Early in the 2025/26 NHL season, it appeared as though the Calgary Flames were competing for last in the NHL standings, a move that would have had them sitting as favourites ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. However, after the trade deadline, the team caught fire behind some key rookies and surprise veterans, and heading into Game 82, the team controlled their fate in their lottery standings.
With a loss of any kind, the Flames would clinch the No. 3 odds for the No. 1 overall pick, representing an 11.5% chance, but with a victory (which of course, the Flames would pick up), their hopes fall to just 9.5%.
4️⃣ The Calgary #Flames will have the fourth best odds to win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery!
— Sportsnet 960 (@Sportsnet960) April 17, 2026
They have a 9.5% chance to win the number one overall selection. pic.twitter.com/etWjCwHfiu
Beyond that, the team have a 9.5% chance at No. 2 overall, a 0.3% chance at No. 3, 15.4% chance at No. 4, 44.6% chance at No. 5 overall and a 20.8% chance at No. 6 overall, the lowest the team can fall in the draft. As a result, the team will pick in the top-six for the first time since Matthew Tkachuk in 2016, and after picking Sam Bennett in 2015 at No. 5 overall, we may be looking at just their second top-five pick of the century.
Now, all eyes turn to May 5th when the NHL will hold their annual draft lottery, with the Flames hoping to land the likes of Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, and while there's great consolation prizes beyond the top-two, the Flames are hoping to land a franchise changing forward in 2026.
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