Hear this article narrated
Approximately 4 minutes of listening
The audio rendition of this piece is generated by artificial intelligence. Occasional pronunciation inaccuracies may occur. We are collaborating with our partners to continually evaluate and enhance the results.
Commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Monday that the Buffalo Sabres will host the National Hockey League draft in June, with the highly regarded prospect Gavin McKenna anticipated to be a central figure of the event.
Bettman conveyed this news alongside Sabres executives, including owner Terry Pegula, during a press conference held before Buffalo’s home game against the Florida Panthers.
“This is an outstanding sports city, a superb hockey market. The reception we consistently receive here is magnificent,” Bettman remarked. “Fans are perceptive and enthusiastic. We have an excellent organization with exceptional ownership.”
“All criteria considered, every requirement is met in a first-class manner.”
The two-day draft had previously been scheduled for June 26-27, with the league adopting a distributed format for the second consecutive year. This structure involves prospects and their families attending the draft in person, while participating teams make their selections from their respective home markets.
The draft festivities in Buffalo will take place at the Sabres’ home venue, KeyBank Center. This marks a change from the previous year, when the biennial event was staged at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Buffalo has also served as the venue for the NHL’s yearly pre-draft combine since 2015, and will again welcome the league’s most promising talents this spring.
This occasion will signify the fourth time the Sabres have hosted the draft — ranking second among all NHL teams, only surpassed by Montreal’s 27. Buffalo last organized the event in 2016, when Auston Matthews was chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This time, considerable attention will focus on McKenna, the Penn State freshman forward, who has long been projected as the top selection for the 2026 draft.
The draft announcement coincided with the release of NHL Central Scouting’s midseason prospect rankings, which placed McKenna at the top of the North American prospects list, ahead of Keaton Verhoeff from North Dakota. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg led the ranking for international players.
McKenna Identified as a ‘Once-in-a-Generation Prodigy’
The 18-year-old McKenna hails from Whitehorse, Yukon, and created a significant stir this past summer when he opted to depart the Canadian Hockey League after more than two seasons in Medicine Hat, Alberta, to relocate to Happy Valley. This move southward occurred in the initial off-season after the NCAA abolished its longstanding prohibition, making CHL players eligible to compete at the collegiate level.
McKenna has been characterized as a “generational talent” and has been considered the premier prospect for the 2026 draft since 2024.
McKenna holds the fourth position among the Nittany Lions and ranks seventh among NCAA freshmen, accumulating four goals and 15 assists for a total of 19 points across 18 games.
The collegiate level is generally regarded as more demanding, given that the majority of players are 19 years or older, contrasting with the CHL where the age range spans from 16 to 20.
Pegula, a Penn State alumnus, contributed over $100 million US to facilitate the establishment of the Nittany Lions men’s and women’s hockey programs in 2013, a venture that included the construction of a new arena bearing his name.
“When we unveiled the arena, I recall mentioning in my speech that perhaps one day, the next Sidney Crosby might emerge from this facility,” Pegula stated, referencing the Penguins captain. “So, I’m not sure where Gavin will be drafted. I’m not making any forecasts. But he’s an outstanding young athlete, and it’s gratifying to see prospects of his caliber beginning to develop in Central PA.”
As a key member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning squad at the recent world junior championships, McKenna concluded the tournament ranked second with 10 points (comprising four goals and six assists) over seven contests.
McKenna excelled during his time in Medicine Hat, where he amassed 91 goals and 198 assists for a grand total of 289 points in 158 career appearances. Last season, he recorded no points in just four outings, concluding the year with an impressive 45-game point streak during which McKenna tallied 32 goals and 100 points combined.
