Penn State 2026 NHL Draft Preview
· Yahoo Sports
The 2025-26 NHL season closed out 11 days ago with the Carolina Hurricanes bulldozing their way to the franchise’s second Stanley Cup. All 32 franchises will look toward their future this weekend at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. No. 1 overall prospect Gavin McKenna has drawn significant attention, but Penn State’s presence in this draft goes deeper than the star winger. At least four Penn State recruits are projected to hear their names called on Friday or Saturday, continuing a positive recruiting trend for the program.
Gavin McKenna (LW)
2025-26 Team: Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA)
2025-26 Stats: 15 goals, 36 assists (35 games played)
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All signs point to the Toronto Maple Leafs using their first overall pick to draft McKenna. The Leafs are in a squishy spot after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. McKenna should fit nicely into an established forward group with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies. His vision and passing stood out at Penn State and should translate to the NHL, even if it takes some time for him to adjust to the professional game.
Projection: First overall pick
Egor Shilov (C)
2025-26 Team: Victoriaville Tigers (QMJHL)
2025-26 Stats: 32 goals, 50 assists (63 games played)
One of the top centers in this year’s draft, Shilov committed to Penn State in May. He is strong on the puck in the offensive zone and very reliable in the faceoff circle. While his shot is lethal, his vision and decision-making project him as more of a playmaker than a pure goal scorer. The biggest question mark on his profile is his skating. He has not shown top-end breakaway speed that would push him comfortably into the first round.
Projection: Late first round-early second round
Jaxon Cover (RW)
2025-26 Team: London Knights (OHL)
2025-26 Stats: 20 goals, 32 assists (67 games played)
Cover committed to Penn State on April 10. He turned in an impressive rookie season in the OHL with the London Knights. His 52 points ranked fourth among all OHL rookies in 2025-26. Cover is creative in the offensive zone and an excellent skater. He does not have a standout trait that will launch him into the first round, but I can certainly see a team selecting him with a late first round pick if they like his upside enough.
Projection: Early second round
Pierce Mbuyi (LW)
2025-26 Team: Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2025-26 Stats: 32 goals, 43 assists (68 games played)
Mbuyi committed to Penn State in June 2025 and is projected to join the Nittany Lions in 2027. He was named OHL Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 and followed it up with a stronger 2025-26 season, where he eclipsed the point-per-game mark. He is undersized at 163 pounds, which could limit his ceiling in the draft, but there is plenty of time for him to bulk up. He is undoubtedly a productive offensive player and a quality skater.
Projection: Mid-second round
Ryder Fetterolf (G)
2025-26 Team: Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
2025-26 Stats: 29-9-3 record, .923 save percentage, 2.07 GAA, 6 shutouts (41 games played)
The Pittsburgh native is heading to Penn State next season following a breakkout year with the Ottawa 67’s. His six shutouts in 2025-26 set an OHL record for rookies. He was named OHL Goalie of the Year earlier this month. At six feet tall, he is short for an NHL goaltender prospect, but his athleticism and positioning have helped him fill in the gaps. His rebound control is a bit of a question mark. This could be troublesome as he transitions to the NCAA against the sharp scoring talent in the Big Ten, but there is still a long way to go in his development.
Projection: Fourth round