Michigan State hockey loses Gavin McKenna, Isaac Howard in consecutive days

It's been a rough couple of days for Adam Nightingale and Michigan State hockey.

While the Spartans will enter the 2025-26 season as one of the top teams in the country once again after winning back-to-back Big Ten titles, their chase for the top prospect in the sport ended with heartbreak as Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State on Sunday and made it official on Monday.

The McKenna loss was obviously a tough blow to the potential 2025-26 roster, but the Spartans were still returning the Hobey Baker Award winner, Isaac Howard, as well as the top goalie in the nation.

Well, that changed in a hurry.

Shortly after the McKenna news was made official, the right to Howard were traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Edmonton Oilers and he decided to sign an entry level contract, effectively ending his Michigan State career.

Howard was expected to return to East Lansing for one final season but this trade changed things as he signed the contract with Edmonton and will be headed to the NHL. He's now the latest Spartan to make it to the league and he should have a long, successful career ahead of him.

Michigan State has some loose ends to tie and there's likely a spot or two open for a couple of newcomers should Nightingale opt to go that route.

The Spartans are still going to be one of the best teams in the country and a legitimate national title contender, but missing out on the top prospect in the nation and then losing the Hober Baker Award winner in back-to-back days hurts.