The Calgary Flames have a real opportunity to draft an elite player in 2026, and the fanbase has set its eyes on projected first overall pick Gavin McKenna.
Currently playing for Penn State University, McKenna has faced a lot of criticism as his performace has been viewed as “underwhelming” by some. However, college is a big adjustment from the WHL, and McKenna is still playing at a point-per-game pace.
It’s no secret that the Flames need elite talent, and McKenna would be a huge addition for the franchise. According to one source, if McKenna were to be drafted by the Flames, he’d happily welcome the opportunity to potentially become the new face of the organization.
McKenna would happily join the Flames
According to Pat Steinberg via the Flames Talk podcast, he mentions how he’s heard that McKenna expressed the desire to become a Flame and would happily embrace the opportunity to play in the organization if that opportunity arose.
“I know for a fact that Gavin McKenna wants to be a Calgary Flame. I know he would love to be a Calgary Flame. I know that. It has been confirmed to me by multiple different people, that if Gavin McKenna were to become a Calgary Flame, he would jump at it and would love to represent the organization.
For a team that has struggled to keep high-profile players around during the last few years, they wouldn’t have to worry about McKenna, as he would happily embrace being a Flame, and fans would embrace him just as much. The market would go absolutely nuts if McKenna ended up sporting the Flaming C. He’s the type of player who sells tickets, jerseys and is that elite gamebreaker that the team desperately needs. Could you imagine a core consisting of Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh and Dustin Wolf? Wow.
Fans are begging for the Flames to embrace a rebuild
There is no sugarcoating it. The Flames need to move on from the desire to remain in the mushy middle and start thinking about the future. This year’s draft presents the perfect opportunity to select a potential franchise player who could represent the team for the next decade. Enough is enough. The mushy middle cannot continue. It damages the organization’s long-term outlook and only increases fan apathy. What better way to re-engage the fan base than by drafting a star forward in McKenna, who could be the superstar this team finally builds around?
