Do the Detroit Red Wings have a first-round pick?
It’s a question many fans may be wondering as the 2026 NHL Draft gets underway and the Red Wings, despite missing the playoffs, aren’t listed on the board.
The answer is pretty simple: the Red Wings do not have a first-round pick after sending it to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline for defenseman Justin Faulk.
The move backfired for the Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman.
At the time, the Wings were trying to make a push to end a playoff drought that was approaching a decade and were still in a strong position to claim one of the eight spots in the Eastern Conference.
That didn’t happen, as the team fell apart down the stretch once again after trading for Faulk and instead of losing a pick at the end of the first round, the Blues will have pick No. 15 overall from the Wings, one of their three first-round picks.
The Wings, meanwhile, won’t pick until No. 47 overall in the second round.
There is of course the chance for a trade into the first round, and the Red Wings certainly have the firepower to do it, with superstar center Dylan Larkin potentially on the market after a trade request.
Here’s the Wings’ picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Red Wings 2026 draft picks
Overall pick number in parentheses.
NHL Draft first round order
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You can reach Andrew at abirkle@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Do the Red Wings have a first-round pick tonight in 2026 NHL Draft?
Reporting by Andrew Birkle, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Andrew Birkle, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
