The nhl draft lottery is drawing closer, and the current standings picture gives several teams a reason to watch every result carefully. With the May 5 event less than a month away, the race is not just about playoff positioning anymore; it is also about where a franchise lands in the opening round of the draft.
What If the Standings Hold Through April?
The current picture is defined by separation at the top and uncertainty just behind it. Vancouver has secured the best odds after finishing last place, while Seattle sits in a shifting middle ground that could still move either direction before the season ends. The Kraken are currently on 77 points and sit one point behind three other clubs. If that holds, their lottery position would remain in the conversation for a meaningful jump, though the exact outcome still depends on the final four games.
The nhl draft lottery only applies to the first two selections, and a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots. That creates a narrow but important window for clubs near the bottom. Vancouver’s 18. 5% chance at one of the top two picks remains the benchmark, while Seattle would sit at 8. 5% if it finishes fifth worst. If the Kraken slip to ninth worst, that figure would drop to 5. 0%.
What Happens When the Lottery Odds Take Shape?
The most useful way to read this moment is through the combination of standings and recent draft history. Vancouver’s last top-10 selection came in 2019, when it picked Vasily Podkolzin at No. 10. Chicago, by contrast, has had top-10 picks in each of the last four drafts. Calgary’s last top-10 pick was Zayne Parekh in 2024, while the Rangers’ most recent top-10 selection was Alexis Lafreniere at No. 1 in 2020. Seattle’s last top-10 pick was Jake O’Brien last year.
For the nhl draft lottery, that context matters because it shows how quickly draft capital can shape a team’s timeline. Some clubs are entering the process after a long wait. Others have already been close to the top of the board recently and are now trying to manage where the next reset begins.
| Team | Current lottery position | Last top-10 pick |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | Best odds | 2019 |
| Seattle Kraken | Fifth worst, currently | 2025 |
| Calgary Flames | Bottom-three team | 2024 |
| New York Rangers | Bottom of the East | 2020 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Bottom-tier team | Each of the last four drafts |
What If Seattle Moves Up or Down Again?
Seattle’s case captures the tension inside the current race. The Kraken still have four games remaining, as do St. Louis, Toronto, and Florida, which means the board can still shift before the lottery order is finalized. Seattle’s final opponents include Calgary, Los Angeles, Vegas, and Colorado, a finish that keeps both the playoff picture and draft position in play.
That makes the nhl draft lottery a live issue rather than a distant one. The best-case outcome for Seattle is a slight rise in odds without a major drop in draft position. The most likely outcome is continued movement within a tight group of teams near the cutoff. The most challenging outcome is slipping into a weaker lottery slot and losing some of the leverage that comes with a better finish.
What Should Teams and Fans Watch Next?
The main lesson is that the final weeks matter even for clubs outside the playoff race. Standings movement now affects not only immediate results but also the structure of the draft board. Vancouver has already locked in the strongest odds. Seattle remains close enough to matter. Calgary, Toronto, and Florida are still part of a compressed group that could influence the order further.
For readers, the practical takeaway is simple: the nhl draft lottery is not waiting for the season to fully cool off. It is being shaped now, by point totals, remaining games, and the narrow line between a better pick and a worse one. That is why this period is a turning point — and why the nhl draft lottery should remain a central storyline until the final order is set.
