2025 NHL Draft Lottery: Everything You Need to Know

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery marks a historic moment as it will be conducted live in-studio for the first time in its 30-year history, allowing team personnel and viewers to witness the results simultaneously. This major event determines the draft order for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft and provides teams that missed the playoffs a chance to secure top picks.

Event Details

The lottery is scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. The event will take place at NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Lottery Process

The lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft, involving all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or teams that acquired first-round draft positions from non-playoff teams).

The process will be conducted in two phases:

• First phase: Determines the first overall pick
• Second phase: Determines the second overall pick

In each phase, 14 balls numbered 1 to 14 will be placed in a lottery machine, with four balls drawn. The resulting four-digit combination will be matched against a lookup table to identify which team was assigned the winning combination.

Lottery Rules and Restrictions

• Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots if they secure one of the lottery draws, meaning only the top 11 seeds are eligible to win the first overall pick.
• Teams can improve their draft position in the lottery only twice within a five-year period.
• If the Chicago Blackhawks win the first overall pick, they won't be eligible to move up in the draft lottery again until 2028.

Draft Lottery Odds

The odds for the teams participating in the lottery are as follows:

• Boston Bruins: 8.5%
• Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
• Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%
• Anaheim Ducks: 6.0%

Draft Picks and Trades to Watch

Several interesting scenarios could unfold based on previous trades:

• The New York Rangers can transfer either their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They previously traded their 2025 first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller deal, and Vancouver subsequently traded it to Pittsburgh.
• The Calgary Flames traded their first-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in 2022 as part of a deal to offload Sean Monahan's contract. However, if Calgary wins one of the two lotteries and moves into the top 10, they will keep this selection and instead transfer the Florida Panthers' 2025 first-round pick to Montreal.

Top Prospects for the 2025 Draft

Some of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft include:

• Michael Misa (C, Canada): Had an outstanding season with the Saginaw Spirit, scoring 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games.
• Victor Eklund (RW, Sweden)
• James Hagens (C, United States)
• Milton Gastrin (C, Sweden)
• Jake O'Brien (C, Canada)

Conclusion and Experts’ Advice

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery represents a crucial opportunity for struggling teams to acquire top talent that could change their franchise trajectory for years to come. For professionals in the NHL Draft Lottery 2025 space, it's essential to monitor these developments closely, assess their impacts, and strategically plan for potential outcomes. Whether you're a team executive, agent, or sports analyst, understanding the intricacies of the draft lottery system can provide a competitive edge.

As experts in the realm of hockey consulting, we advise our clients to leverage this information to make informed decisions. Whether it's preparing for possible trade negotiations or scouting upcoming talent, a thorough understanding of the draft lottery can prove invaluable.

Call to Action

To learn more about how our consulting services can assist your team or organization with in-depth analysis and strategic planning for the NHL Draft Lottery 2025, contact us today. Stay ahead of the competition by harnessing the insights and expertise that can shape the future of your franchise.