Editing NHL entry draft (section)

== Selection order and draft lottery ==
The selection order in the NHL entry draft is determined by a combination of [[lottery]], regular season standing, and playoff results. While teams are permitted to trade draft picks both during the draft and prior to it (sometimes several years prior), in all cases, the selection order of the draft picks is based on the original holder of the pick, not a team which may have acquired the pick via a trade or other means.<ref name="D1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=418259#&navid=nhl-search|title=Islanders have best shot at top pick |date=April 14, 2009|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=July 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name="D2">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=425557|title=Final order for Entry Draft set |last=Kimelman|first=Adam|date=June 13, 2009|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=July 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616124543/https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=425557|archive-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> The order of picks discussed in this section always references the original team.

The basic order of the NHL entry draft is determined based on the standings of the teams in the previous season. As with the other major sports leagues, the basic draft order is intended to favour the teams with the weakest performance who presumably need the most improvement in their roster to compete with the other teams. Subject to the results of the NHL draft lottery (discussed below), the teams pick in the same order each round, with each team getting one pick per round.
The basic order of the picks is determined as follows:<ref name="Lottery">{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/info/hockey-operations-guidelines |title=Hockey Operations Guidelines|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>

# The teams that did not qualify for the playoffs the previous season (picks 1–16)
# The teams that made the playoffs in the previous season but did not win either their division in the regular season or play in the Conference Finals (picks 17–24 up to 28)
# The teams that won their divisions in the previous season but did not play in the Conference Finals (potentially picks 25–28)
# The teams that lose in Conference Finals (picks 29 and 30)
# The team that was the runner-up in the Stanley Cup Finals (pick 31)
# The team that won the Stanley Cup in the previous season (pick 32)

The number of teams in the second and third group depends on whether the Conference finalists also won their division. The teams in each group (other than the Stanley Cup winner and runner up) are ordered within that group based on their point totals in the preceding regular season (with the lowest point total picking first). Tie-breakers are governed by the same rules used to determine ties in the regular season standings. The order of picks 1–16 may change during the first round of the draft based on the results of the NHL draft lottery. In the subsequent rounds, the basic order based on point totals is used.<ref name="D2" />

When teams lose their rights to a first-round draft choice, because that player was not signed to a contract and consequently re-entered the entry draft or became an unrestricted [[free agent]], they are awarded a compensatory draft pick. This selection will be the same numerical choice as the first round draft pick who was not signed, but in the second round. For example, if a team cannot sign the seventh overall first round draft choice, it will receive the seventh pick in the second round of the next draft as compensation.<ref>[http://www.nhlfa.com/CBA/cba_agreement8.asp National Hockey League Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 8: Entry Draft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324023923/http://www.nhlfa.com/CBA/cba_agreement8.asp |date=March 24, 2012 }}</ref>

===Draft lottery===
At the conclusion of the regular season, the 16 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs are entered in a weighted lottery to determine the initial draft picks in the first round. The teams are seeded in the basic draft order based on their regular season point totals. The odds of winning the lottery are weighted on a descending scale that gives the greatest chance of winning to the team with the lowest point total (18.5%), and the worst chance to the team with the highest point total (1.0%).

The prize for winning the draft lottery is to be upgraded to the highest eligible pick in the first round of the draft, with each team that preceded the winner in the basic draft order bumped one pick lower. For example, if the team with the 5th worst point total wins the lottery, it would pick first, and the teams with the worst through 4th-worst records would pick second through fifth. The remaining teams would be unaffected. The teams would return to the basic order for the second and all subsequent rounds.<ref>{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2023-06-29 |title=NHL Draft Lottery History |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/draftcentre/nhl-draft-lottery-history-1.236014 |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL draft lottery to debut in 1995 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/03/25/nhl-draft-lottery-to-debut-in-1995/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>

