Why is Gavin McKenna Not in NHL 27?

NHL 27 has finally been released, and players everywhere are hitting the ice to use their favorite teams and players. If you’re a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, then you might have peeked at the team’s roster to see where the number one draft pick, Gavin McKenna, is lined up. However, as of right now, Gavin McKenna is not featured anywhere in NHL 27, meaning you can’t play as one of the most-hyped rookies in recent memory.

While you might have initially freaked out at EA Sports about this clear oversight, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for why Gavin McKenna and dozens of other rookies are not currently playable in NHL 27. We’ll explain everything you need to know about Gavin McKenna and when you can expect him to arrive in-game in the guide below.

Where Is Gavin McKenna In NHL 27?

Gavin McKenna is one of hockey’s biggest young stars, so his absence from NHL 27 has understandably confused fans. However, this isn’t an oversight by EA Sports or an issue with McKenna personally, since he’s agreed to have his likeness in the game. We even have McKenna’s initial OVR rating, which is set at 81 OVR, the highest for any rookie in the game.

The main issue with McKenna at the time of NHL 27‘s September launch is that the rookie has not appeared in any NHL game yet. This means that, most recently, McKenna appeared in an NCAA hockey game for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2026. EA Sports does not have the rights to use the likeness of any NCAA player, either current or drafted, until they appear in a single NHL game.

So, as soon as McKenna makes his highly anticipated debut with the Maple Leafs, which will likely be in the team’s first game on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto, EA will be able to add him to NHL 27 via a roster updatein early October (timing could change). The same goes for any other rookies who were drafted from the NCAA and have yet to make an official appearance in the NHL. After the update, these players will be fully usable on their respective teams and throughout the entire game, including in Franchise.

How To Use Gavin McKenna In NHL 27 Right Now

However, if you truly can’t wait to see what Gavin McKenna looks like on the ice in NHL 27, then there are some ways around EA Sports’ restrictions.

Most notably, you can either create Gavin McKenna as a player and add that player to your roster, or you can download a custom community roster that already includes the rookie. If you want to download a custom roster, follow these steps:

• Go to the main menu in NHL 27 and select your Franchise Mode save
• From the main menu in Franchise, go to Roster Management
• Go to the Community Files tab
• Browse through the available community rosters until you find one with Gavin McKenna
• Download that roster for your Franchise save

It’s certainly not a perfect workaround, but it at least lets you use McKenna and other NCAA rookies until they’re added to NHL 27 with the October roster update.