Now that Gavin McKenna has announced his commitment to Penn State University for the upcoming season, the spotlight shifts to other prominent prospects for the NHL Draft.
While McKenna, projected as the likely first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, is moving from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) to the NCAA, some of the top talents from the 2025 draft class face similar decisions in the coming weeks or months regarding their next steps.
Several players have already finalized their plans. For example, forward Jake O`Brien, the 8th overall pick, is set to return to the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL if he doesn`t secure a roster spot with the Seattle Kraken after signing his entry-level contract (players on entry-level NHL contracts are ineligible for NCAA play). This also applies to Ben Kindel (11th pick, Pittsburgh Penguins), who is with the WHL`s Calgary Hitmen, and Lynden Lakovic (27th pick, Washington Capitals) from the WHL`s Moose Jaw Warriors.
Conversely, defenseman Jackson Smith, selected 14th overall by the Washington Capitals (previously with the WHL`s Tri-City Americans), has committed to play for Penn State. Similarly, forward Cole Reschny, the 18th overall pick (formerly of the WHL`s Victoria Royals), has committed to the University of North Dakota.
NCAA teams may encounter challenges in determining whether to reserve spots on their rosters for these potentially high-impact players. As this is a relatively new trend, there isn`t established precedent to guide these decisions.
Below is a look at some players and teams whose intentions for the next season remain uncertain or unannounced.Matthew Schaefer, 1st Overall Pick (New York Islanders, OHL Erie Otters)
Transitioning directly to the NHL is often considered more difficult for defensemen compared to forwards. Owen Power, the last defenseman to be drafted first overall before Schaefer (in 2021), played an additional year at the University of Michigan after being selected by the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite this, Schaefer, a player with immense talent, aims to make the immediate jump to the NHL, even though an injury limited him to just 17 games during the previous season.