NHL Announces Buffalo as Host of 2026 NHL Draft
The National Hockey League (NHL) officially announced on Monday that the Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 NHL draft on June 26-27 at their home arena, KeyBank Center. This decision was met with enthusiasm from Commissioner Gary Bettman and team owner Terry Pegula, who expressed their excitement about bringing the event back to Buffalo.
Commissioner Bettman, joined by Pegula, joked about the lack of surprise surrounding the announcement at a news conference before Buffalo’s game against Florida on Monday night. Bettman emphasized that the decision to host the draft in Buffalo was driven by the city’s passion for hockey, its great fans, and rich history and tradition. “This is a place where hockey really matters,” Bettman said. “Great fans, great history and tradition. That’s hockey at all levels of the game, grassroots on up… people have always supported and been enthusiastic about hockey, particularly when the team is as competitive as this one looks. So it’s an exciting opportunity to bring it back.”
Buffalo previously hosted the draft in 2016, and with this announcement, it becomes the second city to host the most drafts, surpassed only by Montreal. The NHL will continue its decentralized draft format, which was first introduced last year in Los Angeles. According to Bettman, the league will bring about 90-100 prospects into Western New York, utilizing up to 1,800 hotel rooms, and the event will be “our usual big event,” despite individual team personnel making selections from their own cities.
Buffalo’s Hockey Heritage and Proximity to Canada
Pegula expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the event, citing the league’s previous experiences in Buffalo, including the annual scouting combine and the NHL’s first Winter Classic in 2008. Buffalo’s proximity to the U.S.-Canada border is also seen as a significant advantage, offering easier access for Canadian fans to attend the festivities. “I consider us Canada south,” Pegula said. “We love our Canadian fans and appreciate the support they give us. But also in Western New York, [there’s] grassroots [initiatives]. I started as a Sabres fan. My son played hockey [here] since he was a little guy. To add to the scouting combine, the referee clinic and the world juniors [tournaments] we’ve had here, the support and the enthusiasm for it, it’s a great place to hold a hockey event.”
Top Prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft
Among the top prospects for the 2026 NHL draft is Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, who has been labeled a “generational talent” by scouts. McKenna made waves when he decided to leave the Canadian Hockey League last summer to suit up for the Nittany Lions instead. He has four goals and 19 points in 18 games in Happy Valley, while adjusting to what’s considered tougher competition in the NCAA ranks. Other top prospects include McKenna’s Canadian teammates at this year’s world juniors, forward Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota) and Carson Carels (WHL’s Prince George Cougars), as well as Chase Reid (OHL’s Soo Greyhounds), the top-ranked American-born skater in NHL Central Scouting’s latest release.
