Pick the 2026 NHL DRAFT Lottery Winner

[BleedingBleu]

1.) Who is #1?

2.) Who do you think are the Big Winners?

3.) Will Toronto be the Biggest Loser on the night?

The image below shows the last 8 years, but if you wish to look back further, check out NHL Draft Lottery History

[hockey jedi]

I think Vancouver will win it...unfortunately for the Blues

[93]

I think we wind up with #3 with our pick and the Detroit pick ends up being where it was originally.

[LGB73]

I think San Jose wins it because that's where we probably would have picked if we didn't take those last meaningless points at the end of the season. I'm joking, we're winning it and taking our choice of McKenna/Stenberg. Go Blues!

[STL fan in MN]

I think we wind up with #3 with our pick and the Detroit pick ends up being where it was originally.

I would like for you to explain what would have to happen for the Blues to end up with the 3rd overall pick after the lottery. As shown in the chart above, it is possible with a 0.1% chance, but I’m curious if you’re actually aware of the craziness that would have to ensue for that to happen.

Or are you suggesting they somehow trade for the 3rd overall? I’d find that pretty unlikely too but at least more likely than them ending up there as a result of the lottery.

[STL fan in MN]

Also, for all those conspiracy theorists out there that want to claim that the NHL will just assign the winning 4-ball combo to whatever team they want it to be after the fact, here’s a link to all of the combos that they publish ahead of time each year:

https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public ... mpaign=pr

[STL fan in MN]

1.) Who is #1?

2.) Who do you think are the Big Winners?

3.) Will Toronto be the Biggest Loser on the night?

I’ll randomly guess Seattle and then Chicago win the 2 lotteries. Who knows though.

Big winners are whoever wins the lotteries, duh.

Toronto’s pick is top-5 protected so if they win one of the lotteries or stay in the top-5 otherwise, they have the option to keep their pick. But if they keep it, then Boston gets Toronto’s 2027 1st rounder no matter what - fully unprotected. So if Toronto sucks again next season, it may end up to where it would’ve been better to give up this year’s pick than next year’s. Imagine if they’re able to keep it this year but then suck again next season, win the lottery and then Boston gets the 2027 1st overall pick…for freaking Brandon Carlo lol.

[93]

I think we wind up with #3 with our pick and the Detroit pick ends up being where it was originally.

I would like for you to explain what would have to happen for the Blues to end up with the 3rd overall pick after the lottery. As shown in the chart above, it is possible with a 0.1% chance, but I’m curious if you’re actually aware of the craziness that would have to ensue for that to happen.

Or are you suggesting they somehow trade for the 3rd overall? I’d find that pretty unlikely too but at least more likely than them ending up there as a result of the lottery.

I am shooting at the .1 chance.. I mean.. It's a chance right
I feel like with the Blues luck.. we would be more inclined to somehow get that - than 1 or 2..

[somni]

1.) Who is #1?

2.) Who do you think are the Big Winners?

3.) Will Toronto be the Biggest Loser on the night?

I’ll randomly guess Seattle and then Chicago win the 2 lotteries. Who knows though.

Big winners are whoever wins the lotteries, duh.

Toronto’s pick is top-5 protected so if they win one of the lotteries or stay in the top-5 otherwise, they have the option to keep their pick. But if they keep it, then Boston gets Toronto’s 2027 1st rounder no matter what - fully unprotected. So if Toronto sucks again next season, it may end up to where it would’ve been better to give up this year’s pick than next year’s. Imagine if they’re able to keep it this year but then suck again next season, win the lottery and then Boston gets the 2027 1st overall pick…for freaking Brandon Carlo lol.

It's unreal how often that organization gets in its own way.

They just hired John Chayka as their new GM. The guy suspended from the league as GM of the Coyotes. Amazing.

[Pierre McGuire]

I like the Flames to beat the odds.

Calgary
Vancouver
Chicago
NY Rangers
Toronto

[StlFanInVA]

I think we wind up with #3 with our pick and the Detroit pick ends up being where it was originally.

I would like for you to explain what would have to happen for the Blues to end up with the 3rd overall pick after the lottery. As shown in the chart above, it is possible with a 0.1% chance, but I’m curious if you’re actually aware of the craziness that would have to ensue for that to happen.

Or are you suggesting they somehow trade for the 3rd overall? I’d find that pretty unlikely too but at least more likely than them ending up there as a result of the lottery.

I am shooting at the .1 chance.. I mean.. It's a chance right
I feel like with the Blues luck.. we would be more inclined to somehow get that - than 1 or 2..

Looks like that means CHI wins the first draft and gets #1 and VAN is locked in to #2... Leaving #3 for STL...

[STL fan in MN]

1.) Who is #1?

2.) Who do you think are the Big Winners?

3.) Will Toronto be the Biggest Loser on the night?

I’ll randomly guess Seattle and then Chicago win the 2 lotteries. Who knows though.

Big winners are whoever wins the lotteries, duh.

Toronto’s pick is top-5 protected so if they win one of the lotteries or stay in the top-5 otherwise, they have the option to keep their pick. But if they keep it, then Boston gets Toronto’s 2027 1st rounder no matter what - fully unprotected. So if Toronto sucks again next season, it may end up to where it would’ve been better to give up this year’s pick than next year’s. Imagine if they’re able to keep it this year but then suck again next season, win the lottery and then Boston gets the 2027 1st overall pick…for freaking Brandon Carlo lol.

It's unreal how often that organization gets in its own way.

They just hired John Chayka as their new GM. The guy suspended from the league as GM of the Coyotes. Amazing.

Agreed.

I’m all for smart analytics guys that also know hockey to start to take over from the good ole boys network of old guys but Chayka just comes across as a smarmy guy that cuts corners to me. The NHL is a tight knit group and I think he’ll have a hard time getting a lot of the other GMs to truly trust him and want to do business with him.

[Backesdraft]

Chicago is winning the draft

[BalotelliMassive]

I know that picking in the top five is an easy pick to make but if Chicago ends up 3rd or 4th then I consider that a fail of a tank season. They need another top 6 gunner to add to Frondel and Kantserov's rookie seasons next year. I would love to have Stenberg based on thriving in the SHL and being reliable on the defensive side of the puck. That shiiiiiii feeling has entered my stomach - it's go time.

[Pierre McGuire]

Chicago is winning the draft

This probably the one year the league should rig the draft so that Chicago, New York or Toronto don’t win the lottery.

[LuvthaBlues]

It's tough to look at history because the draft rules have changed over the years and in 2022 so that only the top 11 teams are eligible for the #1 pick.

That said, I think it goes by the book this year.