The 2026 NHL Draft begins Friday, June 26, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The two-day event features the opening round on Friday night, followed by Rounds 2 through 7 on Saturday. With the draft lottery complete and several blockbuster trades reshaping the board, teams enter draft weekend with very different strategies.
Unlike previous years, the NHL will again use a decentralized format. Top prospects will gather in Buffalo, but team executives and scouting staffs will make their selections remotely from their home markets.
MORE: Toronto Maple Leafs land No. 1 pick in stunning 2026 NHL Draft Lottery jump
2026 NHL Draft schedule and TV coverage
Round 1 starts Friday, June 26, at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). Fans in the United States can watch on ESPN and ESPN+, while Sportsnet and TVA Sports carry the broadcast in Canada.
Rounds 2 through 7 begin Saturday, June 27, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). Coverage shifts to NHL Network and ESPN+ in the United States, while Sportsnet broadcasts every remaining selection in Canada.
The decentralized setup allows clubs to operate from their own headquarters while prospects remain on-site in Buffalo for interviews and the first-round festivities.
2026 NHL Draft first-round order
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- San Jose Sharks
- Vancouver Canucks
- Buffalo Sabres (from Chicago)
- New York Rangers
- Calgary Flames
- Seattle Kraken
- Winnipeg Jets
- San Jose Sharks (from Florida via Ottawa)
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- St. Louis Blues (from Detroit)
- St. Louis Blues (from Washington)
- Los Angeles Kings
- Washington Capitals (from Anaheim)
- Utah Mammoth
- Buffalo Sabres (from Edmonton via San Jose)
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Boston Bruins
- Vancouver Canucks (from Minnesota)
- Ottawa Senators (from Tampa Bay)
- New York Rangers (from Dallas via Carolina)
- San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo)
- Montreal Canadiens
- St. Louis Blues (from Colorado via New York Islanders)
- Calgary Flames (from Vegas)
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Ottawa Senators (league penalty)
The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the No. 1 overall selection after winning the draft lottery. The San Jose Sharks own three first-round picks, while the St. Louis Blues also enter the opening round with three selections.
Which teams don’t have picks in 2026 NHL Draft?
Several contenders will watch from the sidelines during Round 1. The Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals traded away their original first-round selections.
Stanley Cup Champ Carolina Hurricanes’ pick
Fresh off winning the 2026 Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes will make the 31st overall pick. Rod Brind’Amour’s club finished a dominant postseason with a 16-3 record and now shifts its attention toward adding another young piece to a championship roster.
The first round should again feature aggressive trade activity. Teams with multiple selections, including San Jose and St. Louis, have enough draft capital to move around the board if targeted prospects begin to slide.
