Sabres To Host 2026 NHL Draft

The Buffalo Sabres will host the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26th and 27th.

KeyBank Center last hosted the event in 2016. This will be the fourth time that Buffalo has hosted the NHL Draft. For the second consecutive year, the entry draft will be a decentralized event where team operations will take place in their home cities.

Despite the limitations inherent in the decentralized format, hosting the event remains special, and Sabres fans will embrace being at the center of the league’s attention for the draft weekend. The announcement comes at a time when the Sabres are in the midst of a battle for a playoff position.

After missing the postseason for fourteen consecutive years, the sudden resurgence of the team has energized supporters.

The fanbase is once again engaged and excited about the team’s performance and the franchise returning to relevance. By bringing the draft back to Western New York, the NHL acknowledges the area as a strong hockey market with fans who care about the sport.

“This is a place where hockey really matters,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “Great fans, great history and tradition. Hockey at all levels of the game. Grassroots on up.”

“People have always supported and been enthusiastic about hockey. Particularly when the team is as competitive as this one looks. So it’s an exciting opportunity to bring it back. It’s a place we’re familiar with, we know the hospitality will be great, and we know the city and the organization, the Sabres will do a great job.”

The event will be televised in the United States on ESPN and ESPN+ for round one on June 26th. NHL Network and ESPN for round 2 on June 27th. Coverage in Canada will air on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.