Sharks win NHL Draft Lottery
The San Jose Sharks prevailed in the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, securing the No. 1 pick and the right to select Macklin Celebrini next month.
The Sharks had the highest odds of nabbing the top pick, with an 18.5% chance.
Here's the order following the proceedings:
The order matched the odds exactly, making it the first lottery since 2010 in which no team moved up or down relative to their chances.
The Sharks will also draft 14th because the Pittsburgh Penguins owe them the selection as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. Had the Penguins landed in the top 10, they could've sent their 2025 first-rounder to San Jose instead.
Pittsburgh could still end up with a first-round selection if the Carolina Hurricanes reach the Stanley Cup Final, per the conditions in the Jake Guentzel swap.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier praised Celebrini's versatility and work ethic when asked about him on the broadcast.
“He's a 200-foot player, which is rare for someone who is as offensively gifted as he is," the GM said on ESPN. "As a 17-year-old, he plays a real complete game on both ends of the ice. He cares. I love his competitiveness. I watch him practice, and he works every drill. He goes as hard as he can in every drill, wants to win every puck battle. I think he's a real unique player at this age. (He) plays a full, complete game. We're really excited.”
The Chicago Blackhawks picked first last year, landing Calder Trophy finalist Connor Bedard. The Anaheim Ducks chose Leo Carlsson second overall in 2023, while the Columbus Blue Jackets went third and took Adam Fantilli. The Sharks grabbed Will Smith fourth overall in that event.
This year's draft will take place June 28 and 29 at Sphere in Las Vegas.