Teams hope to change fortunes in tonight's NHL Draft Lottery

New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SECAUCUS — Teams that didn’t have many memorable moments this National Hockey League season are hoping their fortunes change tonight when the annual draft lottery is held live — starting at 7 p.m. ET — inside the NHL Network’s studio in New Jersey.

Teams and hockey fans will see four ping pong balls drawn from a machine. The team randomly assigned the corresponding four-number combination will select first when the actual draft gets underway on June 26th in Buffalo, N.Y.

Forwards Gavin McKenna of Whitehorse, Yukon, and Ivar Stenberg of Sweden are the projected top picks in this year’s draft class.

The Vancouver Canucks, who finished last this season with 25 wins and 58 points, have a 25.5 per cent chance of receiving the first overall pick. The Chicago Blackhawks, who finished last in the Central Division with 29 wins and 72 points, have the second-best odds at 13.5 per cent to win the first pick, while the New York Rangers are third at 11.5 per cent.

The Calgary Flames (9.5 per cent), Toronto Maple Leafs (8.5 per cent) and Winnipeg Jets (6.5 per cent) could also land the top pick with some luck.

Based on the final NHL regular-season standings and the draft lottery odds determined by the Board of Governors, each team receives an allotment of randomly assigned four-number combinations. Essentially, the lower you finish, the more lottery tickets you receive.

The Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the draft lottery and they selected forward Juraj Slafkovsky of Slovakia in 2022.

Last year the New York Islanders leapfrogged nine teams to win the draft lottery. The Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer first overall. The 18-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, led rookie defencemen this season with 59 point, including 23 goals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2026.