The 2026 NHL Draft will take place in Buffalo, New York, over two days, with the Anaheim Ducks holding six selections that could shape the franchise’s future.
A Milestone Draft for Anaheim
Round one is scheduled for June 26 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time, while Rounds two through seven will follow on June 27 at 8 a.m. PT, compressing the action into a tightly timed window for teams and fans alike.
The Ducks’ draft headquarters will be based out of their Newport Beach, California, office, a reminder that the franchise’s operational hub remains on the West Coast despite the event’s Eastern venue.
This draft marks the 34th selection meeting in Anaheim’s history and represents the fifth iteration of General Manager Pat Verbeek’s draft strategy, a tenure that has already produced 12 first‑round picks in the past eight years.
Notably, the club has not possessed a first‑round pick since 2017, a gap that makes the upcoming selections a focal point for analysts tracking the team’s rebuilding timeline.
The NHL’s decision to run the draft from both Buffalo and the Ducks’ headquarters reflects a broader shift toward a decentralized format, a model that debuted last year and is being refined for this edition.
With six picks spread across the early rounds, Anaheim is positioned to add depth to a roster that has been quietly assembling talent, a development that could influence the club’s competitiveness in the near term.