2026 NHL Draft Order: Where each team will pick in the 1st round

It's almost time for lottery balls to determine the No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft.

Tuesday night's NHL Draft Lottery will once again make use of the league's live lottery ball drawing format, which will see the No. 1 overall pick be awarded live in front of the whole world. Given the drama of the moment, many hockey fans are set to tune in to see which team will be awarded the top pick for the draft in June.

NHL DRAFT LOTTERY: The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery’s live format, explained.

Forward Gavin McKenna out of Penn State is the projected No. 1 overall pick of this year's draft class. McKenna has stunning talent and though he didn't have eye-popping numbers in college, his skill with the puck is undeniable and makes him the frontrunner as of now. Quite a get for winning the lottery, wouldn't you say?

With the draft lottery set to begin, check back for the full list of the top-16 selections and the winner of the draft lottery after the broadcast ends!

What channel is the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on?

ESPN will broadcast the draft lottery live from the NHL Network studio in New Jersey at 7 p.m. ET. The ESPN app will also have the broadcast.

Which team has the highest odds at the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery?

Going into the draft lottery, the Vancouver Canucks hold the highest odds for the No. 1 overall pick. Here's the full list of odds for the No. 1 overall pick, bearing in mind that teams can jump only 10 spots and some teams in the lottery will not be able to draft first.

1. Vancouver Canucks: 25.5%
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
3. New York Rangers: 11.5%