Secaucus, N.J. (WGN) — The Chicago Blackhawks have landed the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NHL draft.
The Blackhawks had the second-best odds to receive the No. 1 pick (13.5%), but came up short and slid back one spot to No. 3.
While the results are mildly disappointing, the No. 3 pick has yielded impressive results for Chicago in the past.
Should the Blackhawks hold on to the No. 3 selection in the 2025 NHL draft, it will be the fourth time the team has made a pick at third overall since 1980. Chicago took Kirby Dach with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NHL draft, Jonathan Toews with the third selection in 2006, and Denis Savard with the third overall pick in 1980.
Hart Trophy finalist and Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the league’s top goal-scorer this season, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, was also a No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft.
The common bond that ties the quartet together? They all play center.
As for the rest of the draft lottery, the New York Islanders took home the top pick in a shocking upset after having just the tenth-best odds to pick first (3.5%). The Islanders’ climb from No. 10 to No. 1 is the second-biggest lottery jump in recent memory (more on that later in this article).
The draft lottery was conducted in a series of two draws to determine the top two picks, with the first draw determining the first overall pick, and the second draw determining the second overall pick.
The San Jose Sharks, who had the top odds to land pick No. 1, moved back to the second pick after the Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, which moved them up to No. 4.
The reason Utah only moved up to the fourth selection is that the NHL made changes to the draft lottery format back in March 2021. The league placed a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the draft lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds are eligible to receive the first or second overall selection in the 2025 NHL draft.
In the case of Utah winning the second draw, that meant the team with the lowest regular season point total remaining then received the No. 2 pick—San Jose.
The rule change came after the New York Rangers won the No. 1 pick in 2020 and selected left winger Alexis Lafrenière. They had the 14th-best odds out of 15 eligible teams, which equated to about a 1% chance of winning the lottery.
The 13 teams not selected in the first two draws were then assigned draft positioning in reverse order of 2025 regular season point total.
Final 2025 NHL draft Order
- New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Utah Hockey Club
- Nashville Predators
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Boston Bruins
- Seattle Kraken
- Buffalo Sabres
- Anaheim Ducks
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Vancouver Canucks
- Calgary Flames (the Canadiens own this pick after a trade)
The 2025 NHL draft will take place June 27-28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater, with the first round set to be broadcast that Friday starting at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, with rounds 2-7 to be broadcast that Saturday starting at 11 a.m. CT.