BUFFALO – Since the NHL began moving the NHL Draft from city to city in the mid-1980s, Montreal has hosted the event five times.
Who’s next on the list? Buffalo, which on Monday was awarded 2026 draft that will take place on June 26 and 27.
It will be the fourth time the event has come to Buffalo. The city also hosted it in 1991, 1998 and 2016.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement alongside Sabres owner Terry Pegula prior to Monday’s game against the Florida Panthers.
Pete Guelli, the chief operating officer of the Sabres and Buffalo Bills, said the event will take place in KeyBank Center.
“This is a great sports town, a great hockey market,” Bettman said. “The reception we get here is always terrific. I think the fans are knowledgeable and passionate. We’ve got a great organization with great ownership. All the factors that you would take into account, the boxes are checked.”
The draft, of course, became decentralized last year, meaning general managers and their front office now operate out of their home base in their respective cities. Bettman said around 100 prospects will attend the draft.
After changing the event, Bettman said the league polled teams to see what they thought of the new format.
“Overwhelmingly, they still want the decentralized format,” he said. “From our standpoint, we can do it either way. … The clubs think they can be more efficient, more productive in their home markets.”
Bettman also reiterated the NHL plans to have the Sabres host another outdoor game. The league staged the first Winter Classic at Highmark Stadium in 2008.
He said plans to tour the new Highmark Stadium in the future.
“We’re coming for an outdoor game in the new stadium,” Bettman said. “It’s just a question of when.”