The Vancouver Canucks have just wrapped up a season in a way they haven't since the early '70s. After a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, the Canucks clinched last place in the NHL standings-a position they haven't found themselves in since their sophomore season in 1971-72.
This outcome was far from what anyone anticipated at the start of the season. The focus was on retaining Quinn Hughes, yet the irony of clinching last place after facing Hughes’ new team isn’t lost on fans. In a twist of fate, that same game saw Minnesota secure their spot in the playoffs.
While it's not the finish the Canucks organization hoped for, there’s a silver lining to their struggles. By securing last place, the Canucks now hold the best odds in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft lottery. When the lottery unfolds on May 5, they’ll have a 25.5% chance of landing the top pick.
However, the most probable scenario sees them picking third overall, with odds of 55.7%. Canucks fans are all too familiar with the unpredictability of the draft lottery.
Since the NHL revamped its lottery rules in 2016 to discourage tanking, Vancouver has consistently found themselves sliding down the draft order. From 2016 to 2019, they slipped a total of seven spots over four years.
Could this be the year their luck turns around? While fans might be cautious in their optimism, the Canucks have positioned themselves well for a high draft pick. Trading Hughes marked a turning point, making last place a strategic, if not ideal, outcome.
Regardless of the lottery results, Vancouver is set to make its highest draft pick since 1999, the year they famously snagged both Henrik and Daniel Sedin with the second and third overall picks. Whether they secure the top spot or not, the Canucks are poised to add a significant piece to their roster.