Predators fans are advised to find their favorite good-luck charms by May 5.
The NHL on Tuesday announced that date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, which will give the Preds a chance at securing the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history.
Nashville has an 11.5 percent chance of earning the No. 1 pick, the third best odds of the 11 teams with a shot at claiming the grand prize. San Jose (25.5 percent) has the best odds and Chicago (13.5 percent) is second, followed by Philadelphia (9.5 percent) and Boston (8.5 percent).
The good news for the Predators is that teams can’t drop more than two spots due to the lottery, so Nashville is guaranteed to have a top-five selection in the NHL Draft for just the third time in franchise history this year.
The first of Nashville’s two top-five picks occurred in the 1998 draft, prior to Nashville’s expansion season, when the Preds selected center David Legwand with the No. 2 overall pick.
The other happened in 2013, when the Predators selected defenseman Seth Jones with the No. 4 overall pick.
Who might be atop the Preds’ wish list for the draft, which takes place June 27-28 in Los Angeles?
One possibility for a franchise that’s long been starved for centers is 18-year-old Michael Misa of the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, who totaled 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in the 2024-25 season.
Another possibility is 18-year-old center James Hagens, who totaled 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as a freshman for Boston College, playing against older competition than Misa in the OHL.
If Nashville does wind up picking first, it would mark the first time since 2016 that two major pro sports organizations located in the same city would have made No. 1 overall selections in the same year.
It last occurred in Philadelphia in 2016, when the 76ers chose guard Ben Simmons first in the NBA Draft and the Phillies selected outfielder Mickey Moniak first in the MLB Draft.
The Titans picked quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall selection last week.