sports
2026 NHL draft order: Picks 1-16 following the dra...
Key takeaways
- The order for each round is determined by the order that teams finished the 2025-26 regular season and the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, but the first-round order was altered by the draft lottery conducted Tuesday.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs won the first draw, and the San Jose Sharks won the second draw.
- Here is how the first 16 picks of Round 1 look following the draft lottery:
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The order for each round is determined by the order that teams finished the 2025-26 regular season and the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, but the first-round order was altered by the draft lottery conducted Tuesday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the first draw, and the San Jose Sharks won the second draw.
Here is how the first 16 picks of Round 1 look following the draft lottery:
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