The Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft at KeyBank Center on June 26-27, marking the fourth time the city has welcomed the event and the first in its decentralized format. NHL Central Scouting's midseason rankings highlight Gavin McKenna as the top North American skater and Ivar Stenberg as the leading international prospect. The draft returns to Buffalo a decade after Auston Matthews was selected first overall there in 2016.
The National Hockey League announced that the Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on June 26 and 27. This will be the fourth time Buffalo hosts the event, previously in 1991, 1998, and 2016, and the first under the league's decentralized format introduced last year, with teams conducting selections from their home markets. Round 1 is scheduled for Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. Rounds 2-7 follow on Saturday, June 27, starting at 10 a.m. ET, airing on NHL Network, ESPN+, and Sportsnet.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised Buffalo's hockey culture, stating, "This is a great sports town, a great hockey market. The reception we get here is always terrific. Fans are knowledgeable and passionate." Sabres owner Terry Pegula added, "I look forward to both the atmosphere and significance of hosting the NHL Draft in Buffalo. Being able to share in that excitement with our fans and fans around the league is a unique opportunity."
The event is expected to draw around 100 top prospects and their families, filling approximately 2,200 hotel rooms and generating millions in economic impact for the city. Buffalo has hosted the NHL Scouting Combine annually since 2015, reinforcing its role as a hockey hub.
Accompanying the announcement, NHL Central Scouting released its midseason rankings presented by BODYARMOR Sports Drink. Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old left wing and freshman at Penn State University, tops the North American skaters list with 4 goals and 15 assists in 18 games. The Whitehorse, Yukon, native previously starred in the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers, winning rookie and player of the year honors in 2023-24 and 2024-25, and led Canada to bronze at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship with 14 points in seven games.
Ivar Stenberg, a left wing for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, leads international skaters with 6 goals and 18 assists in 25 games. The 18-year-old from Gothenburg helped Sweden win gold at the World Juniors, tying for the team lead with 10 points. Other top prospects include North American defensemen Keaton Verhoeff (No. 2, University of North Dakota), Carson Carels (No. 3, Prince George Cougars), and Chase Reid (No. 4, Soo Greyhounds), plus forward Caleb Malhotra (No. 5, Brantford Bulldogs). On the international side, defenseman Alberts Smits (No. 2, Jukurit) could become Latvia's highest-drafted player.
Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr described McKenna as "a wizard out there" in the offensive zone. TSN's Craig Button affirmed, "I still don't see a player that's better than Gavin McKenna." Prospects like McKenna and Stenberg could follow in the footsteps of past Buffalo draftees such as Auston Matthews, Vincent Lecavalier, and Eric Lindros, all selected first overall in the city.
Upper Deck returns as title sponsor for the fifth consecutive year. Ticket details and fan events will be announced later.
