The CHL-NCAA agreement allowing CHL players NCAA eligibility opened a new pathway for elite junior talent to play college hockey. Several high-profile CHL prospects, including first-round 2025 picks and projected 2026 top selections, have already moved to NCAA programs while lucrative NIL opportunities have emerged. Seventeen-year-old Gavin McKenna signed a $700,000 NIL contract with Penn State, demonstrating substantial earning potential for junior players. The NCAA has produced NHL stars like Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel, and Cale Makar and is now attracting prospects such as Landon DuPont, Porter Martone, Jackson Smith, and Maddox Schultz.
With McKenna setting the bar, and finally showing what junior hockey players are really worth, it isn't crazy to think that some of the CHL's best upcoming talent like the likes of DuPont and Maddox Schultz could make their individual moves to the NCAA, and DuPont looks like the perfect player to add to the ever-growing list of fresh NCAA talent.
Picking up recent draft picks like Porter Martone and Jackson Smith was already a good statement for the NCAA that it is now the most desired league to play in for junior hockey players, but after McKenna's deal was announced, their pull became a whole lot stronger. Managing to pull in one of hockey's most anticipated prospects of all time couldn't have sent a better message, and what is stopping them from poaching even more of the greatest upcoming talents?
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