The 2006 NHL Entry Draft was the 44th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 24, 2006. This was announced by commissioner Gary Bettman at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft just before the Pittsburgh Penguins made their 1st selection in the draft. The draft order for the first 14 picks was decided during a lottery held on April 20 2006. The draft was televised in Canada on TSN and RDS, with the first three hours simulcasted in the United States on OLN.