NHL draft lottery odds: Canucks hope for first No. 1 pick ever
CANUCKS EYE NO. 1 PICK AS REBUILD BEGINS
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs press on, much of the NHL has already shifted its focus to what’s ahead. Among those teams is the Vancouver Canucks, chasing their first-ever No. 1 overall selection in the NHL Entry Draft lottery. With Patrik Allvin out after being fired in April, the Canucks are poised to enter a much-needed rebuild. Sitting at 18.5% to land the top pick, Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg are among the clear targets for a 2026 draft that could deliver the spark the franchise seeks.
The league’s lottery dynamics have always favored the teams with the worst records, but Vancouver sits in an intriguing position as the most hopeful club. In 2025, the New York Islanders dramatically ascended from 10th-best odds to win the top pick for defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Behind the Canucks, the Chicago Blackhawks—who drafted Connor Bedard No. 1 in 2023—and the New York Rangers, who captured a historic lottery in 2020, represent the next-in-line probabilities.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will enter their first draft under new GM John Chayka, though a first-round pick may be in jeopardy. With the fifth-best odds to claim No. 1, Toronto has a top-five protected pick that would transfer to the Boston Bruins if it winds up No. 6 or lower. As always, much depends on the luck of the draw.
The NHL’s lottery is not your typical ping-pong-ball process. While weaker records still yield better odds—and even the worst teams can hold an edge over the NBA’s 14% figure—the NHL caps teams’ movement at 10 spots from their drawing position. Consequently, only the top 11 clubs by odds have a shot at No. 1 overall (the Blues end up in that range this season). The league also conducts a draw for the top two picks, meaning two teams can vault in the order. For example, if the Islanders win No. 1 from No. 13, they would move up to third while Vancouver would retain the top spot.
Date: Tuesday May 5, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Stream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN App
The NHL Entry Draft lottery will take place in Secaucus, New Jersey at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Cord-cutters can watch via the ESPN app with ESPN+, or use Fubo, which offers a free trial.
The Canucks (25-49-8, 58 points) lead the way with 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 notably jumped Anaheim and Columbus in 2023 to secure Bedard, while the Rangers captured their lottery win in 2020 to land Lafrenière.
