The ping pong balls came and went, and the New York Islanders were unable to win the NHL Draft Lottery for a consecutive season.
The Islanders, who won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with just 3.5% odds, had a 2.0% chance to win it again. Because they finished the season with the 13th-best odds, the most they could have moved up to is No. 3.
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Per NHL.com’s draft projections, right-side defenseman Ryan Lin is slated to go at No. 13. The 18-year-old British Columbia native is committed to the Frozen Four champion University of Denver for the 2027-28 season.
The Islanders are currently limited on the right side of their blue line, so going with a right-shot defenseman makes a ton of sense.
The 2026 NHL Draft will take place in Buffalo, NY on June 26 and 27th.
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