We now know what will likely be the most exciting day of the playoffs for teams that didn’t make it.
The NHL announced the 2024 NHL draft lottery will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at the NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J. The specific time should be announced next week but is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
With players like Macklin Celebrini, Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom and Berkly Catton among the top draft talent available for teams that win the lottery and move up in the draft order, it will be a highly anticipated moment for the non-playoff squads.
Related: NHL Sour Rankings: Mock Drafting Dream Picks for Every Non-Playoff Team
Rules
There are two draws — the first one determines who will get the No. 1 pick. The second draw determines the next highest available pick.
A team participating in the draft lottery can only move up a maximum of 10 spots if they win, meaning only the top 11 have a chance to draft first overall. If a team with the 12th to 16th best odds wins the first draw, then the squad with the best odds receives the first overall pick. In this case, that would be the San Jose Sharks.
No single team can move up in the draft by winning in the draft lottery more than twice in any five-year period. That has not happened yet since the league implemented the forward-looking rule as of 2022. For example, no team can win more than twice between 2022 and 2026. The Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils have won a lottery draw during that time.
Related: A Reason for Hope for Every Non-Playoff Team in the NHL in 2023-24
Odds
These odds are for the first lottery draw. The odds increase proportionately for the remaining teams in the second draw.
The NHL allocates the odds based on how many points the teams finished with in the standings.
1. San Jose Sharks: 18.5 percent
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5 percent
3. Anaheim Ducks: 11.5 percent
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: 9.5 percent
5. Montreal Canadiens: 8.5 percent
6. Utah
(based on the points the Arizona Coyotes finished with): 7.5 percent
7. Ottawa Senators: 6.5 percent
8. Seattle Kraken:
6.0 percent
9. Calgary Flames: 5.0 percent
10. New Jersey Devils: 3.5 percent
11. Buffalo Sabres: 3.0 percent
12. Philadelphia Flyers: 2.5 percent
13. Minnesota Wild: 2.0 percent
14. Pittsburgh Penguins: 1.5 percent (If Pittsburgh’s pick this year becomes a top-10 pick, they have the option to transfer its 2025 first-round pick to the San Jose Sharks instead of its 2024 pick as a condition in the Erik Karlsson trade.)
15. Detroit Red Wings: 0.5 percent
16. St. Louis Blues: 0.5 percent
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News Summary:
- NHL Draft Lottery Day Set: What Are the Odds?
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.