2026 NHL Draft order set, Washington Capitals have five picks
RMNB • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NHL Draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, starting on June 26 with Round 1, and continuing with Rounds 2 through 7 on June 27.
- The Washington Capitals hold five picks in this draft, including two first-round selections (16th and 18th overall), acquired through trades involving players like John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Justin Sourdif, and David Kampf.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery and will select first overall, likely choosing Penn State forward Gavin McKenna.
- The Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit their second-round pick (63rd overall) due to flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations.
- Capitals GM Chris Patrick indicated the team is open to trading draft picks to acquire a top-six forward, reflecting their strategy heading into the draft.
