Connor Bedard will know which NHL team he is getting drafted to in a few short days.
The NHL Draft Lottery is set for Monday, May 8, as the first 16 picks in the upcoming NHL draft will be determined.
Unlike some other sports, the NHL does not simply give the first pick in a draft to the worst team in the league. Instead, it uses a lottery system, giving certain chances to teams that finish at the bottom of the standings.
MORE: Watch 2023 NHL playoff games on ESPN with Fubo
Barring a fireable decision by a general manager or front office, Bedard will be the first name off the draft board. He has been dubbed the next great generational talent, coming off a sensational draft year with the WHL's Regina Pats.
The team that wins the draft lottery is getting an elite playmaker and scorer who will absolutely shorten the timeline for a club's rebuild.
Here are the latest odds and chances for teams to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
LIVE: Sporting News tracks the results of the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery
Highest chance of getting the No. 1 pick in NHL Draft
The NHL uses a draft lottery system to determine who gets the first selection on draft day. A club's final position in the standings correlates to a certain percentage that it has to land the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery.
Since teams can only move up as far as 10 spots in a draft, there are only 11 teams that have a chance at the first overall pick. Teams that finished from Nos. 12-16 can win the lottery and move up to a top spot, but it won't be further than 10 places up.
The Ducks finished with the worst record in the NHL this season, so they have the highest odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the draft. While Anaheim technically is only given a 18.5% chance, they get the No. 1 pick if any of the teams slotted Nos. 12-16 win the lottery. So their number is bumped up to 25.5%.
Here are those chances, based on where teams finished in the 2022-23 regular season.
| Team | Chance at No. 1 pick |
| Anaheim Ducks | 25.5% |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 13.5% |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 11.5% |
| San Jose Sharks | 9.5% |
| Montreal Canadiens | 8.5% |
| Arizona Coyotes | 7.5% |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 6.5% |
| Washington Capitals | 6% |
| Detroit Red Wings | 5% |
| St. Louis Blues | 3.5% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 3% |
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When is the 2023 NHL Draft lottery?
- Date: Monday, May 8
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The 2023 NHL Draft lottery is set for Monday, May 8. It will determine the order of the first 16 picks in the draft.
There are two lottery balls drawn at the event — one for the No. 1 pick, and one for the No. 2 pick. Teams cannot move up higher than 10 spots in the draft lottery.
What channel is the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery?
- TV Channel: ESPN (U.S.) | Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Canada)
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo (U.S.) | SN NOW (Canada)
ESPN will be home to the 2023 NHL Draft lottery for viewers in the United States. Streamers can catch the action on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Fans can also stream the event on Fubo. Fubo carries the ESPN family of networks and also offers a free trial, so hockey fans tuning in to the main broadcast can use the streaming service.
Canadian viewers can watch the draft lottery on Sportsnet, or on TVA Sports for the French-speaking audience. SN NOW will have a stream of the event.
When is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Day 1 date: Wednesday, June 28
- Day 2 date: Thursday, June 29
The 2023 NHL Draft will span two days. The first round will take place Wednesday, June 28, with representatives from all 32 teams in Nashville.
On Thursday, June 29, the picks in Rounds 2-7 will be made.
Where is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena
- City: Nashville, Tenn.
Bridgestone Arena, home of the Predators, will be the location of the 2023 NHL Draft.
This is the second time that Nashville will host a draft. The city was the site of the 2003 draft.