From its inception through 2015, there was one winner of the lottery; from 1995 to 2012, the team that won the draft lottery moved up no more than four positions in the draft order.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the NHL Draft Lottery has changed over the years |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/looking-history-nhls-draft-lottery/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=www.sportsnet.ca |language=en}}</ref> If the winner of the lottery was among the five worst teams in a given season, that team won the first pick in the draft. Otherwise, the team will move up no more than four spots, and that team will not receive the first pick in the draft; from 2013 to 2015 the lottery winner received the first pick overall regardless of regular season point totals amongst the non-playoff teams. Beginning with the 2016 draft and lasting until the 2020 draft, the first three selections were determined by the lottery. Any team that did not make the playoffs had a weighted chance to be selected in the first, second, or third slot. Beginning in 2021, only two draws will be held for the first two selections. Starting with the 2022 lottery; the teams winning one of the two lotteries will only be allowed to move up a maximum of ten spots in the draft order, and teams will only be allowed to advance in the draft order because of winning a lottery twice in five years. The two-in-five-years rule only applies to teams jumping up in the draft order. This means the team with the worst record can win any lottery selection an unlimited number of times while the second-worst can do the same for the second overall pick only.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gulitti |first=Tom |date=March 23, 2021 |title=NHL Draft Lottery changes announced for 2021 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-draft-lottery-changes-announced-for-2021/c-322838154 |access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-08 |title=How does the NHL draft lottery work? Everything you need to know |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37555787/how-nhl-draft-lottery-works-2023-connor-bedard-chances-odds |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Larkin |first=Matt |date=2021-03-24 |title=Which Recent NHL Draft Lottery Outcomes Led to the New Rule Changes? |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/which-recent-nhl-draft-lottery-outcomes-led-to-the-new-rule-changes |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=The Hockey News |language=en}}</ref> The remaining teams maintains their order of selection based on the points accrued the previous season. As the lottery determines the top two slots, no team can drop more than two places from the position established based on previous season point totals.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL announces changes to Draft Lottery format|url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=728795|access-date=March 4, 2016|newspaper=NHL.com|date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Kevin |title=NHL making changes to draft lottery |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/draft/2014/08/20/nhl-draft-lottery-revisions/14348353/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

The NHL draft lottery takes place just before or during the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] and is hosted at the [[NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network]]'s studios in [[Secaucus, New Jersey]], from 2020 onwards. The draft lottery previously took place at [[Sportsnet]]'s studios in [[Toronto]] from 2015 to 2019, and at [[The Sports Network|TSN]]'s studios in Toronto from 2006 to 2014.

