The NHL Dropped the 2026 Draft Order and Carolina's Haul Will Make You Salty
Alright, Emerald City, get ready to feel a little salty. The NHL just dropped the current order of selection for the 2026 Draft. While we're always focused on our Kraken, you gotta see what the Carolina Hurricanes are cooking. Seriously, these guys just won the Stanley Cup, and you'd think they'd be scraping for picks. Nope. Not even close.
Canes Are Still Eating Good
You heard that right. They're fresh off a Cup win, and the NHL announces Carolina's sitting on four picks in the 2026 Draft. Four! That includes a first-rounder, #31 overall. Talk about a loaded hand for a champion. They snagged a couple of fourth and sixth-rounders: #105 and #165 from San Jose, and another sixth at #192. It's like they're just reloading their farm system. Remember Bradly Nadeau? They plucked him from Penticton of the BCHL in 2023 at #31, and dude made his NHL debut less than a year later. He hit the AHL All-Rookie and Top Prospects Teams in his first full pro season in 2024-25, was an AHL All-Star, and bagged three goals in 12 games with the Canes. If that's what a late first-rounder turns into, every team is paying attention.
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
Trade Wizards or Just Savvy?
It's not just luck, though. They've been busy dealing to stock up for the future. Second-round pick? Gone, part of the K'Andre Miller trade. Third-rounder went to the Utah Mammoth for Shayne Gostisbehere, March 2023. Own fourth-rounder moved to the Colorado Avalanche, January 2025, for a deal with Mikko Rantanen. Fifth-rounder to Nashville Predators for Mark Jankowski at last year's deadline. Seventh-rounder shipped to Montreal Canadiens for Cayden Primeau's rights before last year's free agency. But they gained too. San Jose's fourth-rounder in January for taking Kyle Masters' contract. Toronto's sixth-rounder, March 2024, for Cade Webber's rights. This savvy negotiating shows how a Cup winner keeps its pipeline full and stays competitive.
So, What Now?
The 2026 NHL Draft is locked in for June 26-27. Round 1 kicks off Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. Rounds 2-7 follow on Saturday, June 27, starting at 11 a.m. ET on NHL Network and ESPN+. While we'll always be cheering hard for our Kraken heroes like Matty Beniers, Captain Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, Chandler Stephenson, Berkly Catton, Kaapo Kakko, Tye Kartye, Adam Larsson, Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, and Joey Daccord, we'll also be watching closely to see what kind of fresh talent comes out of this draft. You gotta respect the grind and the long game, even if seeing another team's draft success makes you green with envy for those future picks. Go Kraken!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.