The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery takes place tomorrow on Tuesday, May 5th. Ahead of the big day, the NHL has provided media with a 30-page guide detailing all the lottery ball combinations for the 16 teams that can win the 1st lottery draw, and the combinations for the 11 teams that can win the 1st overall selection.

We have scoured that document and put together all the pertinent information for Vancouver Canucks fans.

On March 23, 2021, the NHL changed its Draft Lottery format. Among the changes: a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall selection in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. That means that while the Canucks’ odds to win the 1st Lottery Draw are 18.5%, their chances of winning the 1st overall pick are actually 25.5%. Another key change: two drawings. The Lottery will be conducted in two phases: the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and the second to determine which team gets the second overall pick.

That means that the Canucks cannot fall further than third overall.

The Canucks have been allocated 185 out of 1,000 possible four-number combinations (18.5%). If any of these combinations are drawn, Vancouver wins that lottery draw.

Here are all of the Canucks’ combinations, for your reference on lottery day:

Over the past few weeks, our prospect expert Dave Hall has been writing up profiles on the top talents available in this year’s draft. Gavin McKenna headlines the group after a strong finish to his collegiate season at Penn State. McKenna finished his Draft season with an eye-catching 51 points in 35 NCAA games, and after a brief conversation earlier in the season about whether he could fall from the top spot, most agree that this is once again going to be the Gavin McKenna draft. If the Canucks land the first overall pick, expect them to select the Whitehorse, Yukon product at the top of this year’s draft. Read Dave’s write-up on McKenna here.

Right behind McKenna is another very strong prospect, who put up strong numbers in the SHL and has turned in strong showings basically every time he’s suited up for his home country of Sweden. We’re of course talking about Ivar Stenberg. Stenberg finished with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games, good for a 0.77 points-per-game rate and tops among U20 skaters in SHL scoring. Those numbers not only placed him ahead of players like Anton Frondell and draft-eligible Viggo Björck, but, historically, his production trails only Daniel Sedin among draft-eligible seasons in points per game. Read Dave’s full write-up on Stenberg here.

After McKenna and Stenberg at one and two, there are serious debates being had about who should go third overall. Statistically, the Canucks have the highest odds of falling to third overall on lottery day, so while everyone is obviously hoping for that first overall pick, it’s important to know who’s available outside of the top two picks. While Keaton Verhoeff seemed like the can’t-miss third overall pick for much of the season, players like centre Caleb Malhotra, along with fellow defencemen Chase Reid and Carson Carels have absolutely worked their way into the conversation. At this point, it’s really anyone’s guess who will go third overall in this year’s draft, and should the Canucks fall there, they’ll have an interesting decision on their hands.

It’s important to at least note the full table of odds:

The lottery drawing will be broadcast live, so fans will be able to follow along in real time to see if lady luck is on their team’s side tomorrow evening.