2026 NHL Draft Opens June 26 in Buffalo as Maple Leafs Weigh No. 1 Pick
Updated
Updated · NHL.com · Jun 23
2026 NHL Draft Opens June 26 in Buffalo as Maple Leafs Weigh No. 1 Pick
3 articles · Updated · NHL.com · Jun 23
Summary
June 26-27 will bring the 2026 NHL Draft to Buffalo's KeyBank Center, with Round 1 on Friday and Rounds 2-7 on Saturday.
Toronto enters with the No. 1 pick after missing the playoffs, and NHL.com says the Maple Leafs could target Penn State winger Gavin McKenna to add badly needed top-line talent.
Ottawa holds three first-round picks — Nos. 9, 25 and 32 — after the Brady Tkachuk trade, giving it the Atlantic Division's biggest chance to restock a thin prospect pool.
Elsewhere in the division, Boston and Tampa Bay are focused on defense, Buffalo needs wings, Montreal is eyeing right-shot blue-line upside, and Florida can lean toward best player available after injury-hit regression.