If only the NY Islanders had the 1st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft

Let me start by saying it's incredible for every corner of the NY Islanders organization that they won the 2025 NHL Lottery and the rights to select first in this year's draft. Matthew Scaefer, Michael Misa, and James Hagens are all projected to be phenomenal players and will be an asset far into the future. But that doesn't prevent people from thinking, "ughhh, if only this were next year."

The term "generational talent" gets thrown around a little too often, but the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna, is just that.

McKenna is a future superstar

Like Connor Bedard, McKenna's name is one that has been circulating around the hockey world for a couple of years now. Granted exceptional player status by BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta, McKenna made his WHL debut at 15 years old. In his first full season last year, McKenna put up 97 points (34 G and 63 A) at 16 years old.

This season, McKenna has been nothing short of sensational, finishing the regular season with 129 points (41 G, 88 A) in 56 games, leading the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL Finals, where they're currently tied 1-1 in a series with the Spokane Chiefs.

Perhaps McKenna's most impressive stat this season is his 54-point streak that was snapped on Sunday - the first game he hasn't registered a point since November 2.

Though there have been some highly-touted prospects to enter the draft in recent years, only Connor Bedard has had similar hype to McKenna.

He is a player, like Connor McDavid, who could alter the fortunes of a franchise overnight. If this were 2026, and the Islanders saw that last ball emerge that gave them the right to draft McKenna, it would mean possibly the most influential player to join the organization since the dynasty years.

The Islanders will hope they're not in a similar position next season where they're in the lottery, but winning again next year would be the ultimate consolation prize.