When Is The 2026 NHL Draft?
Round 1 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 26.
Rounds 2-7 will take place on Saturday, June 27, starting at 11 a.m. ET.
How Can I Watch?
Round 1 of the draft will be on Friday, June 26, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 will be on Saturday, June 27, starting at 11 a.m. ET.
In the United States, Friday will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+, while Saturday will be on NHL Network and ESPN+.
What Picks Do The Canes Have?
- Round 1, #31 Overall
- Round 4, #105 Overall (from San Jose)
- Round 6, #165 Overall (from Toronto)
- Round 6, #192
Two of the four choices are Carolina's own, with two being acquired via trade.
The last time Carolina selected in the first round, the club plucked Bradly Nadeau from Penticton of the BCHL in 2023. Under a year later, he made his NHL debut, and his first full pro season in 2024-25 culminated in him being named to both the AHL All-Rookie Team and the AHL Top Prospects Team. This past season, he was an AHL All-Star and skated in 12 games with the Canes, recording three goals.
At last year's draft, Carolina traded back twice before eventually selecting goaltender Semyon Frolov with its first selection at #41 overall. It was just the second time in team history that the team has chosen a goalie with its first choice, joining franchise legend Cam Ward.
Outgoing Picks
- This year's second-round pick was included as part of the trade for K'Andre Miller.
- This year's third-round pick belongs to the Utah Mammoth as a result of the team's trade for Shayne Gostisbehere in March of 2023.
- This year's fourth-round pick belongs to the Colorado Avalanche, moved as a piece in the January 2025 trade including Mikko Rantanen.
- This year's fifth-round pick was sent to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Mark Jankowski at last year's trade deadline.
- This year's seventh-round pick is now in the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, after the team used it to acquire Cayden Primeau's rights ahead of last year's free agency period.
Acquired Picks
- San Jose's fourth-round pick was acquired in January in exchange for taking on the contract of defenseman Kyle Masters.
- Toronto's sixth-round pick was received in March of 2024 in return for the rights to prospect Cade Webber.
Previous Draft Selections
To view a complete history of Carolina's draft picks, click here.
2026 Development Camp
A few of the players, if not all, selected by Carolina on Friday and Saturday will make their way to North Carolina next week for the organization's development camp.
The event brings players selected this year, as well as prospects selected in previous years and other invitees, to Raleigh for an assessment of their skills and for them to see what it's like to be part of the Canes' organization.
To learn more about the event, click here.
Who Goes First?
After winning the luck of the draw on May 5, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the right to select first overall.
To view a complete listing of Central Scouting's final rankings, click here.
Can I Follow Along Online?
A link to the NHL's live Draft Tracker can be found here.
