NHL Draft lottery live results: Updated picks order for every team in No. 1 overall sweepstakes
The Sporting News tracked the results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Keep up with the complete order for picks 1-16.
www.sportingnews.comHere’s the latest on the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery results.
Direct answer
- Toronto Maple Leafs won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft lottery (announced May 4–5, 2026 in various outlets).[2][3]
Context and notes
- The lottery determined the first overall pick among teams with the worst records, with Toronto obtaining the top slot despite not being the team with the highest odds. The upfront odds had Vancouver at the top of the wheel, with Toronto around the 8.5% range among participants, but Toronto ultimately secured No. 1.[1][3]
- The second pick went to the San Jose Sharks in many reports, with a few outlets showing the overall top-two results from the draw; multiple sources corroborate Toronto’s No. 1 outcome and Sharks near the top of the board.[3][2]
What this means going forward
- Toronto gains the opportunity to select the top prospect in the 2026 class, which could influence their long-term window around stars like Auston Matthews, depending on how they evaluate and sign top junior/potential free-agent talent. Media coverage canvassed the impact on team direction, including leadership and GM strategy following the lottery win.[2]
Illustration (example)
- If you want, I can generate a brief table showing the No. 1 pick winners by year for the last decade to place this outcome in historical context.
Would you like a quick summary table of the 2026 lottery results (No. 1 through No. 16) pulled from these sources, or a short analysis of potential fits for Toronto at No. 1? I can include citations after each data point.