The NHL Draft Lottery drama is set to unfold live for the second straight year. The drawing of the lottery balls will take place at NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. The event will be broadcast live on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, SN, and TVAS. The 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26-27.
Changes to the Lottery Format
The NHL president of content and events, Steve Mayer, said that lessons were learned from last year. According to Mayer, this evolution makes the experience even more transparent and dramatic. Every team still in the mix will know exactly what needs to be drawn as the final ball is drawn.
Previously, the drawing occurred in a sequestered room at NHL Network’s studio just before the TV broadcast. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would preside over the draw. The accounting firm Ernst & Young would oversee, members of the media would observe, and it would be video recorded for fans to view later.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly then revealed the order of selection on TV, counting down from 16 to 1. The NHL would also post a YouTube video of the draw afterwards for transparency.
How the New Format Works
Last season, the new format was introduced and the New York Islanders won the lottery. They eventually selected Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick. Bettman will still preside over the draw, and Ernst & Young will still oversee it.
Daly will still announce the order, but now fans will feel like they’re in the room. There are four balls numbered 1 to 14 and 1,001 possible four-number combinations. One combination is designated as a redraw (11, 12, 13, 14), allowing the NHL to divide by 1,000 among the 16 teams that did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Teams with the Best Odds
Each team receives an allotment of randomly assigned four-number combinations based on the final NHL regular-season standings. The lower a team finishes, the more lottery tickets they receive. The Vancouver Canucks finished 32nd and receive 185 combinations.
- The Chicago Blackhawks finished 31st and receive 135 combinations.
- The New York Rangers finished 30th and receive 115 combinations.
There are two draws, and a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots. This means only the top 11 seeds can win the first pick; the bott
The drama of the NHL Draft Lottery will be on display for all to see.