NHL Draft Lottery TV Schedule and Broadcast

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The NHL Entry Draft is an annual event where National Hockey League (NHL) teams select young eligible ice hockey players from Junior Leagues, Collegiate programs and International Leagues. This process includes North American players aged 18-20 and European/international players aged 18-21, with others entering the draft are either free agents or previously un-signed players. This event typically takes place every year in June after the regular season ends with teams taking turns at picking amateur players from various leagues and programs.

Looking back, the first NHL draft occurred in 1963 and was originally known as the NHL Amateur Draft until 1979. However, it garnered attention with every passing years and eventually became a public event in 1980, with the first televised event taking place in 1984. This only increased anticipation with regards to the Draft and has attracted newer fans every year. Likewise, the Draft has underwent many changes over the years. Up until 1994, the draft order was determined only by the regular season standings. In 1995, the NHL introduced a draft lottery to give non-playoff teams a chance to move up in the draft order. This meant the lottery winner could move up a maximum of four places, meaning only the five worst teams had a shot at the first overall pick. But between 2013 and 2015, the lottery winner automatically received the first overall pick, allowing more movement in the draft order. Moving forward, between 2015 and 2020, three lottery winners were selected, receiving the top three picks. This system was adjusted again in 2021, with only two lottery winners receiving the top two picks, and no team moving down more than two spots.

Starting in 2022, lottery winners can move up no more than ten places. This means only the bottom eleven teams have a chance at the first overall pick. If a team outside the bottom eleven wins the lottery, they move up ten spots, and the team with the lowest finish from the previous season gets the first overall pick.

Where to watch NHL Draft Lottery?

NHL Draft lottery 2024 took place on May 7 at the NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, New Jersey and it was aired live on ESPN in the US and on Sportsnet, TVA Sports in Canada. Viewers can watch the highlights of the 2024 NHL draft lottery on Youtube.

Moving forward, the 2024 NHL Entry Draft will take place June 28–29, at The Sphere in Las Vegas, with the first round taking place on June 28 at 7 p.m. ET with live broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, SN, and TVAS. Additionally, Rounds 2-7 are scheduled for June 29, at 11:30 a.m. ET, and will be available on ESPN+, NHLN, SN, and SN1.