Apr 7, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) leaps out of the way during the second period against Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The NHL Draft Lottery 2025 is an exciting event that determines which teams get the top picks in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. It’s designed to give teams that didn’t make the playoffs a chance to improve by selecting the best young talent. Instead of simply awarding the first pick to the team with the worst record, the NHL uses a lottery system, adding an element of luck and fairness to the process. The lottery also ensures that the team with the worst record is not automatically guaranteed the first overall pick, making the process more competitive.

The process is weighted, meaning teams with the worst records have the highest odds of winning. For example, the team that finishes last in the standings has the best chance at the No. 1 pick, though there’s no guarantee. Once the lottery results are finalized, the 2025 NHL Draft, scheduled for June 27-28 in Los Angeles, will allow teams to select from the next generation of hockey stars. The lottery adds suspense and excitement, as franchises and fans eagerly await to see which team will land the next elite prospect who could change the future of their organization. So let’s learn a bit more about this.

When is the NHL Draft Lottery?

​NHL has not officially announced the date and time for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery yet. However, it is anticipated to occur in early May, likely on May 5 or 6, preceding the commencement of the Eastern Conference playoff matchups.

Where is the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery?

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is expected to occur at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, which has been the host location for several recent draft lotteries. This venue provides a controlled setting for the event, ensuring transparency as teams learn their draft fate. The lottery is conducted behind closed doors, with a combination of numbered balls being drawn to determine the winning teams.

Who has the best probability of landing the number 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery 2025?

The San Jose Sharks are most likely to secure the first overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, with a 25.5% chance of landing the number 1 pick. With a season record of 20-47, they currently sit at the bottom of the NHL standings. According to the NHL’s weighted lottery system, the team finishing last has the best odds of winning the top pick. Following the Sharks, the Chicago Blackhawks (22-45) with a 13.5% chance and the Nashville Predators (27-42) with an 11.5% chance have the next highest probabilities, reflecting their positions near the bottom of the league standings. Apart from that, teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences that missed the playoffs will be entered into the draft lottery, with varying odds based on their regular-season performance. The final draft lottery odds will be officially determined after the 2024-25 NHL season concludes.

How Does the NHL Draft Lottery Work?

The NHL Draft Lottery consists of two separate draws:

First Draw – Determines which team wins the first overall pick in the draft.

Second Draw – Determines the team that will select second overall.

Only teams that missed the playoffs participate in the lottery, and the odds of winning are based on their regular-season performance. The team that finishes with the worst record has the highest chance of winning, but no team can move up more than 10 spots. This means that only the bottom 11 teams have a shot at securing the first overall pick.

After these two draws, the remaining teams are assigned their draft positions based on their regular-season standings, ensuring a fair but unpredictable system. The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is expected to take place in early May, just before the Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off, adding excitement to the lead-up of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28.