NHL Draft Lottery Odds 2026: The Race for No. 1 Is Wide Open

TL;DR

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery features multiple teams vying for the No. 1 overall pick, with odds indicating a competitive race. Historical trends suggest that surprises are likely during the lottery.

Key points

2026 NHL Draft Lottery could reshape league's future
Multiple teams in contention for No. 1 overall pick
History shows lottery often delivers surprises

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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 tonight. 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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Q&A

What are the odds for the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery?

The odds for the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery vary by team, with several franchises positioned as favorites to secure the No. 1 overall pick.

How does the NHL Draft Lottery work?

The NHL Draft Lottery uses a weighted system to determine the order of selection for teams that did not qualify for the playoffs, aiming to promote parity in the league.

Which teams are favorites for the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery?

While specific favorites can change, several teams are currently viewed as strong contenders for the top pick based on their performance and standings.