NHL Network to have extensive coverage of 2026 Draft, start of free agency

NHL Network will broadcast live coverage of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, beginning Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. ET with a Draft Preview hosted by Kathryn Tappen, followed by pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 27 starting at 11 a.m. ET. Saturday's coverage will be simulcast on ESPN+ and Sportsnet, featuring analysts including Elliotte Friedman, Sam Cosentino, and Tony Granato. NHL Network will then shift focus to NHL Free Agency coverage beginning Wednesday, July 1, when the market opens.