The Vancouver Canucks are aiming for their first No. 1 pick in the NHL Entry Draft lottery, holding 18.5% odds. They are in the midst of a rebuild following the firing of GM Patrik Allvin.
Key points
Vancouver Canucks seek first No. 1 pick in NHL draft lottery
Canucks have 18.5% odds for the top pick
Patrik Allvin was fired as GM in April
Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are potential top picks
Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers are also in contention
Mentioned in this story
Patrik Allvin
Vancouver CanucksChicago BlackhawksNew York Rangers
Among those teams? The Vancouver Canucks, who are looking for their first ever No. 1 pick in the NHL Entry Draft lottery. As they look to find a new GM to replace Patrik Allvin, who was fired in April, the Canucks look to finally be entering a much-needed rebuild. With 18.5% odds to get the No. 1 overall pick and Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg looking like distinct possibilities, 2026 may give the franchise the jolt it needs.
While the team with best odds to get the No. 1 pick has retained it in three of the past five years, 2025 saw a stunning climb when the New York Islanders jumped from the 10th-best odds to land defenseman Matthew Schaefer first. Behind the Canucks are the Chicago Blackhawks – who landed Connor Bedard No. 1 overall in 2023 – and the New York Rangers, who won the most shocking lottery in NHL history in 2020.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be in their first draft under new GM John Chayka, but could be without a first-round pick. With the fifth-best odds to get the No. 1 overall pick, Toronto has a top-five protected pick that would go to the if it is No. 6 or lower.
Q&A
What are the Vancouver Canucks' odds for the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft lottery?
The Vancouver Canucks have 18.5% odds to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft lottery.
Who are the potential top picks for the Canucks in the 2026 NHL draft?
Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are considered distinct possibilities for the Canucks if they secure the No. 1 pick.
Why did the Vancouver Canucks fire their general manager?
The Vancouver Canucks fired GM Patrik Allvin in April as part of a strategy to enter a much-needed rebuild.
Which teams are competing with the Canucks for the No. 1 draft pick?
The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers are among the teams competing with the Canucks for the No. 1 draft pick.
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How does the NHL Entry Draft lottery work?
The NHL's lottery system is similar but different to other ping-pong ball-based lottery systems.
While worse records still result in better odds to get drawn and the worst record has better odds than the NBA (18.5% vs 14% tied with the second and third worst teams in the NBA), the NHL only allows teams to move up 10 spots from where they're drawing. With that in mind, only the top 11 teams in odds have a chance to pick No. 1 overall (ending with the Blues this season).
The NHL also draws for the top two teams, meaning two teams could jump in the order (ergo, the Devils could pick No. 2 but not No. 1 from the No. 12 spot in the order). If, for example, the Islanders win the No. 1 pick from 13, they would pick third and Vancouver would retain its No. 1 spot.
The NHL Entry Draft lottery will take place in Secaucus, New Jersey at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Cord-cutters can watch on the ESPN app with ESPN+ or use Fubo, which offers a free trial.
2026 NHL Entry Draft lottery odds
The Canucks (25-49-8, 58 points) have the best No. 1 pick odds at 18.5%. Behind them are the Blackhawks (29-39-14, 72 points) at 13.5% and the Rangers (34-9-9, 77 points) at 11.5%. Chicago, of course, jumped the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 to land Bedard, while the Rangers won a unique two-phase lottery in 2020 to get Alex Lafreniere.
When did potential lottery winners last win the NHL Entry Draft lottery?
Winning the lottery can be a franchise-defining move. Prospects are bright for the Blackhawks with Bedard, Macklin Celebrini has proven to be an elite force for the Sharks, and the Sabres have emerged as a force to reckoned with with Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power as two former No. 1 picks.
Some teams are looking to pick first overall for the first time ever. Here's a look at the last time the potential lottery winners picked first overall, and who they took.