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Florida Panthers Get Help on Final Night, Will Have a 2026 First-Round Draft Pick
TL;DR
The Florida Panthers will retain their 2026 first-round draft pick after the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks won their final games, leaving the Panthers with the eighth-worst record in the NHL.
Key points
- Florida Panthers retain 2026 first-round draft pick
- St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks won their final games
- Panthers finish with eighth-worst record in NHL
- Original trade involved Blackhawks for Seth Jones/Spencer Knight
Florida PanthersSt. Louis BluesSan Jose SharksChicago Blackhawks
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Florida Panthers did not win themselves out of keeping their 2026 first-round pick in the NHL draft after all.
With the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks both winning their final games of the season on Thursday, the Panthers end with the eighth-worst record in the NHL which currently has them No. 8 in the draft order.
Florida originally traded its 2026 first-round pick to the Blackhawks as part of the Seth Jones/Spencer Knight deal.
But, the pick was top-10 protected.
By going into the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5 with the No. 8 pick, the Panthers can fall no lower than two spots — thereby insuring that they can only go as low as No. 10.
The Blackhawks now receive a non-protected first-round pick from the Panthers in 2027; the Boston Bruins will get the pick in 2028.
The Panthers can also move up in the draft order.
The NHL has changed the draft lottery over the years. Only the top two picks in the draft will be chosen by lottery. The remainder of the draft order will be arraigned by the standings.
So, the Panthers will start at No. 8 but could jump up to No. 1 or 2.
Florida could also fall to 9 or 10.
Q&A
Why did the Florida Panthers keep their 2026 first-round draft pick?
The Panthers kept their 2026 first-round draft pick because the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks won their final games, resulting in the Panthers finishing with the eighth-worst record in the NHL.
What was the original trade involving the Florida Panthers' 2026 first-round pick?
The Panthers originally traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Blackhawks as part of the Seth Jones/Spencer Knight deal.
What is the current draft order position of the Florida Panthers?
The Florida Panthers currently hold the No. 8 position in the NHL draft order.
