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2w ago

NHL Sets 2026 Draft Lottery for May 5 With Live Ball Draw

A live draw with a 10-spot cap could activate Toronto’s conditional pick.

Mar 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The NHL logo is seen on the game net prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Overview

  • The NHL, which announced the plan Saturday, will stage the lottery at NHL Network’s Secaucus studio with live coverage on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
  • The two-phase drawing will award picks No. 1 and No. 2 and set the order of the first 16 selections for non-playoff teams or the holders of their traded picks.
  • A 10-spot limit means only the top 11 seeds can win No. 1, with Vancouver leading the odds at 18.5 percent and Washington last at 0.5 percent.
  • Toronto keeps its 2026 first-rounder if it lands in the top five after the drawing, otherwise Boston receives the Maple Leafs’ 2027 or 2028 first-round pick.
  • Fans will watch a live ball draw that shows odds change in real time, and the draft is set for June 26-27 in Buffalo with Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg topping Central Scouting’s lists.