The NHL Draft Combine is set for May 31 through June 6, 2026, as top prospects gather in Buffalo, New York, for one of the most important pre-draft evaluation events on the calendar. 

Held at LECOM Harborcenter, the combine will bring together many of the players expected to be selected in the 2026 NHL Draft later in June.

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The combine plays a key role in the draft process, giving NHL teams a chance to conduct interviews, medical evaluations and fitness testing in a centralized setting. With the draft order still being finalized through the NHL Draft Lottery and postseason results, the week in Buffalo provides front offices with valuable information as they shape their boards.

Buffalo has become a consistent host for the event, with LECOM Harborcenter serving as the home of the NHL Draft Combine annually since 2015. The venue, located near KeyBank Center, offers a familiar setting for teams and prospects alike as the league continues to return to the city each year.

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place shortly after the combine, on June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. With the combine serving as a final checkpoint before selections are made, it remains a critical step in determining how the next class of NHL talent comes off the board.

2026 NHL Draft Lottery Odds

The NHL Draft Lottery is May 5. 

The lottery system gives the best odds to the teams that finished lowest in the standings, but movement is built into the format. While the team with the worst record has the highest chance to secure the top pick, no outcome is guaranteed, and several teams further down the order still have a path to No. 1.

At the top of the lottery, the Vancouver Canucks hold the best odds, with a 25.5% chance to land the No. 1 overall selection. Vancouver is also guaranteed a top-three pick, making it the most secure position in the lottery field. The Chicago Blackhawks follow with a 13.5% chance, while the New York Rangers sit at 11.5%, rounding out the teams with double-digit odds.

Further down the board, teams such as the Calgary Flames (9.5%), Toronto Maple Leafs (8.5%) and Seattle Kraken (7.5%) remain firmly in the mix. Even teams outside the top five maintain a realistic chance to move up, with the Winnipeg Jets (6.5%) and Florida Panthers (6.0%) still within striking distance of the top selection.

The odds begin to drop more significantly toward the back half of the lottery. The San Jose Sharks (5.0%) and Nashville Predators (3.5%) face longer paths to No. 1, while teams like the St. Louis Blues (3.0%) and New Jersey Devils (5.1%) are more likely to remain near their current positions.

At the bottom of the lottery standings, the New York Islanders (4.2%), Columbus Blue Jackets (3.2%), Detroit Red Wings (1.1%) and Washington Capitals (1.1%) have the longest odds to secure the top pick. While a jump is still mathematically possible, those teams are overwhelmingly likely to select near the back of the lottery order.

No. 1 Pick = Race For Gavin McKenna?

Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna is considered among the top prospects in the draft, perhaps the best. McKenna is expected to go No. 1.

2026 NHL Mock Draft

When Is The NHL Draft?

The NHL Draft will take place on June 26- 27 in Buffalo, New York at KeyBank Center. It’s the 64th NHL Draft.

2025-2026 NHL Final Standings

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Buffalo Sabres — 50-23-9, 109 pts (clinched division)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning — 50-26-6, 106 pts (playoffs)
3. Montreal Canadiens — 48-24-10, 106 pts (playoffs)
4. Boston Bruins — 45-27-10, 100 pts (playoffs)
5. Ottawa Senators — 44-27-11, 99 pts (playoffs)
6. Detroit Red Wings — 41-31-10, 92 pts (eliminated)
7. Florida Panthers — 40-38-4, 84 pts (eliminated)
8. Toronto Maple Leafs — 32-36-14, 78 pts (eliminated)

Metropolitan Division

1. Carolina Hurricanes — 53-22-7, 113 pts (conference clinched)
2. Pittsburgh Penguins — 41-25-16, 98 pts (playoffs)
3. Philadelphia Flyers — 43-27-12, 98 pts (playoffs)
4. Washington Capitals — 43-30-9, 95 pts (eliminated)
5. Columbus Blue Jackets — 40-30-12, 92 pts (eliminated)
6. New York Islanders — 43-34-5, 91 pts (eliminated)
7. New Jersey Devils — 42-37-3, 87 pts (eliminated)
8. New York Rangers — 34-39-9, 77 pts (eliminated)

Western Conference

Central Division

1. Colorado Avalanche — 55-16-11, 121 pts (Presidents’ Trophy)
2. Dallas Stars — 50-20-12, 112 pts (playoffs)
3. Minnesota Wild — 46-24-12, 104 pts (playoffs)
4. Utah Mammoth — 43-33-6, 92 pts (playoffs)
5. St. Louis Blues — 37-33-12, 86 pts (eliminated)
6. Nashville Predators — 38-34-10, 86 pts (eliminated)
7. Winnipeg Jets — 35-35-12, 82 pts (eliminated)
8. Chicago Blackhawks — 29-39-14, 72 pts (eliminated)

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights — 39-26-17, 95 pts (division winner)
2. Edmonton Oilers — 41-30-11, 93 pts (playoffs)
3. Anaheim Ducks — 43-33-6, 92 pts (playoffs)
4. Los Angeles Kings — 35-27-20, 90 pts (playoffs)
5. San Jose Sharks — 39-35-8, 86 pts (eliminated)
6. Seattle Kraken — 34-37-11, 79 pts (eliminated)
7. Calgary Flames — 34-39-9, 77 pts (eliminated)
8. Vancouver Canucks — 25-49-8, 58 pts (eliminated)

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