Blackhawks 2023 Draft Lottery Explainer

May 8 is the big date in the Connor Bedard Sweepstakes. If the Blackhawks don't get the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023, they'll still have a top-five selection... and one later in the first round.

Will the Blackhawks get a crack at hockey’s next generational talent? We’ll find out on Monday, May 8.

The league’s 2023 draft lottery will take place that night at 6 p.m. CT and the first overall and other top picks will be determined.

The Blackhawks finished with the third worst regular-season record (30^th out of 32 teams) and have an 11.5 % chance of netting the first overall selection – expected to be Regina Pats star center Connor Bedard. Last-place Anaheim has an 18.5% shot at the top pick and 31^st place Columbus has an 13.5 % chance.

Behind the Blackhawks in the lottery for the top pick are San Jose (9.5%), Montréal (8.5%) and Arizona (7.5%).

Had the Blackhawks not rallied to tie Philadelphia and force overtime in the final game of the season, they would have finished with the second-worst record and have the Blue Jackets’ odds. Blame Jonathan Toews and Andreas Athanasiou for scoring to erase the Flyers two-goal lead and earn Chicago a point before Philadelphia won 5-4 in OT.

For certain: The Blackhawks will receive a pick that’s no later than fifth overall following the on-the-fly computations made at the NHL Network’s Studio in Secaucus, N.J. Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson says the 2023 draft pool is “deep down the board,” but he gave no hint – or names – of a Plan B, Plan C or beyond during a season-ending press conference on April 13.

Per Tankathon.com, the Blackhawks have a 23% chance of drafting first or second overall.

Want more? Visit https://www.tankathon.com/nhl for a simulator.

Davidson is scheduled to talk to media again after the draft lottery. He wasn’t sure who from his staff would attend the event, which will be covered by ESPN.

Davidson and staff will be busy at the NHL Draft, with Round 1 on June 28 and Rounds 2-7 on June 29 in Nashville. They’ve hoarded draft picks, a.k.a. “assets,” for the next several years and have 11 on the board for 2023.

Chicago has a second pick in the first round, acquired from Tampa Bay with Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk last year in a deal that sent Brandon Hagel to the Lightning.

The Blackhawks have four picks in the second round and two in the third. One of those second-round picks could become a first-round pick in 2024 if the New York Rangers and Patrick Kane advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Rounding out the 2023 draft, Chicago has a pick in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.

Looking ahead, the Blackhawks have (as of April 21) nine picks in 2024 (at least two in the first-round) and nine more in 2025 (two in the first-rounders).