While all eyes in the hockey world are on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s officially NHL Draft Lottery season!
On Monday, May 5, the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, featuring a new wrinkle for hockey fans. This year, the lottery balls will be drawn live on television at the NHL Network’s studio in New Jersey, meaning the hockey community will find out together which team is selected for the No. 1 overall pick.
While there might not be a stud offensive player at the top of this year’s draft like Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini, Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer is expected to be the big prize available at the top of the draft pool. Given the importance of No. 1 defensemen on a NHL roster, Schaefer will be a major get for whichever rebuilding team drafts him.
Thanks to the end of the regular season, we now know what the odds are for the No. 1 overall pick. Unfortunately, not all 16 teams entered into the lottery will have a chance at snagging it. Much like in previous years, teams can only move up to 10 spots and only the first two spots in the lottery are up for grabs. The remaining teams will then be sorted by inverse order of regular-season points to determine the rest of the field.
The decision to change how the NHL Draft Lottery works will benefit teams like the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks that are guaranteed at least a top-four pick. However, that does mean that a few teams — the Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Utah Hockey Club, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames — will have no shot at the No. 1 overall pick and will not be included in this list.
With that out of the way, here’s the full 11-team list of the odds for the No. 1 overall pick for the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft Lottery.
