As we inch closer to the end of January, the excitement builds for NHL players to return to the Olympics. But, for fans of teams that don't have any/many players headed to Italy for the Games, it's also a fun time to start talking about two other subjects: the trade deadline, and breaking down mock drafts. I've been writing mock drafts throughout the season ( my most recent), so don't worry about my specific picks.
The NHL has announced that the 2026 NHL Draft and NHL Scouting Combine will be held in Buffalo, New York. The two-day event takes place on Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27 at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. This is the fourth time the city has held the event, which will be decentralized once again. The Sabres currently have a pick in round one, four (2), five, six (2), and seven.
As a 17-year-old who was promoted to the U20 squad and immediately began breaking scoring records, Viggo Björck has already commanded the attention of scouts. He broke out with 27 goals and 74 points in 42 games played, facing off against older and more competitive opponents. Björck even made his Hockey Allsvenskan debut, the second-highest league in Sweden behind the SHL, scoring a goal in his first and only game with the club (so far).
