Next Gen NHL Stars Rising | NHL News

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 22, 2026 · 1m

Eighteen-year-old Gavin McKenna just went 1 in the 2026 NHL Draft and is poised for the best rookie season ever at his age—his hockey IQ and vision are elite. Nineteen-year-old Matthew Schaefer exploded with 50 points as a rookie, already the best in his age group and unlikely to be dethroned. At 20, Macklin Celebrini’s offensive firepower and defensive discipline make him a future cornerstone, even with expected regression. Twenty-one-year-old Leo Carlsson elevated himself to top-line center status for a playoff team, despite a pricey contract. And at 22, Lane Hutson’s defensive leap last…