Gavin McKenna's controversial actions has draft gap quietly closing

It might be costing him more than anyone expected.

McKenna's camp made the call quietly.

His agent, Matt Williams of CAA Hockey, confirmed to NHL.com that the priority was arriving in Buffalo fully prepared - physically sharper, stronger, and ready to impress after a freshman year at Penn State that produced 51 points in 35 games, per NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

The logic holds.

McKenna is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. That is the one legitimate knock on him entering draft weekend.

Banking a consensus No. 1 ranking and avoiding a tournament where one bad stretch could reframe an entire season is defensible.

But while McKenna trains in Kelowna, Ivar Stenberg is building his case in real time.

Stenberg, the Frölunda HC winger ranked first among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting, already posted near-historic SHL numbers as an 18-year-old and led Sweden to World Junior gold.

The Worlds are giving scouts live footage to work with right now - footage McKenna simply cannot produce from a gym in British Columbia.

This is where McKenna's decision becomes a real test, not a safe one.

Skipping the Worlds only pays off if the combine delivers visible physical improvement.

If McKenna shows up in Buffalo and the size and strength questions look the same as they did in January, the gap he tried to close in the gym could reopen on the board.

The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 pick after winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.

McKenna is still the favorite to go first overall. But the margin between him and Stenberg has tightened, and it keeps narrowing with every shift Stenberg plays.