Everything you need to know about the NY Islanders Draft Lottery chances

The New York Islanders closed out the 2024-25 regular season with a lackluster 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, finishing the season with a 35-35-12 record and their worst point total (82) since the 2017-18 season, when they ended with 80 points.

With a dismal 3-5-2 record in their final 10 games, the Islanders finished with the 10th-worst record in the league, but the news isn't all bad. By finishing 10th from the bottom, the Islanders are among the 11 teams that have a chance at winning the NHL Draft Lottery and an opportunity to select the player of their choice with the top pick. The Islanders' position earns them a 3.5% chance of winning the lottery and securing the top overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, scheduled to take place on June 27 in Los Angeles. The NHL hasn't announced a date for the lottery, but it is expected to be in early May.

How the NHL Draft Lottery Works (as of 2021 Rule Changes)

Lottery Odds & Structure:

• Each non-playoff team is assigned lottery odds based on their finish in the regular season — the worse the record, the better the odds.
• The lottery uses 14 ping-pong balls to create 1,001 unique four-number combinations.
• Each team receives a number of those combinations proportional to their odds.

Lottery Draws:

• Two draws are held: The first draw determines the No. 1 overall pick. The second draw determines the No. 2 overall pick.
• Once those two spots are awarded, the rest of the draft order is set based on the regular-season standings (worst to best among non-playoff teams).

Movement Restrictions:

• A team cannot move up more than 10 spots.This means only the bottom 11 teams have a shot at the 1st overall pick.If a team outside the bottom 11 wins a draw, they move up 10 spots, and the top pick defaults to the next eligible team.

Other Rules:

• A team cannot win the lottery more than twice in a five-year span (rule started in 2022).
• The team with the worst regular-season record is guaranteed to pick no lower than 3rd overall.

The Islanders haven't had a top-10 pick since they drafted Michael Dal Colle 5th overall in 2014. At the 2018 Draft Lottery, the Islanders, who were in 12th position, but also owned Calgary's No. 1 pick as part of the Travis Hamonic trade, actually fell from 10th to 11th when Carolina went from the 11th spot to No. 2 overall. In 2022, the Islanders ended up with the 13th pick, which was their original selection. That pick was drafted on draft day to Montreal for defenseman Alexander Romanov.

For a list of all the team's odds and some simulation fun, visit Tankathon.