Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff? Would Either Complete the Flyers Rebuild?

The 2026 NHL Draft is way out, and we don’t really know where the Flyers will land in the draft. They seem to be right in the mushy middle for the 2025-26 season, with the chance to compete for the postseason, but just as good a chance at landing a top draft selection in 2026.

In 2026, the draft is headlined by a generational talent in Gavin McKenna and a guy who is knocking on the doorstep of being in that same conversation, Keaton Verhoeff.

2026 is more than a two-player draft, with guys like Ivar Stenberg, Ryan Roobroeck, and Tynan Lawrence all being potential game changers for a franchise.

For the purpose of this story, we’re looking at the two top dogs.

There are arguments for both McKenna and Verhoeff to be the top pick. Both guys are headed to the NCAA (McKenna to Penn State, Verhoeff to North Dakota), where they will likely get tested by some added physicality. Not to mention the NCAA strength and conditioning programs. They’re both highly regarded prospects, and they play different positions, which makes it hard to compare the two.

McKenna is an uber-skilled winger, a scoring machine, and has a high hockey IQ. Verhoeff is a big right-shot defender who is the complete package–a smooth skater, lockdown defender, but can also rack up points. So, the slightly undersized winger who put up 97 points in his age 16 season, and 129 at age 17, or the all-around defender that might just be the surest thing in the draft? It’s much closer than you might think.

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Who Would You Pick Between the Two?

As far as prospects go, I still lean McKenna. I believe the size narrative is a little overplayed. Smaller players can absolutely have success in the NHL, not to mention, Elite Prospects has him at 6’0″–not small at all. Not to mention, he will bulk up from his 165 fairly easily. Just make sure the staff gives him one Dr. Pete’s Recovery Drink after every skate.

That is part of the reason why I believe the NCAA will become the next big stage in hockey. Prospects will WANT to come play at these schools with fantastic nutrition programs, world-class weight rooms, and training staff dedicated to them.

McKenna may be “small” now, but I genuinely do believe that will all be disregarded when he weighs in at the draft combine.

As for Verhoeff, he is not a distant second.

I mean, for real, who does not want that next all-around superstar? Matthew Schaefer just went No. 1 overall because he is a do-it-all defenseman, even beating out a 134-point scorer, despite a long-term injury. It would not be out of this world for Verhoeff to jump McKenna.

For a defenseman, I do believe that North Dakota is one of the best places for him to be. The NCHC is no joke, and most of those schools play a disciplined but physical brand of hockey that makes it easy for defensemen to grow into studs.

While I am higher on McKenna, Verhoeff has just as good a path to stardom.

Could Either Prospect Complete the Flyers’ Rebuild

Now, let’s preface by saying this: there is no way to tell, this far out, where the Flyers will be picking in the 2026 NHL Draft. It’s certainly too early to put anyone, aside from maybe a few teams, in the conversation for the top pick this early.

So, let’s put on our hypothetical caps and put the Flyers at the No. 1 overall pick in 2026. Would either McKenna or Verhoeff complete the Flyers’ rebuild?

Selecting McKenna would give the Flyers one of, if not the best, young winger group in the NHL. Already having Matvei Michkov, drafting Porter Martone this year, and I’ll throw Tyson Foerster in there too, McKenna would make this a star-studded group. Offensively, the Flyers could have a future top six of McKenna-Zegras-Michkov, Foerster-Nesbitt-Martone, which is pretty special. Especially considering the Flyers would likely have Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett as third-line guys.

However, while reading, you probably wondered how Zegras and Nesbitt could be the top centers on a “completed rebuild” team. They could be, especially since Nesbitt still has lots of room to grow. But, I don’t think they will be. For the Flyers specifically, if they draft a forward this high next season, it would be a center.

What About Verhoeff for the Flyers

So, the Flyers would assess their options, and look at Verhoeff, who will give McKenna a run for his money, and see that he could be the finishing touch to the rebuild.

The Flyers not-so-secretly addressed their future down the middle during the 2025 NHL draft. However, they still have a significant need for a future No. 1 defenseman. I personally think it is a defender from the left side that they need. But Verhoeff, a RHD, would easily be the finishing touch.

Verhoeff has everything the Flyers need in a No. 1 defenseman. He has size, skill, skating ability, and is a two-way stud.

It would be a tough choice. Again, I do believe that McKenna is the better prospect. But, as far as the Flyers’ positional needs, I don’t know if another winger truly completes the rebuild. It is a tough choice. I am a big believer in best player available, so could you pass up on the generational talent that is McKenna?

At this point, I would say Verhoeff has made it close enough that he could be the top pick of the draft, as he would be the piece to complete the Flyers rebuild.

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