Buffalo will welcome the league’s top prospects this June when the Sabres host the draft at KeyBank Center, spotlighting Penn State phenom Gavin McKenna.
At a Glance
- Buffalo to host the 2026 NHL draft on June 26-27 at KeyBank Center
- Decentralized format returns for a second straight year
- Penn State’s Gavin McKenna sits atop Central Scouting’s mid-season North American rankings
- Sabres previously hosted in 2016 when Auston Matthews went first overall
Draft Details
The two-day draft will use the same decentralized setup as 2025, with prospects gathering in Buffalo while teams make selections remotely from their home rinks.
KeyBank Center last held the event in 2016, and Buffalo’s pre-draft combine has operated from the city since 2015. Commissioner Gary Bettman praised the market during Monday’s announcement.
> “This is a great sports town, a great hockey market. The reception we get here is always terrific,” Bettman said. “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.”
McKenna’s Rise
McKenna, 18, left the Canadian Hockey League after 158 games with Medicine Hat and jumped to NCAA play once the NCAA lifted its ban on CHL athletes. In 18 games for Penn State he has four goals and 15 assists, ranking fourth on the team and seventh among all NCAA freshmen.
At the recent world junior championships he tallied 10 points in seven games for Canada’s bronze-medal squad. His Medicine Hat résumé includes 91 goals and 198 assists for 289 points, plus a 45-game point streak to end last season.
Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg leads the international rankings, while North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff sits second among North Americans.
Sabres Ties
Owner Terry Pegula, a Penn State alumnus, donated more than $100 million to launch the school’s hockey programs and build the Pegula Ice Arena in 2013.
> “When we opened the arena, I remember part of my speech was maybe someday the next Sidney Crosby will come out of this arena,” Pegula said. “So I don’t know where Gavin’s going to get drafted. I’m not making any predictions. But he’s a great young player and it’s nice to prospects like that starting to come out of Central PA.”
Buffalo has now hosted the draft four times, trailing only Montreal’s 27. The 2016 edition saw Matthews begin his path to superstardom; the 2026 version figures to center on McKenna.
Key Takeaways
- The Sabres secure another marquee league event, reinforcing Buffalo’s reputation as a hockey hub
- McKenna’s NCAA performance against older competition strengthens his draft stock
- Decentralized format keeps travel manageable for prospects while allowing teams full war-room access
