Penn State hockey’s offseason continues to carry a different kind of weight.
The Nittany Lions are no longer just managing a roster or waiting for the next season. They are now part of the larger NHL Draft, transfer and major-junior conversation in a way the program has not consistently been before.
McKenna Remains at Center of NHL Draft Conversation
That starts with Gavin McKenna.
McKenna, Penn State’s freshman star and projected top prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft, continues to be linked heavily to the Toronto Maple Leafs after the organization landed the No. 1 pick.
The Maple Leafs allegedly told McKenna at the NHL Draft Combine that they intend to select him first overall.
If that happens, it would be another massive visibility moment for Penn State hockey.
McKenna’s one season in Hockey Valley already changed the way the program is viewed from the outside. He gave Penn State a true elite-prospect presence, helped push national attention toward Pegula Ice Arena and gave Guy Gadowsky’s program a direct connection to the top of the NHL Draft.
What a Toronto Selection Would Mean for Penn State
The Maple Leafs connection only adds to that spotlight.
Toronto is one of the NHL’s most scrutinized franchises, and McKenna entering that market would make his Penn State season part of a much larger hockey story.
For Penn State, the value is obvious: Gadowsky’s program can point to McKenna as proof that elite NHL talent can spend time in Hockey Valley and still remain on a franchise-player track.
That has a major impact in recruiting, player development. and how Penn State is viewed by NHL scouts, future prospects and families evaluating the college route.
Penn State Attendance Shows Growing Interest
Penn State hockey’s momentum was not limited to the roster or NHL Draft conversation.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The Nittany Lions also continued to show that there is a growing audience for high-level hockey in State College. Pegula Ice Arena has long been one of the better atmospheres in college hockey, but the 2025-26 season gave Penn State another proof point that the sport can command serious attention in the market.
That was especially clear during the Beaver Stadium outdoor game against Michigan State, which drew 74,575 fans and put Penn State hockey on the second largest stage the sport has seen at the college level.
Penn State topped the nation (minimum 3500 seat venue) by capacity (111.2%) and second overall in total attendance (195,064) behind North Dakota (240,826).
Penn State Adds Forward Kaden Pitre
Penn State also added another forward with major-junior experience.
Kaden Pitre, a 20-year-old forward from the North Bay Battalion, committed to Penn State. Pitre was previously selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, but was not signed ahead of the June 1 deadline.
Pitre brings production and experience.
Before being traded to North Bay, he spent parts of four seasons with the Flint Firebirds, totaling 101 points in 167 regular-season games. He also had a career-high 53-point season in 2024-25. After joining North Bay, Pitre added 37 points in 37 regular-season games.
The Nittany Lions have been aggressive in using the changing college hockey landscape to their advantage.
With CHL players now able to pursue NCAA opportunities, Penn State has become one of the programs to watch. The commitments of players such as Jaxon Cover, Pierce Mbuyi and now Pitre show that the Nittany Lions are not just dabbling in that market.
They are actively building through it.
Penn State needs to keep raising its talent floor while also replacing high-end production.
