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The 2026 NHL draft lottery promises to be a thrilling event as teams vie for the coveted No. 1 pick. This lottery system means the worst record doesn’t guarantee the top selection, adding excitement and intrigue to the process.
Fans will tune in Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN to see how it unfolds. The lottery features 14 ping-pong balls, creating 1,001 combinations, with each team assigned a set of numbers. The Vancouver Canucks, holding the worst record, have the highest odds with 185 combinations, translating to an 18.5% chance of winning the first draw.
The first draw determines the No. 1 pick, but teams can only move up a maximum of 10 spots, a rule change enacted in 2021. This means if a team from spots 12-16 wins, they leapfrog the standings, while the Canucks lock in the top pick if they don’t win. A second draw sets the next pick in a similar fashion.
After the lottery, picks for Rounds 2-7 revert to the regular-season standings. Fans can expect live drama as the picks are revealed, heightening the stakes for clubs looking to secure future stars like Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.
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