Overview

• The NHL will televise the 2025 Draft Lottery live from its Secaucus, N.J. studio on May 5, marking the first time the drawing process will be broadcast in real time.
• The live broadcast is intended to address long-standing conspiracy theories by allowing fans and teams to witness the ping-pong ball draws simultaneously.
• The lottery will use a two-phase format to determine the first and second overall picks, with 14 numbered balls and a 1,000-combination lookup table driving the results.
• Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots, meaning only the top 11 seeds are eligible for the No. 1 overall pick, with the San Jose Sharks holding a 25.5% effective chance at securing it.
• The event will air on ESPN and Sportsnet, with fans able to follow the suspense of the draws and real-time elimination of teams from contention.