"The draft date has already been set for June 26-27, with the league going with a decentralized format for a second straight year. The format features prospects and their families attending the draft, while team executives make the picks from their home markets. The draft in Buffalo will be held at the Sabres home arena, KeyBank Center. That's a switch from last year, when the two-day event was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles."
"Buffalo has also been home to the NHL's annual pre-draft combine since 2015, and will once again host the league's top prospects this spring. This will mark the fourth time the Sabres host the draft, with the previous time being in 2016 when Auston Matthews was selected No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. This time, all eyes will be on McKenna, the Penn State freshman forward who has long been projected to be the 2026 draft's No. 1 pick."
"The 18-year-old McKenna is from Whitehorse, Yukon, and made a major splash this summer when he elected to leave the Canadian Hockey League after two-plus seasons in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and make the jump to Happy Valley. The move south came in the first offseason after the NCAA lifted its longtime ban in making CHL players eligible to compete at the college ranks."
The NHL selected Buffalo to host the June 26-27 draft at KeyBank Center using a decentralized format for a second straight year. Prospects and their families will attend in person while team executives submit picks from their home markets. Buffalo will again host the pre-draft combine and will mark the fourth time hosting the draft, previously in 2016. Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, is widely viewed as the projected No. 1 pick after leaving the CHL for the NCAA. McKenna has 19 points in 18 games and is labeled a generational talent.
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