2026 NHL Draft lottery
Event in Hockey
2026 NHL Draft lottery has come up in 2 episodes across 1 podcast in TMT, including Pardon My Take. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Ryan WhitneyFormer NHL defenseman and co-host of the Spittin' Chiclets hockey podcast; Oilers fan
- Came true
Whitney predicts Gavin McKenna will still go first overall though expectations of a McDavid-type player have cooled.
“I think he's still going to go first overall, but it's, I think some people now who were saying like McDavid type player”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:41
Whitney jokingly claims the NHL draft lottery is rigged unless Vancouver or Calgary wins the top pick.
“If Vancouver or Calgary doesn't get first overall pick this year, it's rigged”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:16:18
Paul BissonnetteFormer NHL enforcer, TNT hockey analyst and Spittin' Chiclets co-host
Bissonnette called Macklin Celebrini the next Sidney Crosby.
“is a stud he is a fucking freak he's the next sydney crosby”
Pardon My Take: Paul Bissonnette Talking Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sixers Get Swept By The Knicks, NBA Draft Lottery, Aliens Are Back And More (May 11, 2026) · Listen from 2:05:27
Predictions
- Came trueRyan Whitney
Whitney predicts Gavin McKenna will still go first overall though expectations of a McDavid-type player have cooled.
“I think he's still going to go first overall, but it's, I think some people now who were saying like McDavid type player”
Pardon My Take: NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press Off (Apr 27, 2026) · Listen from 2:17:41 · 2026 NHL Draft lottery
Gavin McKenna was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo on June 26, 2026, before the June 30 deadline. Whitney's remark that McDavid-level expectations had cooled was his opinion and can't be checked; the testable claim was that McKenna would go first.
Sources: Maple Leafs make forward Gavin McKenna first pick of NHL draft (CBC Sports) · Draft Moments: McKenna goes No. 1 (NHL.com)
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- Pardon My Take · 2 episodes
Episodes
Paul Bissonnette Talking Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sixers Get Swept By The Knicks, NBA Draft Lottery, Aliens Are Back And MorePardon My Take · May 11, 2026 · 2 h 31 min
The Pardon My Take crew recaps the Knicks sweeping the Sixers and the NBA draft lottery, then Paul Bissonnette discusses the NHL playoffs and the Maple Leafs' hiring of John Chayka.
NHL Playoffs With Ryan Whitney, NFL Draft Recap, NBA Playoffs, Who’s Back Of The Week + We Get Involved In The Press OffPardon My Take · Apr 27, 2026 · 2 h 39 min
Big Cat and PFT Commenter recap the 2026 NFL Draft and NBA playoffs, stoke a fan 'press off,' and talk Stanley Cup playoffs with Ryan Whitney.