{"id":28185,"date":"2026-05-01T19:48:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/28185\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T19:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:48:09","slug":"what-does-oilers-loss-mean-for-sharks-2026-1st-round-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/28185\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Oilers Loss Mean For Sharks 2026 1st Round Pick?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Jose Sharks are not in the Stanley Cup Playoffs<\/a>, but they are tied to how certain teams perform, specifically the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following the Oilers\u2019 game six loss to the Anaheim Ducks<\/a>, the Sharks\u2019 attention quickly turned to the 2026 NHL Draft. When San Jose traded defenseman Jake Walman<\/a> at the 2025 Trade Deadline, they acquired Edmonton\u2019s 2026 first-round pick. If the pick fell inside the top 12, the Oilers would transfer their 2027 1st to the Sharks. But that wouldn\u2019t be the case for two reasons: 1. Edmonton didn\u2019t finish that low in the standings, & 2. The Oilers traded their 2027 first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> at the 2026 deadline.<\/p>\n

That meant the 2026 pick the San Jose Sharks acquired became unprotected. Although the Oilers didn\u2019t slide down the standings, the Sharks had a chance at two lottery picks this summer. <\/p>\n

Teams eliminated in the first or second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are sorted by their place in the standings. If a team makes a conference final and loses, they will pick in either the 28th or 29th in 2026. Normally, it would be 29 or 30, but the Ottawa Senators<\/a> will pick 32nd no matter what after the NHL returned<\/a> their first-round pick from a penalty for canceling a trade in 2022.<\/p>\n

Based on the remaining teams and where the Oilers finished in the standings, the San Jose Sharks know their pick will be either 19th or 20th overall. <\/p>\n

\"\"Via Tankathon.com<\/p>\n

Here are the permutations of the Sharks\u2019 second first-round pick:<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> make the conference final: Sharks pick 20th.
Utah Mammoth<\/a> defeat Vegas Golden Knights: Sharks pick 19th.
Anaheim Ducks defeat Vegas Golden Knights in second round (VGK up 3-2 on UTH in R1): Sharks pick 19th.<\/p>\n

The simple way of putting it is this: if the Golden Knights make the conference final, San Jose picks 20th. One of Anaheim or Utah must eliminate Vegas for the Sharks\u2019 pick to move up one spot.<\/p>\n

Edmonton\u2019s elimination has an effect on the #SJSharks<\/a>. If one of the Mammoth or Ducks make the conference final, the Sharks will pick 19th. VGK makes it they pick 20th. I believe that is how it breaks down based on the permutations.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) May 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sharks turned future considerations to the Detroit Red Wings<\/a> for Walman into a top-20 first-round pick in 2026. GM Mike Grier<\/a> also received a 2024 second-round pick when he acquired Walman, which turned out to be defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius\u00a0at pick 53.<\/p>\n