US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
With McKenna as the Top Prospect, NHL Chooses Buffalo Sabres to Host Draft in June
The NHL draft will spotlight top prospect Gavin McKenna and use a decentralized format with families attending in Buffalo and teams selecting remotely.
- Jan. 12, 2026 — the NHL picked the Buffalo Sabres to host the June 26 draft at KeyBank Center, with Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, in a decentralized format.
- The NHL cited Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, with Buffalo's hosting of the NHL pre-draft combine since 2015 and McKenna’s status as a generational talent strengthening its bid.
- Using a decentralized format, the draft will have prospects and their families attend in Buffalo while team executives make picks remotely, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announcing Monday night before the Sabres play Florida.
- The 18-year-old McKenna moved from the CHL to Penn State, tallying 19 points in 18 games for the Penn State Nittany Lions after two-plus seasons in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
- This marks a change from last year's Los Angeles venue as the Buffalo Sabres will host the draft for the fourth time, ESPN first reported after an anonymous league source confirmed it last week.
Insights by Ground AI
38 Articles
38 Articles
Associated Press News+31 Reposted by 31 other sources
With McKenna as the top prospect, NHL chooses Buffalo Sabres to host draft in June, AP source says
With highly prized prospect Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, the NHL has selected the Buffalo Sabres to host its annual draft in June, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
·United States
Read Full Article
NHL officially announces Buffalo as host of 2026 Draft
The NHL Draft is officially coming back to Western New York. The NHL announced on Monday that Buffalo will host this June’s draft, the fourth time the city has hosted the event and the first time since 2016. The event will be hosted at KeyBank Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres, and will follow the same decentralized format as the 2025 NHL Draft hosted in Los Angeles. Round 1 of the draft is scheduled for June 26 and Rounds 2-7 will take place o…
·Canada
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources38
Leaning Left14Leaning Right1Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 45%
C 52%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
