Washington Capitals News & Notes: 2026 NHL Lottery & Combine Details – The Hockey Writers – Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are on summer vacation after missing the 2026 NHL Playoffs despite a furious finish that saw them go 8-2 over their final 10 games. With a 43-30-9 record and 95 points, they fell just short of the 98 points that generally means a visit to the postseason.

With their lockers cleaned out at MedStar Capitals IcePlex, Washington’s brass have turned their attention to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New York, on June 26 and 27. Here are a few things to keep an eye on as we begin the slow march through spring without Capitals hockey. 

2026 NHL Draft Lottery

Washington will see their logo in Secaucus, New Jersey, next Tuesday, marking just the third time the Capitals have been included in the draft lottery since 2008. They have the lowest odds, at a 1.1% chance, of securing the top selection (per FloHockey).

However, last year, the New York Islanders landed the first pick (and the chance to select the favourite to win the Calder Trophy this season, Matthew Schaefer) with the tenth-best odds or just a 3.5% chance of moving up the board to draft first overall. 

Washington has won the draft lottery once, in 2004, when they selected Alex Ovechkin first overall. It is the only time the Capitals have moved up in the lotto process, rising from the third pick. The 40-year-old hinted at returning for a 21st NHL campaign during his final media availability of the season, but that decision is still pending as his contract is set to expire this summer.

Only 11 of the 16 teams included in the lottery are eligible to win the top pick, and Washington will most likely settle for the 16th overall pick once the dust settles after the draw.

2026 NHL Draft Combine

The NHL will hold the 2026 NHL Draft Combine at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York, between May 31 and June 6. This will be the last opportunity for NHL scouts and general managers to gather intel on the players eligible for selection during the 2026 NHL Draft. Keep an eye out for THW’s Mark Scheig, who always offers stellar content around draft time. 

Beckett Sennecke was “pretty shocked” when the Anaheim Ducks selected him third overall in 2025. However, writers at the Combine were less stunned. Scheig wrote in June 2025 that Sennecke had dinner with Ducks staff at the Combine, which “strongly suggested it was possible he’d go in the top five.” Sennecke rewarded the team that drafted him with 60 points in his rookie season this year, including a league-leading 23 goals by a first-year player in 2025-26 (tied with Schaefer).

The top prospects leading up to the draft, forward Gavin McKenna and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, will have a few final chances to impress NHL scouting squads. Both players will be invited to multiple meetings with various teams throughout the Combine to learn more about their character, family, and interests. There is also a long day of fitness testing and media interviews to close out a whirlwind event for the athletes, all of whom are excited to be among the top 90 invited prospects.

Washington holds five picks in the draft, including two first-round selections. Their own pick is included in next week’s lottery, while the second came from the Ducks via the John Carlson trade in March. Where that pick lands depends on how far Anaheim goes in the 2026 NHL Playoffs – they lead their first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 heading into Game 6 tonight. Washington’s three other selections are in the fourth round (112th overall), fifth round (144th overall), and seventh round (208th overall).