The odds for the first overall pick are determined as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2000–12)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
|-
! 30th
|48.2%||51.2%|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 29th
|18.8%||42.0%||39.2%|| || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 28th
|14.2%|| ||56.1%||29.7%|| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 10.7% || || || 66.7% ||22.6% || || || || || || || || || 
|-
! 26th
| 8.1% || || || || 74.7%||17.2% || || || || || || || || 
|-
! 25th
| || 6.2% || || || || 72.7%||19.6%|| || || || || || ||
|-
! 24th
| || || 4.7% || || || ||81.1% || 14.2% || || || || || ||
|-
! 23rd
| || || || 3.6%|| || || ||87.2% || 9.2% || || || || ||
|-
! 22nd
| || || || || 2.7%|| || || ||91.6% || 5.7% || || || ||
|-
! 21st
| || || || || || 2.1%|| || || ||94.8% || 3.1% || || ||
|-
! 20th
| || || || || || || 1.5%|| || || ||80.6% || 16.6% || ||
|-
! 19th
| || || || || || || || 1.1%|| || || ||88.0% ||9.3%||
|-
! 18th
| || || || || || || || || 0.8%|| || || ||90.1% ||9.9%
|-
!17th
| || || || ||||||||||||0.5%|| || || ||99.5%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2013–14)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
|-
! 30th
|25.0%||75.0%|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 29th
|18.8%||25.0%||56.2%|| || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 28th
|14.2%|| ||43.8%||42.0%|| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 10.7% || || || 58.0% ||31.3% || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 26th
| 8.1% || || || || 68.7%||23.2% || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 25th
| 6.2% || || || || || 76.8%||17.0%|| || || || || || ||
|-
! 24th
| 4.7% || || || || || ||83.0% || 12.3% || || || || || ||
|-
! 23rd
| 3.6% || || || || || || ||87.7% || 8.7% || || || || ||
|-
! 22nd
| 2.7% || || || || || || || ||91.3% || 6.0% || || || ||
|-
! 21st
| 2.1% || || || || || || || || ||94.0% || 3.9% || || ||
|-
! 20th
| 1.5% || || || || || || || || || ||80.4% || 18.1% || ||
|-
! 19th
| 1.1% || || || || || || || || || || ||86.0% ||12.9%||
|-
! 18th
| 0.8% || || || || || || || || || || || ||94.7% ||3.2%
|-
!17th
| 0.5% || || || || || || || || || || || || ||99.5%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2015)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
|-
! 30th
| 20.0% || 80.0%|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 29th
| 13.5% || 20.0% ||66.5%|| || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 28th
| 11.5% || ||33.5%||55.0%|| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 9.5% || || || 45.0% ||45.5% || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 26th
| 8.5% || || || || 9.1%||35.5% || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 25th
| 7.5% || || || || || 63.0%||29.5%|| || || || || || ||
|-
! 24th
| 6.5% || || || || || ||70.5% || 23.0% || || || || || ||
|-
! 23rd
| 6.0% || || || || || || ||77.0% || 17.0% || || || || ||
|-
! 22nd
| 5.0% || || || || || || || ||83.0% || 12.0% || || || ||
|-
! 21st
| 3.5% || || || || || || || || ||88.0% || 8.5% || || ||
|-
! 20th
| 3.0% || || || || || || || || || ||91.5% || 5.5% || ||
|-
! 19th
| 2.5% || || || || || || || || || || ||94.5% ||3.0%||
|-
! 18th
| 2.0% || || || || || || || || || || || ||97.0% ||1.0%
|-
!17th
| 1.0% || || || || || || || || || || || || ||99.0%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2016–2017)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
|-
! 30th
| 20.0% || 17.5%||15.0%||47.5%|| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 29th
| 13.5% || 13.1% ||12.5%||35.2% || 25.8% || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 28th
| 11.5% || 11.4%||11.3%||14.2%||37.8% || 13.8% || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 9.5% || 9.7% || 9.8% || 3.15% ||27.3% ||33.2% ||7.4%|| || || || || || || 
|-
