McKenna Leads Central Scouting’s North American Rankings for 2026 NHL Draft
The NHL has officially announced that the 2026 Draft will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. This event marks the first time in a decade that the Sabres will host the draft. The first round is scheduled for June 26 at 7 p.m. ET, broadcasted on ESPN and related channels. Following this, rounds 2-7 will commence on June 27 at 10 a.m. ET.
Key Details of the 2026 NHL Draft
- Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
- Date: June 26 (first round), June 27 (rounds 2-7)
- Broadcast: ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS for the first round; NHLN, ESPN+, SN for subsequent rounds
- NHL Draft Lottery: Date to be announced for determining the first 16 picks
Top Prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft
Leading the North American rankings is an impressive group of players. Among them, McKenna from Penn State is generating considerable attention.
- Colin Verhoeff (North Dakota):
- Height: 6’3″, Weight: 208 lbs
- Stats: 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 18 games
- WJC Performance: Averaged 11:10 ice time in five games, with four assists
- Sam Carels (Prince George):
- Height: 6’1″, Weight: 202 lbs
- Stats: 34 points (9 goals, 25 assists) in 32 games
- WJC Performance: 1 assist in five games, averaged 10:12 ice time
- Logan Reid (Sault Ste. Marie):
- Height: 6’2″, Weight: 188 lbs
- Stats: 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 33 games
- WJC Performance: Averaged 20:06 ice time with four points (2 goals, 2 assists)
- Kaden Malhotra (Brantford):
- Height: 6’1″, Weight: 182 lbs
- Stats: 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 39 games
- Notable Performance: Impressive play during the CHL-USA Prospect Challenge
Additionally, six college players are listed among the top prospects. These include:
- McKenna (Penn State)
- Verhoeff (North Dakota)
- Tynan Lawrence (Boston University)
- Ilya Morozov (Miami, OH)
- Oscar Hemming (Boston College)
- Landon Nycz (University of Massachusetts)
Top Goalie of the Draft Class
Brady Knowling is currently recognized as the top North American goalie. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 202 lbs, Knowling plays for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team.
- Stats: 5 wins, 7 losses, and 1 overtime loss with a 3.63 goals-against average
- Save Percentage: .887 in 15 games
Knowling is committed to play for Boston University and participated in the World Junior Championship, where the United States faced Sweden in the preliminary round.
As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on these top prospects, particularly McKenna, as they look forward to showcasing their talents on a bigger stage.
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