The 2025 NHL draft class includes a number of great players, including Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa and Boston College center James Hagens.

After the Islanders, the San Jose Sharks landed the second pick while the Chicago Blackhawks will pick third. The Sharks own a top-five pick for the third straight season after selecting Macklin Celebrini with the top pick in 2024 and Will Smith with the No. 4 pick in 2023.

The NHL will hold the 2025 draft lottery on May 5; here’s what you need to know. Like the NBA’s draft lottery, the NHL draft lottery is dictated by a random drawing of numbered pingpong balls. Each team is assigned multiple series of numbers, and the order in which they’re pulled determines the draft order.