Austin Konenski
The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery could completely reshape the league’s future, with multiple teams in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. While some franchises enter as clear favorites, history shows the lottery often delivers surprises.
Here’s a full breakdown of the odds heading into one of the NHL’s most important nights.
NHL Draft Lottery Odds Snapshot 2026
Here are the 2026 Draft Lottery Odds for Tuesday, May 5.
- Vancouver Canucks — 18.5%
- Chicago Blackhawks — 13.5%
- New York Rangers — 11.5%
- Calgary Flames — 9.5%
- Toronto Maple Leafs — 8.5%
- Seattle Kraken — 7.5%
- Winnipeg Jets — 6.5%
- Florida Panthers — 6.0%
- San Jose Sharks — 5.0%
- Nashville Predators — 3.5%
- St. Louis Blues — 3.0%
- New Jersey Devils — 2.5%
- New York Islanders — 2.0%
- Columbus Blue Jackets — 1.5%
- St. Louis Blues (via DET) — 0.5%
- Washington Capitals — 0.5%
The race for the No. 1 pick remains wide open, with multiple teams holding realistic chances depending on the lottery results.
How the NHL Draft Lottery Works
The draft lottery determines the order of the first overall picks for non-playoff teams. Only the top-2 picks are picked in the lottery each year.
Key rules:
- Teams are assigned odds based on regular-season standings
- Only a limited number of spots can be jumped in the draft order
- The lottery determines the top selections, not the entire draft order
- Results are revealed live during the broadcast event
This system is designed to balance competitiveness while preventing tanking in the NHL.
How to Watch the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery
You can watch the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 5. The lottery will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports, as one of the 16 teams will earn the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft this summer.
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