Buffalo Sabres to host 2026 NHL Draft
A big event is returning to Western New York.
On Monday night, the National Hockey League formally announced that the 2026 NHL Draft is going to be hosted by the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Centre.
The 2026 @NHL Draft is coming to Buffalo! The Draft will be held at @KeyBankCtr on June 26 and 27. Details → bufsabres.co/3NdOna9
This will mark the fourth time the Sabres have hosted the draft, and the first time since 2016. Outside of Montreal (which hosted the first 22 entry drafts), no other city will have held the event more than Buffalo.
In the first three times the league has used the Sabres’ home rinks for the event, significant names were taken first overall. In the old Memorial Auditorium in 1991, the Quebec Nordiques controversially took Eric Lindros at No. 1, even though the Oshawa Generals star vowed not to play for the team. Seven years later in what was then known as the Marine Midland Arena, the Tampa Bay Lightning picked Vincent Lecavalier first overall. He was a major part of the team’s first Stanley Cup in 2004.
Then, 10 years ago, the fate of the Toronto Maple Leafs changed forever when they picked Auston Matthews.
Having the draft in Buffalo only makes sense, especially since the NHL Scouting Combine is traditionally held across the street at KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter.
This year’s draft is going to see some notable names find NHL homes. Gavin McKenna is starting to find his groove at Penn State. While the hype around the former Medicine Hat Tiger has dampened a little bit, there are still plenty of folks who have him going first overall this summer. Another junior-turned-college product, Keaton Verhoeff has a lot of upside, as the North Dakota defenseman has become the top blueliner of his class. Other top prospects including forwards Ivar Stenberg and Tynan Lawrence, as well as defenseman Chase Reid.
Right now, it’s too close to call for who is the favorite to obtain the No. 1 pick this year. The Vancouver Canucks currently have the fewest points in the NHL, with the Winnipeg Jets just two points ahead of them, 44 games into the season. The Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets have the best odds to be at the top of the board in June.