Who Will Win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery?

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery picture is now clear after the conclusion of the 2024-25 regular season on Thursday night. And just like last year, the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are in pole position to claim the top pick.

Finishing 32nd and 31st for the second straight year, the Sharks and Blackhawks enter the lottery with the highest odds. San Jose leads with a 25.5% chance to win the top selection, while Chicago holds a 13.5% shot to jump into the No. 1 slot.

San Jose struck gold last year, winning the Macklin Celebrini sweepstakes and earning the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 overall pick. Now, they’re in position to potentially become the first team since the Edmonton Oilers (2010–2012) to pick first overall in back-to-back years.

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are no strangers to high lottery picks themselves. After leaping from No. 3 to No. 1 in 2023 to select Connor Bedard, they held firm at No. 2 last year and grabbed Artyom Levshunov. Another top-two finish would mark their third in a row.

Which Teams Are in the Mix for the Top Pick?

The draft lottery determines the order of the first 16 picks, which belong to the teams that missed the playoffs. However, only 11 of those teams are eligible to win the No. 1 selection due to lottery rules.

How Does the NHL Draft Lottery Work?

Each non-playoff team is assigned a set of four-number combinations out of 1,001 total, with the worst team receiving the most combinations. The lottery involves drawing four balls numbered 1 to 14, and the team that owns the resulting combination earns the top pick. A second drawing determines the No. 2 selection.

Notably, teams can only move up a maximum of 10 spots, which means only 11 teams can land the No. 1 pick, while 12 can earn the second. After those top two selections are finalized, the remaining 14 teams are slotted based on the inverse order of the final standings.

A recent rule change limits teams to moving up via the lottery no more than twice over a five-year span. So far, no team has hit that cap since it was introduced in 2022.

2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds

Here are the 11 teams eligible for the top pick and their respective odds:

• San Jose Sharks: 25.5%

• Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%

• Nashville Predators: 11.5%

• Philadelphia Flyers: 9.5%

• Boston Bruins: 8.5%

• Seattle Kraken: 7.5%

• Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%

• Anaheim Ducks: 6%

• Pittsburgh Penguins: 5%

• New York Islanders: 3.5%

• New York Rangers: 3%

The next five teams — Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Utah Hockey Club, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames — are technically in the lottery but are not eligible to win the top pick. Their odds only allow them to jump a limited number of spots. For example, Detroit could move up to No. 2 (5.1% chance), while Vancouver and Calgary each have only a 1.1% shot at a top-six jump.

Calgary’s pick is currently on track to be conveyed to the Montreal Canadiens.

When Is the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery?

The NHL has not officially announced the date of the 2025 draft lottery. Last year, it was held on May 7.

When and Where Will the 2025 NHL Draft Take Place?

This year’s draft will be held at the Peacock Theater in L.A. Live, Los Angeles, over two days: Friday, June 27 (Round 1) and Saturday, June 28 (Rounds 2-7).

Who’s Projected to Go No. 1?

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer is widely considered the top prospect in this year’s draft class. The 17-year-old posted seven goals and 15 assists in just 17 games before a collarbone injury during the World Juniors interrupted his season.

The last time a defenseman went first overall was Owen Power in 2022, selected by the Buffalo Sabres.