Gavin McKenna's PSU NIL Contract Reportedly Around $700K Ahead of 2026 NHL Draft

Penn State reportedly offered Gavin McKenna the most lucrative NIL deal in college hockey history to bring the prospective top pick of the 2026 NHL draft to Pennsylvania.

McKenna announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on July 8 after visiting both Penn State and Michigan State the weekend prior.

ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported on Thursday that a source put the NIL offer McKenna received from Penn State "in the ballpark" of $700,000.

Wyshynski's story matches previous reports from The Athletic's Scott Wheeler and College Hockey Insider's Mike McMahon.

McMahon also reported on July 7 that McKenna had received an offer from Michigan State in the range of $200,000 to $300,000.

Wheeler noted that McKenna's offer wasn't only the largest NIL deal ever received by a college hockey player but a mark of a shifting trend in college hockey.

"Not that long ago, top NHL prospects were telling me they were getting branded sweaters and free meals at local restaurants as their NIL packages," Wheeler wrote.

That is set to continue changing now that the CHL decided to allow former QMJHL, OHL and WHL players to compete in college hockey starting with the 2025-26 season.

That new rule, in addition to revenue-sharing and NIL changes in the NCAA, will make it a lucrative option for top prospects to compete in college before making the jump to the NHL.

It could also set the stage for Penn State, which is coming off of its first Frozen Four appearance in program history, to join longer-established hockey programs in Boston and Denver as perennial title favorites.

The Nittany Lions reported offered Philadelphia Flyers prospect and first-round 2025 draft pick Porter Martone more than $250,000 to join the program next season, Will James of Philly Hockey Now reported in May.

Martone is still considering whether to transfer to college hockey or push for an NHL roster spot next season, according to a recent report from PhiladelphiaFlyers.com's Bill Meltzer.

Regardless of Martone's decision, Penn State's reported ability to offer almost $1 million in NIL deals to bring two top NHL prospects into the program is a sign that the Nittany Lions could potentially become a college hockey powerhouse in the near future.