As the 2024–25 NHL season winds down, teams that missed the playoffs are shifting focus to what comes next: the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery.
While the offseason may feel long for fans of non-playoff teams, the draft lottery—set to take place in May ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 (Round 1) and June 28 (Rounds 2–7) in Los Angeles—offers renewed hope and excitement. The lottery will determine which of the 16 non-playoff teams earns the coveted No. 1 overall pick.
Who Could Go No. 1 Overall?
Landing the top pick in the draft could mean the chance to select Matthew Schaefer, an elite defenseman widely considered the best at his position in this year’s class. For teams in need of offensive firepower, James Hagens, the standout center from Boston College, may be the ideal choice.
2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds (As of April 16)
Although final standings may still shift, here’s a snapshot of the current NHL Draft Lottery odds for the No. 1
pick, according to Tankathon:
- San Jose Sharks – 25.5%
- Chicago Blackhawks – 13.5%
- Nashville Predators – 11.5%
- Boston Bruins – 9.5%
- Seattle Kraken – 8.5%
- Philadelphia Flyers – 7.5%
- Buffalo Sabres – 6.5%
- Pittsburgh Penguins – 6.0%
- Anaheim Ducks – 5.0%
- New York Islanders – 3.5%
- New York Rangers – 3.0%
Note: Only the bottom 11 teams are eligible for the top pick due to the 10-spot jump rule in the draft lottery.
Pre-Lottery 2025 NHL Draft Order
Here’s how the
projected draft order currently stands before the lottery:
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Nashville Predators
- Boston Bruins
- Seattle Kraken
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Buffalo Sabres
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Anaheim Ducks
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Utah Hockey Club
- Vancouver Canucks
- Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames)
- Montreal Canadiens
- Calgary Flames (via Florida Panthers)
- Philadelphia Flyers (via Edmonton Oilers)
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Philadelphia Flyers (via Colorado Avalanche)
- Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks (via Dallas Stars)
- Chicago Blackhawks (via Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Nashville Predators (via Vegas Golden Knights)
- Washington Capitals
- Winnipeg Jets
Final 2024–25 NHL Regular Season Standings
For context, here’s how the league wrapped up in the regular season:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 51-26-4
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 47-26-8
- Florida Panthers: 47-31-4
- Ottawa Senators: 44-30-7
- Montreal Canadiens: 39-31-11
- Detroit Red Wings: 38-35-7
- Buffalo Sabres: 35-39-7
- Boston Bruins: 33-39-10
Metropolitan Division
- Washington Capitals: 51-21-9
- Carolina Hurricanes: 47-28-5
- New Jersey Devils: 42-32-7
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 39-33-9
- New York Rangers: 38-36-7
- New York Islanders: 35-34-12
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 33-36-12
- Philadelphia Flyers: 33-38-10
Western Conference
Central Division
- Winnipeg Jets: 55-22-4
- Dallas Stars: 50-25-6
- Colorado Avalanche: 49-29-4
- Minnesota Wild: 45-30-7
- St. Louis Blues: 44-30-8
- Utah Hockey Club: 38-31-13
- Nashville Predators: 29-44-8
- Chicago Blackhawks: 25-46-11
Pacific Division
- Vegas Golden Knights: 49-22-10
- Los Angeles Kings: 48-24-9
- Edmonton Oilers: 47-29-5
- Calgary Flames: 40-27-14
- Vancouver Canucks: 38-29-14
- Anaheim Ducks: 35-37-9
- Seattle Kraken: 35-41-6
- San Jose Sharks: 20-49-12
