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Buffalo Hosts 2026 NHL Draft; Leafs Eye Top Pick, Trades

6/24/2026

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Summary

U.S. Hosts Draft

The United States will host the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 overall pick, with analysts split between Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
The St. Louis Blues traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and the 16th-overall pick.
The Ottawa Senators sent their ninth-overall pick to San Jose for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda’s rights.

Summary

NBA Draft Overview

The 2026 NBA draft will have 60 picks, the first since 2021.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have owned the No. 1 pick five times since 1985—most of any team—though only four of the 41 lottery-era No. 1 picks have won a championship with their drafting team.
Duke leads the common-draft era with five No. 1 picks, while Kentucky follows with three.
Since 1989, 22 second-round picks have become NBA All-Stars, with 11 earning multiple selections.

History

Historical Context

On June 25 1979 the NBA held its 33rd draft at New York’s Plaza Hotel, the second to use a green-room for prospects. The Los Angeles Lakers won a coin flip for the first overall pick and selected underclassman Magic Johnson, the league’s first freshman taken first overall. The ten-round draft produced 202 selections, many becoming future Hall-of-Famers.

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U.S. Hosts Draft

The United States will host the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 overall pick, with analysts split between Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
The St. Louis Blues traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and the 16th-overall pick.
The Ottawa Senators sent their ninth-overall pick to San Jose for William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda’s rights.

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