Overview
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the selection in Buffalo alongside Sabres owner Terry Pegula and COO Pete Guelli.
- The event will be decentralized for a second year, with prospects and families in the arena and teams making picks from their home markets.
- After a lengthy first round in 2025, reported tweaks include removing the Bettman virtual front-office chat, limiting post-pick media to one interviewer, and shortening the stage walk.
- Coverage is set with Round 1 on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada, with Rounds 2–7 on NHL Network and ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.
- Central Scouting’s midseason list ranks Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna the top North American skater and Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg the top international skater.