McKenna commits to Penn State

[Taro T]

9 minutes ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

I hope not, but it is there, the ECHL is probably most affected.

Actually, expect the NIL to affect the USHL more than the ECHL.  But we shall see.

Could really see it doing a number on the USHL as it would no longer be as attractive an option to kids that want to play college hockey but need a little more seasoning.  If they can just go to the CHL (especially if it expands into a few more US based cities) could see that really effecting the level of play in that league.

[shrader]

6 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Reports say NIL money and Penn State has a big ole pot of that. I think that 700k is specifically just his NIL money deal with Penn State but hard to say as there isn't anything super concrete. 

Here's a good article on NIL in hockey

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6481261/2025/07/09/gavin-mckenna-ncaa-penn-state-nil-chl/

 

Is there anything at this point that stops a college player of any league from signing an equipment deal?  If he's allowed to do that, there's a lot more money on the table for McKennafrom the CCMs of the world.

 

2 hours ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

I hope not, but it is there, the ECHL is probably most affected.

The ECHL is getting the guys who have finished up their junior and college eligibility.  So at worst, they'll lost a few guys who run their course in junior and then move on to college, but that's a very short-term thing.

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, shrader said:

Is there anything at this point that stops a college player of any league from signing an equipment deal?  If he's allowed to do that, there's a lot more money on the table for McKennafrom the CCMs of the world.

 

The ECHL is getting the guys who have finished up their junior and college eligibility.  So at worst, they'll lost a few guys who run their course in junior and then move on to college, but that's a very short-term thing.

Not that I'm aware of. Georgia's qb did a car dealer nil and drove a Lamborghini around. CCM or whatever would seem similar. 

Edited Wednesday at 10:35 PM by LGR4GM

[Mango]

21 hours ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

As in college teams become the minor leagues

I think it will be more of a shot across the bow for OHL, WHL, USHL, etc. 

Which is totally fine by me. Talent gets spread across everywhere and you can't ever see your prospects play.

Filter everybody through the NCAA -> Draft -> AHL -> NHL.  Just like every other sport, intrnationals are all welcome to get a free American education and make a couple of bucks if they're lucky.

Also add the AHL to the NHL Center Ice Package. NCAA is already part of ESPN.

The NHL desperately needs to make hockey more accessible and do a better job of player access and story lines. That's especially true since you can draft a guy and never ever be able to see him for 3-4 years...if ever...

The NCAA is the second best league in the world for loads of sports. It makes sense for the NHL to capitalize on it.

[shrader]

5 hours ago, Mango said:

I think it will be more of a shot across the bow for OHL, WHL, USHL, etc. 

Which is totally fine by me. Talent gets spread across everywhere and you can't ever see your prospects play.

Filter everybody through the NCAA -> Draft -> AHL -> NHL.  Just like every other sport, intrnationals are all welcome to get a free American education and make a couple of bucks if they're lucky.

Also add the AHL to the NHL Center Ice Package. NCAA is already part of ESPN.

The NHL desperately needs to make hockey more accessible and do a better job of player access and story lines. That's especially true since you can draft a guy and never ever be able to see him for 3-4 years...if ever...

The NCAA is the second best league in the world for loads of sports. It makes sense for the NHL to capitalize on it.

Wait, do you think they’re actually getting an education out of this? McKenna will never have to go to a single class if he doesn’t want to. 

[Eleven]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

Wait, do you think they’re actually getting an education out of this? McKenna will never have to go to a single class if he doesn’t want to. 

And, with the current trend, he probably won't have to interact with non-athlete students, either.

Let's face it, major NCAA has become differently-branded minor league pro sports and nothing more or less than that. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

Wait, do you think they’re actually getting an education out of this? McKenna will never have to go to a single class if he doesn’t want to. 

No. But the draw of an American degree for international athletes is a huge safety net and the major factor for global recruiting. 

[Taro T]

24 minutes ago, Eleven said:

And, with the current trend, he probably won't have to interact with non-athlete students, either.

Let's face it, major NCAA has become differently-branded minor league pro sports and nothing more or less than that. 

Won't have to, sure.  Won't?  Yeah, right.  They've got what, 44k students at College Park.  That's ~22k co-eds.  The football players and frat boys ain't landing all of them.  😉