2026 NHL Draft 1st-round order set

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1. 8d ago

   2026 NHL Draft 1st-round order finalized after Hurricanes win Stanley Cup

   The 2026 NHL Draft first-round order has been set following the Carolina Hurricanes' victory in the Stanley Cup Final. Picks 30 and 31 were determined by the Hurricanes' win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The draft will take place June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, covering 224 selections across seven rounds. The St. Louis Blues hold the most first-round picks of any team.

   What's confirmed:

   • The 2026 NHL Draft first-round order is officially set following the conclusion of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
   • Carolina Hurricanes secured picks 30 and 31 after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
   • The draft will be held June 26–27, 2026, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, with Round 1 on June 26 and Rounds 2–7 on June 27.
   • The St. Louis Blues hold the most first-round selections of any team in this draft.
   • Players born between January 1, 2006, and September 15, 2008, are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
   • Gavin McKenna is widely projected as the top prospect for the first overall pick.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to select Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick, per multiple mock drafts.
   • Vancouver Canucks may select Oliver Stenberg with a top-five pick, though mock drafts vary beyond the fifth selection.
   • The Hurricanes' Cup win could impact late-round trades or lottery odds for next year’s draft.
   • Some analysts suggest McKenna’s stock may have risen slightly due to the Hurricanes' strong playoff run, though he remains the consensus No. 1.
   confidence 98%