SECAUCUS, N.J. — The New York Islanders and Utah Hockey Club made dramatic moves up the order of selection for the First Round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft as a result of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, conducted this evening at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio.
The Islanders were selected in the first of two drawings to climb from the No. 10 position to No. 1. The Utah Hockey Club was selected in the second drawing, moving up from the No. 14 position to No. 4.
Participants in the Draft Lottery included all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams).
The two draws were conducted to determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the First Round of the Draft. Among the changes to the Draft Lottery format announced on March 23, 2021, there was a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery could “move up” in the event it won one of the Lottery Draws.
The broadcast of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery featured the drawings live for the first time in the event’s 30-year history, allowing viewers to follow along and learn the results at the same time as the Draft Lottery participants. As each ball was drawn, odds changed and teams were eliminated. The viewing audience learned which clubs were still in the running in real time.
The order of selection for the first 16 picks of the First Round, only, of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft is as follows:
1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Hockey Club
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers *
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary)
* Under the terms of a Jan. 31, 2025 trade between NY Rangers and Vancouver, NY Rangers will transfer their 1st-round pick in either the 2025 or 2026 NHL Draft to Vancouver, at NY Rangers’ option.
The remaining positions are determined by the results of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Islanders Win First Draw, No. 1 Drafting Position
In the drawing that determined the No. 1 drafting position, the Islanders’ combinations had the 10th greatest percentage likelihood of being selected based on inverse order of regular-season finish (3.5%).
The Islanders have drafted first overall four times in franchise history, selecting Billy Harris (1972), Denis Potvin (1973), Rick DiPietro (2000) and John Tavares (2009). DiPietro and Tavares were selected following wins in the Draft Lottery, which was introduced in 1995. The club moved from 5th to 1st in 2000 to select DiPietro and retained the No. 1 overall position in 2009 to pick Tavares.
Utah Hockey Club Wins Second Draw, No. 4 Drafting Position
In the drawing for the No. 2 drafting position, the Utah Hockey Club had the 13th greatest percentage likelihood among the remaining clubs eligible for selection (1.6%). With the limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery could “move up” in the event it won one of the Lottery Draws, Utah accordingly moved up the maximum 10 positions from 14 to 4. As a result the Sharks retained the No.2 overall drafting position.
Participating in its inaugural NHL Draft in 2024, the Utah Hockey Club’s highest selection was sixth overall (Tij Iginla).
The Sharks have selected at No. 2 or higher four times, taking Pat Falloon 2nd overall in 1991, Andrei Zyuzin 2nd overall in 1996, Patrick Marleau 2nd overall in 1997 and Macklin Celebrini 1st overall in 2024.
Winning Combinations for Islanders, Utah Hockey Club
For each of the two drawings, 14 balls, numbered 1 to 14, were placed in a lottery machine. The machine randomly selected four balls. The resulting four-number series (without regard to selection order) was matched against a chart that shows all possible combinations and the clubs to which each was assigned. The chart showed that the Islanders had been assigned the numbers (7-11-12-13) that were expelled in the first drawing, followed by Utah (1-5-12-3) in the second drawing.
Live Draw Adds To Excitement
In the First Draw, the winning Islanders were among seven clubs still in contention to win after the first three balls had been drawn (7-11-12). The others were San Jose, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
In the Second Draw, the winning Utah Hockey Club was among six clubs still in contention to win after the first three balls had been drawn (1-5-12). The others were San Jose, Chicago, Nashville, Boston and Calgary.
2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft
The 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater will be held over two days: Friday, June 27, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET (Round 1, live on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) and Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m. PT / noon ET (Rounds 2-7, live on NHL Network, ESPN+, Sportsnet and SN1). Tickets to the event will be available for purchase at www.axs.com/series/27389/nhl-draft-tickets starting Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m. PT.
Top Prospects and Scouting Combine
NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft, where Erie Otters (OHL) defenseman Matthew Schaefer tops the list of North America-based skaters and Djurgarden (Sweden 2nd Division) forward Anton Frondell leads all international-based skaters.
The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics, showcasing the top draft-eligible North American and international prospects, will be held from June 1-7 at KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y.
For more information:
2025 NHL Draft Lottery media information guide
NHL Draft Lottery history at records.nhl.com
NHL Draft history at records.nhl.com
2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft prospect final rankings and profiles
