Canucks clinch crucial NHL Draft lottery spot
This was the only thing Vancouver had left.
Canucks clinch crucial NHL Draft lottery spot originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Vancouver Canucks didn't have much left to win as their brutal 2025-26 season wound down.
On Thursday night, though, they ensured one final sort of victory. The Canucks have clinched 32nd place in the NHL, the worst record this season. And with that, they've clinched the best odds in the 2026 NHL Draft lottery system.
With that spot comes a 25. 5% chance at picking No. 1 overall when the draft arrives.
Vancouver has never had the first pick in its franchise history. Clearly, it's not guaranteed even now, with the Canucks essentially having a 1-in-4 chance of picking in that slot. The good news for Vancouver is that having the worst record means that no matter what happens in the lottery, the Canucks cannot pick lower than third.