks. They just mattered a lot less when he was able to dominate more easily against physically weaker, less experienced competition.

Given that even star players have flaws I’m not sure why it’s controversial to acknowledge McKenna’s. I already compared him to Patrick Kane and I’d be ecstatic if the Flames pick first and take him. So not sure why you’re trying to convince me of his talent level.