The anticipated event now has an official time. While hockey fans knew that the NHL Draft Lottery was planned for May 7th, the league announced today that the lottery will be held at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Airing on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports, the lottery will decide the fate of the top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
League rules state that a team can win the No.1 selection only twice in five years. The guidelines restrict the lottery winner's upward movement to ten spaces. For fans of the St. Louis Blues, their highest possible pick is the No. 6 selection.
But don’t hold your breath, as the likelihood of gaining a top pick is extremely unlikely.
The odds are as follows:
1. San Jose Sharks: 18.5%
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
3. Anaheim Ducks: 11.5%
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: 9.5%
5. Montreal Canadiens: 8.5%
6. Utah: 7.5%
7. Ottawa Senators: 6.5%
8. Seattle Kraken: 6.0%
9. Calgary Flames: 5.0%
10. New Jersey Devils: 3.5%
11. Buffalo Sabres: 3.5%
12. Philadelphia Flyers: 2.5%
13. Minnesota Wild: 2.0%
14. Pittsburgh Penguins: 1.5%
15. Detroit Red Wings: 0.5%
16. St. Louis Blues: 0.5%
Likely No.1 pick
Macklin Celebrini is expected to be the No.1 pick in the draft. With an incredible display of talent, Celebrini from Boston University made a significant impact by recording 32 goals and 32 assists and accumulating 64 points.
Chicago Blackhawks fans are crossing their fingers that they win the first pick in back-to-back years. If this outcome were to happen, Connor Bedard would be paired with Celebrini, creating a formidable unit that would become increasingly dangerous as the years go by.