NHL draft lottery odds, top prospects, how to watch

The San Jose Sharks had a season to forget, but something memorable could come out of it.

The Sharks, who have never drafted first overall in franchise history, have the best odds to win Tuesday night's NHL lottery and a chance to select Boston University star Macklin Celebrini. They were the lone team in the salary cap era to fail to reach 20 wins in a full season.

There's no guarantee that the Sharks win. Last year, the Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery after finishing with the third-worst record in the league and selected generational prospect Connor Bedard, who's a rookie of the year finalist.

But the Montreal Canadiens (2022) and Buffalo Sabres (2021) held onto the top pick. So did the Sabres in 2018 and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016.

Here's what to know about Tuesday's NHL draft lottery:

When is the NHL draft lottery?

The NHL draft lottery will be held at 6:30 p.m. ET at the NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

How can I watch the NHL draft lottery?

The NHL draft lottery will be broadcast by ESPN.

How can I stream the NHL draft lottery?

It can be streamed on ESPN+ and on services that carry ESPN, such as Fubo.

What are the odds for the NHL draft lottery?

Odds in parentheses. Teams can move up only 10 spots, so only the bottom 11 teams have a chance to land the top pick. The Sharks would also land the first pick if a team in the 12-16 range wins the lottery.

1. San Jose Sharks (18.5% outright, 25.5% overall)
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. Calgary Flames (6.0%)
9. Seattle Kraken (5.0%)
10. New Jersey Devils (3.5%)
11. Buffalo Sabres (3.0%)
12. Philadelphia Flyers (2.5%)
13. Minnesota Wild (2.0%)
14. Pittsburgh Penguins (1.5%) - The Sharks acquired this pick, but it's top 10 protected
15. Detroit Red Wings (0.5%)
16. St. Louis Blues (0.5%

Why is Macklin Celebrini the top NHL draft prospect?

Celebrini, 17, the youngest player in NCAA Division I men's hockey, had 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games to lead Boston University to the Frozen Four, where it lost to eventual champion Denver in the semifinals. 

The 6-foot, 190-pound center won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top men's player and was Hockey East's player and rookie of the year.

Celebrini was also the top scorer for Canada at the world junior championships.

Who are the other top prospects in the 2024 NHL draft?

North American prospects: Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov, Medicine Hat center Cayden Lindstrom, Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh.

International prospects: Russian 6-7 defenseman Anton Silayev, Russian winger Ivan Demidov, Finnish center Konsta Helenius.

How does the draft lottery work?

There are two drawings, first for a chance at the top pick and then for a chance at the second pick. Winning teams can move up only 10 spots. The last-place team can draft no lower than third overall. Beginning with the 2022 lottery, a team cannot win more than twice in a five-year period. There are 14 ping-pong balls in the machine and each team is assigned a series of four numbers. The lower a team is in the standings, the more series of numbers it gets.