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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.
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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
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Las Vegas Sun broke the news in Las Vegas, United States on Monday, January 12, 2026.
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