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The 2026 NHL Draft order is beginning to take shape. Check out the full first-round order and information on rounds 2 through 7.
The 2026 NHL Draft has begun to take shape. Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery provided fans with plenty of excitement. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the big winners, taking home the first-overall pick.
The rest of the lottery set up the first-round order from 1 to 16. The results from the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and regular-season standings will determine the final order in the first round.
So, let’s begin by looking at the picking order for the first 16 selections in the opening round.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. San Jose Sharks
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. New York Rangers
6. Calgary Flames
7. Seattle Kraken
8. Winnipeg Jets
9. Florida Panthers
10. Nashville Predators
11. St. Louis Blues
12. New Jersey Devils
13. New York Islanders
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. St. Louis Blues
16. Washington Capitals
It’s worth pointing out that the Vancouver Canucks had the best chance to win the top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft. However, that situation did not materialize, leaving them third. The Blackhawks and Rangers also fell in the draft order by two spots.
Another note: The Florida Panthers retained their 2026 first-round pick. They had a top-10 protected selection that was part of the Seth Jones deal with the Blackhawks. However, the Panthers dismal season ensured they kept that pick.
The remainder of the selections in the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft will be determined as teams exit the playoffs based on their regular-season standings. Playoff teams that did not win their division get the first lot of picks.
Thereafter, division winners get the next lot of picks, based on regular-season points. Picks 29-30 go to the Conference Final losers. Picks 31-32 go to the Stanley Cup finalists.
17. Los Angeles Kings
18. Washington Capitals
19. Utah Mammoth
20. San Jose Sharks
21. Philadelphia Flyers
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Boston Bruins
24. Vancouver Canucks
25. Montreal Canadiens
26. Seattle Kraken
27. New York Rangers
28. Calgary Flames
29. Buffalo Sabres
30. Carolina Hurricanes
31. St. Louis Blues
32. Ottawa Senators
It’s worth pointing out that the Ottawa Senators are locked into the 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft pick after getting their first-rounder back earlier this season. The Senators received clemency from the NHL after the team had originally forfeited its pick because of a botched trade.
The league reluctantly agreed to allow the Senators to retain their first-rounder, locking it into the final spot in the first round. The Senators cannot trade it, so they must use it.
As such, the projected Stanley Cup winner, the Colorado Avalanche, will get the 31st selection. That pick, nevertheless, belongs to the St. Louis Blues.
What to read next:
As for the remaining rounds in the 2026 NHL Draft, regular-season standings determine that order. However, trades have changed picks so much that it’s tough to keep track of everything.
Fortunately, Tankathon has done a great job of tracking the full draft order for all seven rounds.
There will be 224 picks in total. That works out to 32 picks per round multiplied by seven total rounds. Of course, that order is subject to change. It’s not uncommon to get draft-day deals in which teams swap multiple picks.
So, stay tuned because there could still be plenty of changes, particularly with some teams potentially weaponizing their 2026 NHL Draft picks.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL and NFL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor's singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor's fondness for baseball, football, and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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