The hockey world recently saw a notable decision from top prospect Gavin McKenna, who has committed to Penn State for the 2025-26 season. While McKenna is a projected high pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, his choice brings renewed focus to the collegiate route – a path often considered less traditional for elite Canadian junior players aiming for the NHL, yet one gaining traction. Now, attention naturally shifts to the recently drafted players from the 2025 class: will more follow suit and opt for the NCAA after hearing their names called?
The landscape for young prospects navigating the journey to professional hockey involves a significant decision point, particularly for those developing within the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Traditionally, the path leads directly from the CHL to the NHL or its minor league affiliates. However, the NCAA offers an alternative, combining high-level hockey with academic pursuits. A key technicality governs this choice: players who sign an entry-level contract with an NHL team become ineligible to play in the NCAA, typically directing them back to their junior club if they don`t immediately make the NHL roster.
For some members of the 2025 draft class, this path has already been determined, at least in the short term. Players like Jake O’Brien (8th overall, Seattle Kraken), Ben Kindel (11th overall, Pittsburgh Penguins), and Lynden Lakovic (27th overall, Washington Capitals) have signed entry-level contracts. This move locks them into the professional track, meaning they will either play in the NHL or return to their respective CHL teams (Brantford Bulldogs, Calgary Hitmen, and Moose Jaw Warriors) for further development, bypassing the NCAA option entirely.
Conversely, other drafted players are charting a different course. Jackson Smith, selected 14th overall by the Washington Capitals (formerly of the WHL`s Tri-City Americans), has made a commitment to join Penn State. Similarly, Cole Reschny, the 18th overall pick (formerly of the WHL`s Victoria Royals), is set to play college hockey at North Dakota. These decisions highlight a growing willingness among top prospects to delay the professional contract and pursue development within the U.S. collegiate system.
This evolving trend presents a curious challenge for NCAA hockey programs. College teams operate on recruitment cycles and roster limits. Deciding whether to hold a valuable roster spot for a drafted player who might ultimately sign a professional contract or make the NHL team directly involves a degree of strategic gambling. As the article notes, with more top prospects considering this post-draft NCAA route, it`s somewhat “a brand new world,” lacking clear precedent for college coaches trying to build their rosters.
The Case of the First Overall Pick
Perhaps the most scrutinized decision belongs to the first overall selection, Matthew Schaefer, drafted by the New York Islanders from the OHL`s Erie Otters. While it`s more common for forwards to jump immediately to the NHL after being drafted high, defensemen often require more development time. We saw this recently with Owen Power, the first defenseman taken first overall before Schaefer in 2021, who returned to the University of Michigan for another year after being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres.
Schaefer, despite a season impacted by injury, is immensely talented, and making the immediate jump to the NHL is undoubtedly his primary aspiration and that of the Islanders organization. However, the possibility of further development, perhaps even a collegiate stop akin to Power`s path, remains a point of interest as he navigates the post-draft period. His decision, or lack thereof for the immediate future, encapsulates the dynamic nature of prospect development paths today.
In essence, while the CHL remains a dominant pathway, the NCAA is increasingly presenting itself as a viable and attractive alternative, even after the NHL draft concludes. The choices made by the top players in the 2025 class will continue to shape this evolving landscape, potentially influencing future generations of prospects and adding an intriguing layer of strategic maneuvering for both players and the collegiate programs hoping to land them.
