Your Kraken Are Holding Pick No. 7 and No. 25, And The Future Is Getting Dangerous For The League

Holy smokes, Emerald City, are you seeing this?! The 2026 NHL Draft order is taking shape, and your Seattle Kraken are in an absolutely PRIME position! We just got the word on the first 27 picks being locked in as the Stanley Cup Playoffs' second round wraps up, and listen up: our Kraken are sitting pretty with not one, but TWO first-round selections. We're talking about the No. 7 pick and a second one at No. 25. Can you feel that energy? It's electric!

Two First-Rounders? That's a Steal, Period.

Yeah, you heard that right. Two first-round picks! The No. 7 spot came from the NHL Draft Lottery that went down on May 5, setting the first 16 selections. Toronto nabbed No. 1, but honestly, who cares when you're looking at a top-10 pick yourself? And then, to cap it all off, we've got the Tampa Bay Lightning's pick at No. 25! That gem was acquired way back on March 5, 2025, as part of the trade that sent Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde their way. Talk about playing the long game and winning big. Our front office made a move that day that is paying off huge right now. This is how you build a dynasty, folks, by stacking up talent like this.

The rest of the first 27 picks were slotted in based on the playoff eliminations. Teams that didn't win their division were inverse ordered by regular-season points, and then the Buffalo Sabres, the only division winner knocked out, followed. It's all happening at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo this year. The first round is a must-watch on June 26, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET, and then rounds 2-7 follow up on June 27. Get ready to glue your eyes to the screen, because the Kraken are about to make some noise.

Who Else Is Loading Up? Plus, The Conference Finals Are Heating Up!

Our Kraken aren't alone in the two-pick club, but we're definitely in good company, and arguably in the best spot with No. 7. Calgary, San Jose, with No. 2 and No. 20 from Edmonton, Vancouver, with No. 3 and No. 24 from Minnesota, the New York Rangers, with No. 5 and No. 26 originally from Dallas, and Washington, with No. 16 and No. 18 from Anaheim, also have multiple first-rounders. It’s clear the league is seeing some serious future planning. St. Louis is going wild with three picks at No. 11, No. 15, and the Avalanche's selection. Speaking of the Avs, the Western Conference Final is shaping up to be a barn burner with the Vegas Golden Knights facing off against Colorado, Game 1 on Wednesday. Out East, it's the Montreal Canadiens against the Carolina Hurricanes, with Game 1 on Thursday. These games are going to determine picks 28 through 31, with the Cup winner getting 31 and Ottawa grabbing 32 as a penalty from an old trade. The stakes are sky-high, both on the ice and for the draft order!

So, get hyped, Seattle! Our Kraken are about to inject some serious young talent into the roster. Imagine what kind of future Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Vince Dunn, and Joey Daccord will have with two more first-round studs joining the squad. We’re counting down the days to June 26, ready to see who our next stars will be. Let’s go, Kraken!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.