! 26th
| 8.5% || 8.8% ||9.0% || || 9.1%||35.5% ||25.5%||3.7%|| || || || || || 
|-
! 25th
| 7.5% || 7.8% ||8.1%|| || || 17.5%||39.3%||17.9%||1.7%|| || || || ||
|-
! 24th
| 6.5% || 6.9% || 7.2% || || || ||27.9% || 39.1% || 11.7% || 0.7% || || || ||
|-
! 23rd
| 6.0% || 6.4% || 6.8% || || || || ||39.2% || 34.8% || 6.6% || 0.3% || || ||
|-
! 22nd
| 5.0% || 5.4% || 5.8% || || || || || ||51.8% || 28.6% || 3.4% || 0.1% || ||
|-
! 21st
| 3.5% || 3.8% || 4.2% || || || || || || ||64.0% || 22.8% || 1.6% || 0.1% ||
|-
! 20th
| 3.0% || 3.3% || 3.6% || || || || || || || ||73.5% || 15.9% || 0.6% || 0.1%
|-
! 19th
| 2.5% || 2.7% ||3.0%|| || || || || || || || ||82.3% ||9.2%||0.1%
|-
! 18th
| 2.0% ||2.2%||2.4%|| || || || || || || 
 || || ||90.1% ||3.2%
|-
!17th
| 1.0% || 1.1%||1.2% || || || || || || || || || || 
||96.6%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2017–2021)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
! 15th
|-
! 31st
| 18.5% || 16.5% || 14.4% ||50.6% || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
!30th
| 13.5% || 13.0% || 12.3% || 33.3% ||27.9% || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 29th
| 11.5% || 11.3% || 11.1% || 13.2% || 37.7% || 15.2% || || || || || || || || ||
|-
!28th
| 9.5% || 9.6% || 9.7% || 2.8% || 26.1% ||34.0% || 8.3% || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 8.5% || 8.7% || 8.9% || || 8.4% || 34.5% ||26.7% || 4.3% || || || || || || ||
|-
! 26th
| 7.5% || 7.8% || 8.0% || || || 16.3% || 38.9% || 19.4% || 2.1% || || || || || ||
|-
!25th
| 6.5% || 6.8% || 7.1% || || || || 26.0% ||39.5% || 13.1% || 1.0% || || || || ||
|-
!24th
| 6.0% || 6.3% || 6.7% || || || || || 36.8% ||36.0% || 7.8% || 0.4% || || || ||
|-
!23rd
| 5.0% || 5.3% || 5.7% || || || || || || 48.8% || 30.7% || 4.3% || 0.1% || || ||
|-
!22nd 
| 3.5% || 3.8% || 4.1% || || || || || || || 60.5% ||25.7% || 2.4% || <0.1% || ||
|-
!21st
| 3.0% || 3.3% || 3.6% || || || || || || || || 69.6% ||19.4% || 1.1% || <0.1% ||
|-
! 20th
| 2.5% || 2.7% || 3.0% || || || || || || || || || 78.0% || 13.3% || 0.4% || <0.1%
|-
!19th
| 2.0% || 2.2% || 2.4% || || || || || || || || || ||85.5% || 7.8% || 0.1%
|-
!18th
| 1.5% || 1.7% || 1.8% || || || || || || || || || || ||91.8% || 3.2%
|-
!17th
| 1.0% || 1.1% || 1.2% || || || || || || || || || || || ||96.7%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Draft position odds (2022–)
! Finish in <br> previous season
! 1st
! 2nd
! 3rd
! 4th
! 5th
! 6th
! 7th
! 8th
! 9th
! 10th
! 11th
! 12th
! 13th
! 14th
! 15th
! 16th
|-
! 32nd
| 25.5% || 18.8% || 55.7% || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 31st
| 13.5% || 14.4% || 32.0% || 40.2% || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
!30th
| 11.5% || 11.5% || 7.4% || 40.7% || 28.8% || || || || || || || ||  || || ||
|-
! 29th
| 9.5% || 9.8% || || 15.4% || 44.9% || 20.5% || || || || || || || || ||  ||
|-
!28th
| 8.5% || 8.8% || || || 24.5% || 44.2% || 13.9% || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 27th
| 7.5% || 7.9% || || || || 34.1% || 41.4% || 9.1% || || || || || || || ||
|-
! 26th
| 6.5% || 6.9% || || || || || 44.4% ||36.5% || 5.6% || || || || || || ||
|-
!25th
| 6.0% || 6.4% || || || || || || 54.4% ||30.0% || 3.2% || || || || || ||
|-
!24th
| 5.0% || 5.4% || || || || || || || 64.4% || 23.5% || 1.7% || || || || ||
|-
!23rd
| 3.5% || 3.8% || || || || || || || || 73.3% ||18.4% || 0.9% || || || ||
|-
!22nd 
| 3.0% || 3.3% || || || || || || || || || 79.9% ||13.4% || 0.5% ||  || ||
|-
!21st
| || 5.3% || || || || || || || || || || 85.7% || 8.9% || 0.2% || ||
|-
! 20th
| || || 4.3% || || || || || || || || || ||90.7% || 5.1% || <0.1% ||
|-
!19th
| || ||  || 3.1% || || || || || || || || || ||94.7% || 2.1% || <0.1% 
|-
!18th
| || ||  || || 1.1% ||  || || || || || || || || || 97.9% || 1.1% 
|-
!17th
| || ||  || || || 1.0% || || || || || || || || ||  || 98.9% 
|}