Blue Jackets hope to have lottery luck on their side - NHL.com
Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery will give Columbus a shot at the top pick, but nothing is guaranteed
www.nhl.comHere’s the latest general update on the NHL draft lottery as of 2026:
- The NHL Draft Lottery typically takes place in early May, with two draws determining the top two picks. The exact format and odds can shift slightly year to year, so check the league’s official site for the live results on lottery night.[3][7]
- In recent years, the team with the worst record usually has the highest odds to win the first overall pick, while the second draw determines the second pick, with teams 12–16 still eligible for the top two slots depending on outcomes.[2][3]
- Live-coverage and post-draw analysis are commonly provided by the NHL’s official channels and major sports outlets, including live-hosted broadcasts and real-time updates.[9][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the current, up-to-the-minute results and summarize the top picks and odds for 2026, and I can also present a quick chart of teams' odds before the lottery night.