The NHL Draft Lottery is a game of chance, but for the Detroit Red Wings, it was a game of staying put. The first-round pick they traded to the St. Louis Blues landed exactly where it was slotted—at No. 15 overall—meaning no lucky bounce, no painful slide, just the same result they expected.

On Tuesday, May 5, the NHL held its 2026 Draft Lottery, and the Toronto Maple Leafs were the big winners, jumping from the No. 5 spot to claim the first overall pick. This was a crucial win for Toronto, as they needed to stay within the top five to avoid sending their pick to the Boston Bruins as part of a 2025 trade for defenseman Brandon Carlo. The San Jose Sharks also moved up, winning the second drawing to pick second overall.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, were watching from the sidelines. Their first-round pick was already spoken for, having been used in a March trade-deadline deal to bring defenseman Justin Faulk to Detroit. So when the lottery balls bounced, the Wings' pick stayed at No. 15, where it will now head to St. Louis.

The Vancouver Canucks, who finished with the NHL's worst record, had the best odds to win the lottery at 18.5%, but fell short. They were followed by the Chicago Blackhawks (13.5%) and the New York Rangers (11.5%). All three teams will have to wait until draft day to see what they can do with their picks.

Looking ahead to the draft, set for June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, all eyes are on Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, who is projected to go first overall. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg is expected to be the second pick.

For the Blues, this lottery result is a double win. They now hold two first-round picks: their own at No. 10 and the Red Wings' at No. 15. That's a strong hand to play in a draft that's shaping up to be full of talent.