The National Hockey League draft in June will be hosted by the Buffalo Sabres as announced by commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday, with Gavin McKenna, a highly sought-after prospect, being the focal point of the event. Bettman, alongside Sabres executives including team owner Terry Pegula, revealed the news during a press conference before Buffalo’s home game against the Florida Panthers.
Bettman praised Buffalo as a great sports town with a passionate and knowledgeable fan base, highlighting the city’s strong hockey market. The two-day draft is scheduled for June 26-27 and will follow a decentralized format for the second consecutive year, allowing prospects and their families to attend the draft while teams make their selections from their respective home markets.
The draft will take place at the Sabres’ home arena, KeyBank Center, a change from last year’s venue at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Buffalo has been the host city for the NHL’s pre-draft combine since 2015 and will once again welcome the league’s top prospects this spring.
This will be the fourth time the Sabres have hosted the draft, trailing only Montreal, which has hosted the event 27 times. Gavin McKenna, the Penn State freshman forward, is anticipated to be the top pick of the 2026 draft, according to projections. McKenna was recently ranked at the top of North American prospects by NHL Central Scouting, surpassing Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota, while Ivar Stenberg of Sweden leads the list of international players.
Dubbed a “generational talent,” McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, made headlines when he transitioned from the Canadian Hockey League to the NCAA after the league lifted its ban on CHL players competing in college hockey. McKenna has excelled at Penn State, ranking fourth on the team and seventh among NCAA freshmen with 19 points in 18 games.
Terry Pegula, a Penn State alum who generously contributed to the university’s hockey program, expressed his pride in McKenna’s success and the potential for more talented players to emerge from the area. McKenna’s impressive performance at the recent world junior championships, where he helped Canada win bronze, further solidified his status as a promising young player. His outstanding track record at Medicine Hat demonstrates his skill and potential as a top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft.