The NHL Entry Draft (French: Repêchage d'entrée dans la LNH) is a yearly event where NHL teams select young hockey players. North American players aged 18–20 and European/international players aged 18–21 can be drafted. Older players enter as free agents.

Teams pick players from junior leagues, college teams, and professional leagues in Europe. The draft is usually held two to three months after the NHL season ends.

History

The first draft was held in 1963 in Montreal. It was called the NHL Amateur Draft until 1979. It became public in 1980 and was shown on TV in 1984.

Draft age changes

1974: Draft age lowered to 18.
1975: Draft age returned to 20.
1979: Players who played professionally could be drafted; draft name changed to NHL Entry Draft; age included 19-year-olds.
1980: Draft age lowered to 18–20 for North Americans; over 20 for non-North Americans.

Public and TV coverage

1980: Draft became public at Montreal Forum.
1985: First draft outside Montreal (Toronto).
1984: First TV coverage in Canada.
1987: First U.S. draft (Detroit).
1989: First U.S. TV coverage.

Ending junior team sponsorship

Before the draft, NHL teams signed young players directly through contracts called A, B, and C forms. These were removed in 1967 to make the draft system fairer.

Future changes

From 2025, the draft will use a decentralized model, like the NBA, where most business is done remotely.

Draft Order

The order of picks is based on:

Lottery
Regular season points
Playoff results

Teams can trade picks, but the order is based on the original team.

Basic order

Teams that missed the playoffs (picks 1–16)
Playoff teams that did not win their division or reach Conference Finals
Division winners not in Conference Finals
Conference Finals losers
Stanley Cup runner-up
Stanley Cup winner

If a team does not sign its first-round pick, it receives a compensatory pick in the second round at the same position.

Draft Lottery

After the season, the 16 teams that missed the playoffs take part in a weighted lottery.

Worst team has highest chance to win (18.5%).
Best non-playoff team has lowest chance (1.0%).
Lottery only affects the first round; later rounds follow basic order.

Lottery rules over time

1995–2012: One winner; could move up 4 spots.
2013–2015: One winner; moves to first overall.
2016–2020: Three winners; decide first three picks.
2021: Two winners; decide first two picks.
2022 and later:
- Maximum 10 spots jump.
- Teams may only jump twice in five years.
- No team can fall more than 2 places.

The lottery is now held at NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.