Penguins may still have a first round pick in the upcoming draft

After missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the running for the NHL draft lottery happening on May 7th. Yet it's unlikely they'll be victorious.

Even if, by some miracle, they do win, they're not going to snag that coveted top pick and the generational talent that is Macklin Celebrini. NHL rules say teams can only move up ten spots in the draft order if they win the lottery. Right now, the Penguins are sitting pretty in 14th place, just behind Detroit and St. Louis, the only teams that missed the playoffs.



The Penguins have a 1.5 percent shot at winning, while the Detroit Red Wings and St Louis Blues are sitting at 0.5 percent each.


Now, the league-worst San Jose Sharks are leading the pack with the best odds at 18.5 percent, followed by the reigning lottery champions Chicago Blackhawks at 13.5 percent, who will look to pair Celebrini with this year's rookie sensation Connor Bedard. And remember that trade that brought Erik Karlsson to the Penguins last Summer? If the Penguins win the lottery, they can keep their pick and give their first-rounder in 2025 to the Sharks.

The lottery's going down at the NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, N.J on May 7th So mark your calendars and set your DVR. You won't want to miss it.



Until then, you can simulate one in the NHL Ran King app.