At a Glance
- Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 NHL draft June 26-27 at KeyBank Center
- Phenom Gavin McKenna is projected to go No. 1 overall
- This marks the fourth time Buffalo hosts the event, second-most in NHL history
- Why it matters: The draft showcases the league’s future stars and brings national attention to a proven hockey market
Buffalo will be the center of the hockey universe this summer. Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday that the Sabres will stage the two-day NHL draft on June 26-27, headlined by Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna, the consensus top prospect.
Draft Day Details
Bettman revealed the decision during a news conference at KeyBank Center alongside Sabres owner Terry Pegula. The league will again use a decentralized format: prospects and families attend in person while teams submit picks remotely from their home rinks.
KeyBank Center last hosted the draft in 2016, when the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews first overall. Only Montreal has hosted more drafts than Buffalo’s four.
The Sabres have deep ties to pre-draft events. The club has welcomed prospects to the NHL combine every year since 2015 and will do so again this spring.
Spotlight on McKenna
McKenna, 18, has topped draft boards since 2024 and carries the label “generational talent.” The Whitehorse, Yukon, native left the Canadian Hockey League after 158 games with Medicine Hat and enrolled at Penn State once the NCAA opened its doors to CHL players.
Numbers that back the hype:
- 4 goals, 15 assists in 18 NCAA games
- 10 points in 7 games en route to world junior bronze
- 45-game point streak to close last CHL season
- 289 career CHL points (91 G, 198 A)
NHL Central Scouting affirmed his status Monday, ranking McKenna first among North American skaters, ahead of North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg leads the international list.
College hockey presents a steeper test; most opponents are 19 or older, compared with the CHL’s 16-20 age range. McKenna has adjusted quickly, sitting fourth on the Nittany Lions in scoring and seventh among all NCAA freshmen.
Pegula Connection
Pegula, a Penn State alumnus, pumped more than $100 million into the school’s hockey program in 2013, funding both the men’s and women’s teams and the on-campus arena that bears his name.
Speaking at Monday’s press conference, Pegula recalled his remarks at the arena’s opening: “Maybe someday the next Sidney Crosby will come out of this arena.” He stopped short of predicting McKenna will match Crosby’s résumé but praised the growth of hockey in central Pennsylvania.
Buffalo’s Draft History
Buffalo first welcomed the draft in 1974 and returned in 1991 and 2016. Only Montreal has hosted more drafts-27-underscoring the city’s place among the league’s traditional markets.
Bettman praised the region’s passion: “This is a great sports town, a great hockey market. The reception we get here is always terrific. Fans are knowledgeable and passionate. We’ve got a great organization with great ownership. All the factors that you would take into account, the boxes are checked in a first-class way.”
League Format
The 2026 draft will mirror 2025’s decentralized model. Last year’s event took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles; this year’s shift to an arena setting is designed to accommodate more fans while keeping team operations local.
Key Takeaways
- When: June 26-27, 2026
- Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
- Who: McKenna leads a deep class that includes Verhoeff and Stenberg
- Format: Prospects attend in person; teams pick remotely
- Significance: Buffalo’s fourth turn as host trails only Montreal
