NHL Draft Lottery to Broadcast Live for First Time May 5

For the first time in its 30-year history, the NHL Draft Lottery will be broadcast live, allowing fans to watch the drawing process in real time. The 2025 event will take place on May 5 from the NHL Network's Secaucus, New Jersey studio, airing on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. The lottery determines the order of the first 16 picks in the draft, with all non-playoff teams (or those holding their picks) eligible. The process consists of two phases to decide the first and second overall picks, using a machine that randomly selects four balls to generate a winning four-digit combination. Only the top 11 seeds can win the first overall pick due to a rule limiting teams to moving up a maximum of 10 spots. The San Jose Sharks have the best odds to secure the top pick this year, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators.