Who needs the 2026 NHL Draft #1 pick the most?

0:00 We are back with Carlo and the draft lottery.

0:02 It's coming right up.

0:03 Now Carlo, you were first round pick.

0:05 How intensely do you think the top picks this year will be watching tonight?

0:11 Yeah, I think the answer is obvious.

0:13 Very intently.

0:14 I mean, this is a date that was probably circled on every

0:16 player's calendar with a big giant permanent marker because a lot of what

0:22 the players played for this year was a chance to improve their draft

0:26 stock and maybe give themselves a chance to be selected in the first round.

0:29 Well, now after tonight and you get the selection of the lottery,

0:33 guys are going to have a pretty good

0:35 understanding of where they could potentially see their future.

0:39 And especially if you're the first overall pick,

0:41 you're probably going to know exactly where you go.

0:43 And so there's a lot of excitement, a lot of anticipation,

0:46 but obviously a lot of anxiety too because

0:49 you could probably desire where you want to go,

0:52 but it could be end up being a draft lottery like last

0:54 year last year where you have an unexpected team like the New

0:57 York Islanders when it so so much can change about every kid's

1:00 future about how next season and beyond is going to look for them.

1:04 Yeah, and you got to think not only are the prospects nervous,

1:06 the teams are nervous.

1:08 So which team do you think needs the number one pick the most?

1:14 Well, uh Sarah, I think you can definitely make a strong

1:17 case for the Toronto Maple Leafs desperately needing this pick because

1:21 you look at where they stand right now with the fifth

1:23 spot and they don't own their next two first round picks.

1:26 So you never know if they're ever going to get back to this spot,

1:29 but considering the state of the organization, they're very thin on prospects.

1:34 They don't have many assets.

1:35 So they could really use the boost of adding a significant player to the lineup.

1:40 But I think the obvious answer to this question is the Vancouver Canucks.

1:44 I mean, think about where this organization

1:46 has come from for the last two seasons.

1:48 Last made the playoffs.

1:50 They had to replace their coach Rick Tocchet who left for Philadelphia.

1:53 Well, by the way, they made the playoffs this year.

1:55 They had to trade J.T.

1:56 Miller and they had to trade their cornerstone

1:59 face of the franchise captain in in Quinn

2:01 Hughes and that has completely altered the future

2:05 of what this organization is going to look like.

2:07 They're very thin at prospects.

2:09 They still have Elias Pettersson, but is is he even considered elite anymore?

2:13 So I think to inject some excitement, some optimism, and you know,

2:19 just energy into this fan base about adding

2:22 a significant player like that, winning the draft draft lottery,

2:25 and hoping that the future is bright for this organization.

2:28 Yeah, the Canucks have really been through so much lately uh would them falling

2:32 in the draft be the biggest disaster or would

2:34 you choose a different team for that scenario?

2:39 Well, it would suck considering the season that they had,

2:41 but I think the biggest disaster would be the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2:44 I mean, right now if they fall one spot more,

2:47 they have to surrender their pick to the Boston

2:50 Bruins and that would be completely devastating uh for them

2:54 and their positioning and even just their outlook with all

2:56 the new changes that you envision coming with this team.

2:59 So you hope that they get a chance to keep

3:01 their spot or maybe move up to their spot,

3:03 but if they have to drop their spot and they're watching the Boston Bruins

3:06 who made the playoffs last year and select in the top 10 with their pick,

3:11 could be absolutely devastating.

3:13 Absolutely salt in the wound.

3:14 Now Carlo, let's assume Gavin McKenna is going to be the number one pick.

3:18 Which jersey and team do you think suits him best among top pick contenders?

3:25 You know, there's a couple options here.

3:26 I'm obviously going to say Vancouver because

3:28 I I said that they desperately need him.

3:29 You know, he's from Whitehorse, which is, you know, very close to Vancouver.

3:33 His family grew up Vancouver Canucks fans.

3:36 That's a team that they cheered for.

3:37 But you know, Gavin McKenna admitted that his favorite team

3:40 is the Chicago Blackhawks and his favorite player was Patrick Kane.

3:43 So I could see that working out for him and him looking really good at that.

3:47 What about the Calgary Flames?

3:49 Right?

3:49 The Calgary Flames, he played in Medicine Hat.

3:51 He's very familiar with the with the Alberta area.

3:54 You know, it's it's a it's a place that's expecting a new brand

3:57 new rink in 2027 and that could be something that could be celebrated too.

4:02 So there's a couple of options here, but again, I think if I was to choose one,

4:07 I would definitely choose he looks best in a Vancouver Canucks uniform.

4:11 All righty.

4:12 Well, we've got lots of coverage coming up across the TSN platforms.

4:16 James Duthie and the panel join us just after 7:00 with their reaction.

4:20 So will Gino Reda and Craig Button.

4:22 We're also going to have the boys

4:23 from OverDrive with an emergency show on YouTube.