The San Jose Sharks did not win the 2025 NHL Draft lottery and will pick second in the upcoming draft in June.
The New York Islanders have won the 2025 No. 1 pick after lottery numbers 7-11-12-13 were chosen from the first drawing. Utah Hockey Club won the second lottery and moved up ten spots to pick No. 4, thus leaving the Sharks at No. 2.
Despite not having the top pick, San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier will still be able to draft a quality prospect at No. 2. Neither of this season’s top draft prospects matches the level of Macklin Celebrini in 2024.
Celebrini was drafted first overall and is considered the San Jose Sharks’ future No. 1 center. Grier must build the remainder of the roster around Celebrini and the Sharks’ top-ranked prospect pool.
The 2025 NHL Draft lottery was the 30th in league history. For the first time, the lottery drawing was broadcast live. Sharks and other NHL fans got to view the ping pong ball machine in action and find out the fate of the 2025 NHL Draft order at the same time as the Sharks front office.
In the past years, the NHL released the actual lottery drawing online following the lottery show. To see NHL commissioner Gary Bettman conduct the 2024 Lottery, click here.
Who are the top two prospects of the 2025 NHL Draft?
There is no obvious No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Players like Celebrini and Connor Bedard, the 2023 No. 1 pick, are franchise cornerstones.
Despite no clear top pick, San Jose will likely choose between Michael Misa and Matthiew Schaefer.
Despite already having the No. 1 prospect pool in the NHL, there is a consensus that the Sharks lack top-tier talent on defense. Sam Dickinson will be a terrific NHL talent, but many view Schaefer as a prospect with even higher upside.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Schaefer is ranked as the top overall prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. Schaefer’s season was cut short after he broke his clavicle while playing for Canada at the 2025 World Juniors. The defenseman had seven goals and 15 assists in 17 games with the Erie Otters in the OHL.
Misa led the CHL in scoring this season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games. The center played with San Jose Sharks wing prospect Igor Chernyshov on the Saginaw Spirit.
The NHL Draft will be in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28th.
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