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2026 NHL Draft
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2026 NHL Draft

June 26, 2026 · KeyBank Center · Buffalo

League:NHL
Season:2025-26
Status:upcoming
Celebs Spotted:0
Sightings:0

2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects

The teams, players, artists, studios and franchises at the heart of 2026 NHL Draft — every name verified, every link sourced.

Gavin McKenna 18yo, 5-11/170. 15G 36A 51PTS in 35GP NCAA freshman. Helped Canada to bronze at

Projected pick #1 to Toronto (LW, Penn State (NCAA))

Chase Reid #2 North American skater per NHL Central Scouting. (Some scouts have Ivar Stenbe

Projected pick #2 to San Jose (D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL))

Ivar Stenberg Top European skater per NHL Central Scouting. The Hockey News had him #1 pre-U18

Projected pick #3 to Vancouver (LW/RW, Frölunda HC (SHL))

Carson Carels #3 North American skater

Projected pick #4 to Chicago (D, Prince George (WHL))

Caleb Malhotra ESPN mock

Projected pick #5 to NY Rangers (C, Brantford (OHL))

Daxon Rudolph ESPN mock

Projected pick #6 to Calgary (D, Prince Albert (WHL))

Keaton Verhoeff ESPN mock

Projected pick #7 to Seattle (D, North Dakota (NCAA))

Nikita Klepov ESPN mock

Projected pick #8 to Winnipeg (F, Saginaw (OHL))

Alberts Smits #2 European skater per NHL Central Scouting

Projected pick #9 to Florida (D, Jukurit (Liiga))

Ethan Belchetz ESPN mock

Projected pick #10 to Nashville (LW, Windsor (OHL))

Viggo Bjorck ESPN mock

Projected pick #11 to St. Louis (C/RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL))

Adam Novotny ESPN mock

Projected pick #12 to New Jersey (LW/RW, Peterborough (OHL))

About 2026 NHL Draft

The 2026 NHL Draft takes over Buffalo's KeyBank Center on June 26-27 in the league's new decentralized format. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 overall pick after winning the May 5 lottery (8.5% odds) and are widely expected to take Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State).

Round 1 begins Friday June 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+. Rounds 2-7 follow Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on NHL Network. The NHL Scouting Combine precedes the Draft May 31 – June 6 at LECOM Harborcenter next door.

Top of the consensus board: Gavin McKenna (LW, Penn State (NCAA)), Ivar Stenberg (LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)), Chase Reid (RD, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)), Carson Carels (LD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)), Caleb Malhotra (C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)).

Venue: KeyBank Center

Home of the Buffalo Sabres in the Canalside / Cobblestone District of downtown Buffalo. Hosts the 2026 NHL Draft (June 26-27) under the new decentralized format. Capacity: 19,070.

Buffalo
Make a Weekend of It

Turn 2026 NHL Draft into a full Buffalo trip

Stack the main event with the best of Buffalo — a built-out weekend itinerary plus the fan hotspots locals and celebrities actually use.

See the Fan Weekend Plan Buffalo Fan Hotspots

2026 NHL Draft Weekend Planning Blueprint

Buffalo plays host to the Draft. Here's the playbook.

  1. Get tickets. Round 1 (Friday June 26) and Rounds 2-7 (Saturday June 27) sell separately via Ticketmaster.
  2. Stay walkable. Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER is connected by skywalk to KeyBank Center; Hyatt Regency Buffalo, Curtiss Hotel, Westin Buffalo all within 15 min walk.
  3. Arrive via train if possible. Buffalo-Exchange Street Amtrak station is a 3-min walk to the arena (Maple Leaf line from Toronto, Empire Service from NYC). NFTA Metro Rail downtown surface portion is FREE.
  4. Eat Buffalo-style. Anchor Bar (the birthplace of the Buffalo wing, 1964), Duff's, Bocce Club Pizza, La Nova — and Pizza Plant Canalside directly across from the arena.
  5. Extend with Niagara Falls. US side ~22 mi north / 30 min drive; Canadian side via Rainbow Bridge (passport required).

Who This Event Fits Best

2026 NHL Draft is one of the marquee fan-travel events on the NHL calendar. Here's who should target it.

  • The hockey-pilgrimage fan. The Draft is an accessible, ticketed in-arena event with prospect signings, family appearances, and historic moments.
  • The follow-your-team traveler. Once teams are confirmed, follow your club to the venue.
  • Maybe sit this one out if… dates are fixed and you can't ride the bracket. Playoff and post-season dates shift with series outcomes.

Celeb Attendance Snapshot

Quick event-to-event benchmark using unique celebrity sightings.

This event
0
Global percentile: 94
Stanley Cup Playoffs avg
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9 events in series
sports avg
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383 comparable sports events
United States avg
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401 events in United States
Global avg
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481 tracked events

Comparable Events by Celeb Count

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Fan Weekend Plan

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Buffalo Verified Fan Hotspots

All Hotspots →

Only source-backed places are prioritized in this block.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Check back soon for celebrity sighting reports from 2026 NHL Draft.

KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

Tickets for 2026 NHL Draft are typically available through the official NHL website, Ticketmaster, StubHub, and authorized resellers.

Source Citations for Local Fan Picks

Official Links & Tickets

Official 2026 NHL Draft site
On sale via Ticketmaster for both days per NHL.com Sabres announcement. ~100 top prospects + families expected; ~2,200 hotel room nights projected. NHL Draft Scouting Combine hosted separately at LECOM Harborcenter.