Gavin McKenna, 17, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL draft, is committing to Penn State, he announced on SportsCenter Tuesday, telling ESPN that he feels "this is the next step in my development to reach my ultimate goal of playing in the NHL.

Gavin McKenna, considered a generational talent and the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, will play at Penn State University this season. The 17-year-old forward announced his decision Tuesday on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,

According to Mike McMahon of CollegeHockeyInsider.com, Penn State's offer came in at about $700,000, compared to just $300K from Michigan State. It's surely not the only reason McKenna chose PSU. He's looking at lots more financial security in his future. But it couldn't have hurt.