Most teams take stock of their playoff chances around this time of year, but those at the bottom of the standings shift their focus elsewhere. The first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft is at stake for a handful of clubs, including three Canadian teams. The Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks are all in the midst of a disappointing season, but it might just pay off for one of them in due time.
Last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners have had a less-than-ideal first half of the 2025-26 season. The Jets have dealt with injuries to stars like Connor Hellebuyck, whose absence essentially dashed the team’s playoff hopes after they imploded in games without him.
Winnipeg’s predicament has landed them at the very bottom of the NHL standings entering play Saturday, but it also gives them a high chance at the first overall pick. While it doesn’t seem like the Jets intend to tank during the second half of the season, getting the first overall pick could make an already stellar team even better. Given that they have elite goal scorers like Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg is the perfect example of a great team having an off year.
There are a lot of games left to play for the Jets, but having the first pick awarded to them could mean great things for the team. The club already knows it has what it takes to play meaningful hockey, and having the opportunity to add talent would be a huge opportunity for them. Now, I don’t foresee the team aiming to lose games and take themselves out of playoff contention without a fight, but anything can happen.
Calgary once looked to be the team of the future with stars like Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan, but times have changed. The Flames sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division and are a ways away from being in Wild Card contention. That wasn’t the case just a few years ago during their last playoff appearance in 2022, and this new reality has taken some getting used to.
Things might be looking up for the fans in Alberta, though, especially if the Flames win the draft lottery this spring. Calgary has been a team near the bottom of the NHL since the departure of a few key players over the last three seasons. With that being said, some fresh blood could help them start a journey back to the top of the Pacific Division, starting with the first overall pick.
Vancouver committed to a rebuild in December when the team traded away captain Quinn Hughes in return for a few younger players. An overhaul was needed if the team was going to make progress soon, and those in charge have taken that to heart. The 2026 draft will mark the beginning of a true rebuild for the team, and the Canucks could very well secure the number one pick.
Rebuilding is a word that is thrown around pretty lightly these days, but Vancouver has the opportunity to truly change their game and culture with their 2026 draft picks. Add in newcomers Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi to the mix, and the Canucks could very well start building a dynasty in 2026 if they do it right. It’s not a stretch to say Vancouver is in a better place than it was, and they have a chance to get a lot better in the coming months.
Getting the first overall pick in the NHL draft has the power to be franchise-defining. Look at Patrick Kane, Connor McDavid, and Sidney Crosby. Each of them brought new life to struggling teams while performing at the highest level possible, a fate that we could be seeing in the near future.
The draft always has an air of possibility to it, and the 2026 rendition will be the same. There’s a lot at stake in terms of the first overall selection, and that pick could just be what the Jets, Flames, or Canucks need to turn their fortunes around. It’ll be a while until then, but for now, it’s a race to see who can win the draft lottery.
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