2026 NHL Draft First Round Order Revealed: Flames to Pick at No. 30, Hurricanes at No. 31
The 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft's first round order has been determined following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. The Calgary Flames will select at No. 30 after the Vegas Golden Knights lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes will pick at No. 31, and the Ottawa Senators will receive the No. 32 pick due to a penalty from a previous trade involving Evgenii Dadonov. The draft lottery determined the first 16 selections, with the Toronto Maple Leafs securing the No. 1 pick and the San Jose Sharks getting the No. 2 selection. The draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with the first round on June 26 and rounds 2-7 on June 27.
The remaining picks from 17-27 were assigned to the teams that were eliminated in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche traded their No. 29 pick to the New York Islanders, who then traded it to the St. Louis Blues. The Blues now have three first-round picks, including No. 11 and No. 15. The Flames, Sharks, Canucks, Rangers, Kraken, and Capitals are among the teams with multiple first-round selections. The draft promises to be an exciting event with several teams having the opportunity to bolster their rosters with top prospects.
In conclusion, the 2026 NHL Draft's first round order has been established, with the Flames and Hurricanes set to make their selections at No. 30 and No. 31, respectively. The draft lottery determined the top picks, with the Maple Leafs and Sharks securing the first two selections. With multiple teams holding multiple first-round picks, the draft is shaping up to be a significant event for teams looking to add talent to their rosters.