The latest greatest can’t-miss prospect might have just stepped on his Koho on the way to the NHL draft as Gavin McKenna is now facing 4 criminal charges after an altercation following the Penn State outdoor game at Beaver Stadium last Saturday. Instead of his usual game play resulting in goals, multiple assists and creating general havoc on the ice: he’s now got a stat line that no one envies: Felony 1 – Aggravated Assault, Misdemeanor 2 – Simple Assault, and 2x Summary Offenses: Harassment and Disorderly Conduct.
Sheesh, have yourself a night 7-2.
Per reports, another bar patron was running his mouth at McKenna over who knows what and yada yada yada, McKenna (allegedly) broke his jaw. Penn State did just lose in OT to Michigan State at the outdoor game, and to be fair… McKenna did what he could (1-2-3) during game play. Maybe this guy’s girlfriend was rocking a McKenna sweater? Maybe this guy bet the under? Maybe this guy didn’t do a thing and McKenna has a short fuse after a few wobbly pops? Maybe this guy deserved it for talking rag-time? No one’s talking and very few people know for certain. Looks like that’ll be the Commonwealth of PA’s job to decide.
What is not in dispute is that the game atmosphere was electric.
But what is known, without a shadow of a doubt (at least in my opinion), is that McKenna ‘aint going first overall anymore. Per Tankathon, the current draft simulation (which was last updated 10 days ago) has VAN picking first (McKenna), followed by STL (Ivar Stenberg) and then the NYR at 3rd (Tynan Lawrence). With McKenna facing up to 20 years behind bars (unlikely on a first offense, but who knows), how does an NHL team take that risk, and with the PR backlash that will come with it? The one thing McKenna has going for him is that the Rangers are owned by a total boob and are clearly blowing things up (Panarin to LAK and could Trochek be far behind?), so if there’s a contrarian take; then I could see the Rangers making McKenna their cornerstone of the future. The biggest winner of the weekend has to be Stenberg who will see his draft value rise, which is bananas considering he was the consensus #2 pick.
Look, I hope the guy who got his jaw broken is alright. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes I guess, but what the fuck are the people surrounding McKenna doing? Apparently per reports, McKenna was with his family and teammates. What the what?? There was no one who could have intervened? No one who could have de-escalated the situation? And if that wasn’t the case, you don’t have a McSorley riding shotgun for McKenna? (look him up youngsters). Someone should have had a lick of common sense in this situation and stopped this from happening. Maybe this guy would still have a broken jaw (chirping a group of hockey players after a big loss is not a smart move), but McKenna might not have forfeited millions of dollars.
I mean did you think Wayne-O just liked hanging out with Marty for his witty banter?
But hey, it worked out pretty good for this drunk kid who got dinged for an assault once upon a time.
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