The Nashville Predators are closer to learning how high they will pick in the 2025 NHL draft – the NHL has announced that the league’s draft lottery draw will take place on May 5.
The lottery draw will determine which teams will select No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2025 draft. The Predators are one of 11 teams that can win the top pick. Nashville has the third best odds (11.5%) at winning the draw.
The 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 27-28.
How does the NHL’s draft lottery work?
The NHL has a lottery system to determine the draft order of the bottom 16 teams. The league introduced the lottery in 1995 as a way to prevent teams from intentionally losing games to earn the top pick.
In 2021, the league adjusted the rules so that teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the draft. In other words, only the bottom 11 teams have a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. If during the lottery draw, a team slotted 12 to 16 gets the top pick, it automatically goes to the team in slot No. 1.
After the draw for the No. 1 pick, there is a second draw for the No. 2 pick, following the same rules. Any remaining team in the pool can win the No. 2 pick other than teams finishing in slots 13 to 16.
Once the top two picks are determined by lottery, the remaining draft order (No. 3 through No. 16) is determined by order of finish in the season.
How high or low could the Nashville Predators pick in the NHL draft?
Because the Predators will finish at slot No. 3, they could move up or down two slots, depending on how the draw plays out. They could earn the No. 1 or 2 pick by winning either of the two lottery draws. They could drop to No. 4 or 5 if teams finishing in slots 4 to 11 win the two lottery draws.
According to Tankathon, the Predators’ odds for their five possible results are as follows:
- No. 1 overall — 11.5% chance
- No. 2 overall — 11.2% chance
- No. 3 overall — 7.8% chance
- No. 4 overall — 39.7% chance
- No. 5 overall — 29.8% chance
No matter what happens during the lottery draw, the Predators will have a selection in the top five for the first time since 2013. That year, they selected defenseman Seth Jones at No. 4 overall.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL draft lottery date set: When Predators will learn their fate
The Nashville Predators are closer to learning how high they will pick in the 2025 NHL draft – the NHL has announced that the league’s draft lottery draw will take place on May 5.
The lottery draw will determine which teams will select No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2025 draft. The Predators are one of 11 teams that can win the top pick. Nashville has the third best odds (11.5%) at winning the draw.
The 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 27-28.
How does the NHL’s draft lottery work?
The NHL has a lottery system to determine the draft order of the bottom 16 teams. The league introduced the lottery in 1995 as a way to prevent teams from intentionally losing games to earn the top pick.
In 2021, the league adjusted the rules so that teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the draft. In other words, only the bottom 11 teams have a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. If during the lottery draw, a team slotted 12 to 16 gets the top pick, it automatically goes to the team in slot No. 1.
After the draw for the No. 1 pick, there is a second draw for the No. 2 pick, following the same rules. Any remaining team in the pool can win the No. 2 pick other than teams finishing in slots 13 to 16.
Once the top two picks are determined by lottery, the remaining draft order (No. 3 through No. 16) is determined by order of finish in the season.
How high or low could the Nashville Predators pick in the NHL draft?
Because the Predators will finish at slot No. 3, they could move up or down two slots, depending on how the draw plays out. They could earn the No. 1 or 2 pick by winning either of the two lottery draws. They could drop to No. 4 or 5 if teams finishing in slots 4 to 11 win the two lottery draws.
According to Tankathon, the Predators’ odds for their five possible results are as follows:
- No. 1 overall — 11.5% chance
- No. 2 overall — 11.2% chance
- No. 3 overall — 7.8% chance
- No. 4 overall — 39.7% chance
- No. 5 overall — 29.8% chance
No matter what happens during the lottery draw, the Predators will have a selection in the top five for the first time since 2013. That year, they selected defenseman Seth Jones at No. 4 overall.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL draft lottery date set: When Predators will learn their fate
