2026 NHL Draft Lottery: What You Need to Know

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is set to take place at 6:00 pm CST.

Like the 2025 edition, the drama will unfold in real time for all to see on television. The format prior was a television showing of a countdown from 16 to 1 after each ball was drawn behind the scenes.

The draw is taking place at the NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. It will be broadcast live on Sportsnet to see if the Vancouver Canucks or another team walks away with the first overall pick.

Teams must finish 11th worst at the minimum to have a chance to draft first overall. The Vancouver Canucks own the best odds for first overall at 25.5%, while the St. Louis Blues have just a 3% chance at first overall.

See the first overall lottery odds breakdown below:

1. Vancouver Canucks: 25.5%
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
3. New York Rangers: 11.5%
4. Calgary Flames: 9.5%
5. Toronto Maple Leafs: 8.5%
6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
7. Winnipeg Jets: 6.5%
8. Florida Panthers: 6%
9. San Jose Sharks: 5%
10. Nashville Predators: 3.5%
11. St. Louis Blues: 3%

The first overall pick is awarded by a drawing of ping pong balls. A team can jump a maximum of ten spots. If a team in the 12-16 group wins the first drawing, the first overall pick is awarded to the worst team.

Teams can only improve their draft positioning via the lottery twice in five years, beginning in 2022.

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo trade. The pick is top five protected, and Boston will get an unprotected 2027 first-round pick if Toronto gets a higher seeding.

The Florida Panthers are retaining the 2026 first-round pick that they traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Seth Jones. The top 10 protected pick was one that Florida thought they might never have to use, but a less-than-ideal season followed a second consecutive Stanley Cup win.