Minutes before the Colorado Avalanche hit the ice for their Game 2 showdown with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery unfolded.
The lottery’s outcome would determine the first two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. In the end, the Toronto Maple Leafs prevailed, earning the top pick. The San Jose Sharks won the second draw, getting the second selection.
Needless to say, both winners were surprises. The Leafs moved up from 5th to 1st, while the Sharks made a bigger jump, from 7th to 2nd.
The results could change the fortunes for both the Leafs and Sharks. Toronto has an opportunity to turn its fortunes around after missing the postseason. Meanwhile, Avalanche fans should keep an eye on the Sharks. San Jose could become a potential playoff opponent for the Avalanche at some point down the line.
So, it’s certainly worth watching what San Jose does moving forward.
As for the Avalanche themselves, the Draft Lottery really has no bearing on the club. The Avalanche don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. In fact, Colorado doesn’t have a first-rounder until 2029.
This year’s Avalanche first-rounder ended up in St. Louis. The Avs originally sent the pick to the New York Islanders in the Brock Nelson trade last season. This year, the Islanders sent the pick to the Blues in the Brayden Schenn trade.
If the Avalanche go on to win the Stanley Cup, and we hope they do, that pick will be the 31st selection. The Ottawa Senators, who had forfeited their first-rounder in this year’s draft, got it back after an appeal with the NHL. However, Ottawa is locked into the final pick of the first round.
If Ottawa had lost its pick, the Avalanche’s first-rounder would have been the 32nd selection.
It's worth pointing out that the last time the Avalanche picked first overall was in 2013. That was the year the Avs landed Nathan MacKinnon. It's safe to say that pick turned out pretty well.
For now, the Draft Lottery has no material impact on the Avalanche. However, trades can happen. And those trades could impact Colorado in one way or another.
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