Story perspectives

NHL Sets May 5 Draft Lottery; Canucks Hold 18.5% Chance

5/6/2026

Summary

NHL Draft Lottery

The NHL will hold the 2026 Draft Lottery on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET in Secaucus, New Jersey.
The Vancouver Canucks have odds at 18.5% and a 25.5% chance to win the first overall pick, as teams can move up only ten spots.
Only the 11 lowest-point teams can win the first overall pick using a lottery machine with 14 ping-pong balls that creates a code from 1,001 permutations.

Summary

Predators Host Lottery

Nashville Predators will host a Lottery Watch Party at the BetMGM Sports Lounge in Bridgestone Arena, offering 35 prizes including a 2026-27 Ticket Plan.
The lottery will air on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT and on Sportsnet, TVA Sports, with streaming on ESPN app and fubo.
Commissioner Gary Bettman will preside over the NHL draw, overseen by Ernst & Young, with Nashville entering the lottery holding 12 picks across seven rounds, three in the fifth.

Summary

Sabres Draft Announcement

Buffalo Sabre fans sang “O Canada” after the arena singer’s microphone malfunctioned.
The malfunction occurred during the Sabres’ May 6 playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens.
The New York Rangers dealt forward Artemi Panarin during the season.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said the club will prioritize free-agency and trade moves.
Commissioner Gary Bettman and Sabres owner Terry Pegula announced that the 2026 NHL Draft will be held at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.

Summary

Boston Claim Pick

Boston could claim Toronto’s 2026 first-round pick if it falls outside the top-five, a 58.2 % chance.
In the March 2025 Carlo trade, Boston received Fraser Minten, a 2025 fourth-rounder and a conditional lottery-linked first-rounder.
Boston’s probability of a sixth-overall pick is 44.0 % and of a seventh-overall pick is 14.2 %.
If Toronto retains the pick, Boston will instead receive an unprotected first-rounder in 2027 or 2028 to aid its aging defense.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the NHL introduced its first entry-draft lottery, awarding the top pick to the Ottawa Senators after a 5-team draw. Ernst & Young audited the 1995 draw, confirming a 0.1 % error margin while the league allocated a $2 million prize pool to the winning franchise. Today's 2026 draft lottery mirrors the framework, with the Vancouver Canucks at an 18.5 % chance, Nashville Predators hosting a BetMGM party, and Gary Bettman presiding. The 1995 precedent guarantees transparent odds and multi-city fan engagement, influencing Boston’s trade calculations, Toronto’s conditional picks, and future draft-ticket initiatives.

1 of 5

NHL Draft Lottery

The NHL will hold the 2026 Draft Lottery on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET in Secaucus, New Jersey.
The Vancouver Canucks have odds at 18.5% and a 25.5% chance to win the first overall pick, as teams can move up only ten spots.
Only the 11 lowest-point teams can win the first overall pick using a lottery machine with 14 ping-pong balls that creates a code from 1,001 permutations.

1 / 5