We’re just two days away from finding out if a franchise-altering decision favors the NY Islanders. The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Monday, May 5, at 7 pm on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA.
Things will be a bit different than years past. Previously, we’ve seen NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly reveal the envelopes with each team’s logo, symbolizing the order of the draft. The actual lottery, where the balls are drawn, has been done behind closed doors, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman overseeing the process. But this year, we’ll see the actual process played out live.
The NHL Draft Lottery will be played out live
“There will be anticipation like you’ve never seen in a draft lottery, and I truly believe we’re the first ones in any league to try this,” said Steve Mayer, NHL president of content and events, according to NHL.com. “We’re always looking to be innovative — and not innovative for the sake of doing it. We’ve really thought this through and think it’s going to be really compelling for our fans.”
The lottery consists of two draws – one to determine the first and second overall picks. The San Jose Sharks have the highest odds of receiving the first overall pick with a 25.5% chance, as the Islanders have just a 3.5% chance.
“It’s so nerve-wracking as one ball comes out after the other,” Mayer said. “There are these sheets of paper with every combination possible, and the team associated with every combination. There are 1,000 combinations. Along with everybody else in the room, you’re quickly trying to look up who has a chance.”
The Islanders haven’t won the Draft Lottery since 2009, when they were victorious in the John Tavares sweepstakes. With the franchise in search of a new general manager, this would be a great way to kick-start the franchise into a new age.
