Here’s the latest I can share based on recent coverage.
Answer
- The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery winner was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who secured the No. 1 pick. This was reported by multiple outlets on May 4, 2026.
Context and what changed
- Vancouver had the highest announced odds (18.5%) entering the lottery, but Toronto won the top pick instead. Odds and results were published ahead of the lottery’s live telecast.
- The draft order for picks 2–16 was updated in subsequent coverage, with several outlets tracking the full first-round order as results were finalized.
What this means for teams
- Toronto moves on to select first, potentially shaping its retooling strategy under new leadership, as reporting noted in multiple outlets.
- Other teams with high odds included Vancouver (18.5%), Chicago (13.5%), and New York (11.5%), but none secured the No. 1 choice.
For more detail
- If you’d like, I can pull the full first-round results as reported by a tracker and format them in a sortable list or chart.
Sources
Will be held at NHL Network studio, telecast live on ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
www.nhl.comNHL Lottery Draft 2026: Toronto Maple Leafs had the fifth-highest odds of winning it at 8.5 per cent. Vancouver had the highest at 18.5 per cent and has never had the first pick in the draft.
economictimes.indiatimes.comWill be held at NHL Network studio, telecast live on ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
www.nhl.comThe Toronto Maple Leafs have won the lottery for the first pick in the NHL draft. The victory comes at a critical time for Toronto in the aftermath of hiring John Chayka as general manager and bringing back franchise legend Mats Sundin to serve as a hockey operations adviser. The future of captain and best player Auston Matthews is the biggest question after missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. It’s the first time the Maple Leafs have won the lottery since taking Matthews...
www.ajc.comWe elected to give our own lottery simulation using Tankathon.com, and the winning Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues used their good fortune to their advantage, selecting Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. Check out the rest of the mock draft with the lottery simulation.
thehockeynews.comThe Sporting News tracked the results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Keep up with the complete order for picks 1-16.
www.sportingnews.comUnfavorable lottery bounces and a rival’s lucky jump have pushed Winnipeg down the board, leaving the Jets to scout elite talent from the eighth overall slot.
thehockeynews.com