NHL Draft Order Solidified Further

After the second round of the NHL playoffs came to a close this week, we have a far better idea of the NHL Draft Order and how some picks will end up.

To start, we now know the Toronto Maple Leafs will hold the 24th overall pick from the Cody Franson trade with the Nashville Predators right before the trade deadline. The Predators were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.

If the Washington Capitals had eliminated the New York Rangers last round, the Leafs would have ended up with the 23rd pick instead. The Capitals fell to the Rangers in a game seven overtime in the eastern conference semi finals.

Before now, the only pucks that were set were the lottery picks of 1-14 of the teams who didn’t make the playoffs, including the Edmonton Oilers first overall pick. With the second round over, the only picks left to be solved are 26-30; the last four teams left in the playoffs in the conference finals.

The currant known draft order is as follows, via Sportsnet in Canada;

1. Edmonton
2. Buffalo
3. Arizona
4. Toronto
5. Carolina
6. New Jersey
7. Philadelphia
8. Columbus
9. San Jose
10. Colorado
11. Florida
12. Dallas
13. Los Angeles
14. Boston
15. Calgary
16. Edmonton (acquired from Pittsburgh)
17. Winnipeg
18. Ottawa
19. Detroit
20. Minnesota
21. Buffalo (acquired from N.Y. Islanders)
22. Washington
23. Vancouver
24. Toronto (acquired from Nashville)
25. Winnipeg (acquired from St. Louis, via Buffalo)
26. Montreal

Interestingly, of these final four first rounders, just the Anaheim Ducks own their pick. The Arizona Coyotes own the Chicago Blackhawks pick, via the Antoine Vermette trade from the deadline. The New York Rangers pick is owned by their conference finals opponent, the Tampa Bay Lighting, thanks to last season’s Martin St. Louis trade. Lastly, the Lightning’s own pick is controlled by the Philadelphia Flyers from this year’s Brayden Coburn trade.

The Vancouver Canucks take the 23rd pick that the Leafs would have had if the Capitals had won. The loss from the Montreal Canadiens last round to the Lightning leaves them with the 26th pick.

The Winnipeg Jets get the 25th pick after the trade Buffalo for Evander Kane, which the Sabres added via a trade with St. Louis two seasons ago.

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost their first round pick which now belongs to the Oilers after the Pittsburgh playoff exit. This leads the Oilers with two first rounders.

The NHL Draft takes place on June 26th in Sunrise, Florid . Soon enough the full order will be determined.