The Philadelphia Flyers are hoping to see growth from their young core this upcoming season. That is the main goal of the franchise, not necessarily making the playoffs. But given the outlook of the Eastern Conference, it would not be surprising if the Flyers did miss out on the playoffs and entered the NHL Draft Lottery.
For the 2026 class, there is one undisputed top prospect, and that's Gavin McKenna. Flyers fans know about McKenna well, as he is set to make his collegiate hockey debut for the in-state Penn State Nittany Lions. He is already getting some incredible pro comparisons, such as Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov. Those are some good names to be compared to, hockey-wise. The 2026 draft lottery will be one of the most followed since 2023, when Connor Bedard was draft-eligible.
Flyers fans and fans of every team have the chance to see McKenna play on national television. On Friday, NHL Network and the NHL YouTube page will air Penn State's season-opening game against Arizona State.
Flyers fans have chance to watch 2026 No. 1 draft prospect Gavin McKenna on Friday
That's how you know McKenna is a big deal: that NHL Network is airing the game live on Friday night, 10 p.m. ET. There will be many fans looking to catch a glimpse at McKenna's on-ice play, especially for those who cheer for NHL teams who don't have the brightest outlooks in the 2025-26 season.
McKenna played most of his amateur career with the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Medicine Hat Tigers. In his most recent campaign, McKenna recorded 41 goals and 88 assists in just 56 games, according to Elite Prospects. That's right, he tallied 129 points in just 56 regular-season games. In the playoffs that year, McKenna recorded nine goals and 29 assists in 16 games in the Tigers' quest to a WHL title.
McKenna stands at 6-feet and weighs in at 170 pounds. This is McKenna's freshman season with Penn State. Considering all of the hype surrounding McKenna, it may very well be a one-and-done year. Fans wanting to see if he is the real deal, Friday is your chance.
How to watch 2026 No. 1 prospect Gavin McKenna's Penn State debut
- Date: Friday, Oct. 3
- Start Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Mullett Arena — Tempe, Ariz.
- TV: NHL Network
- Stream: YouTube
The game will air on national television 10 p.m. ET Friday on NHL Network. If you don't have cable or satellite, fans can watch it on streaming services that carry NHL Network, such as Fubo, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
Perhaps the easiest way for Flyers fans to watch is to stream the game on NHL's YouTube page. IF you don't have cable or a streaming service, that is your best chance to watch McKenna's debut live.