In a thrilling development at the NHL lottery, the San Jose Sharks have secured the No. 2 pick for the upcoming NHL Draft. This draw took place on a Tuesday night, and the Sharks will select immediately after the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold the first pick. The draft is scheduled for June 26 in Buffalo.
Sharks’ Lottery History and Draft Performance
This marks the third consecutive season that the Sharks are in the top two drafting positions. In 2024, they selected Macklin Celebrini as the first overall pick, followed by Michael Misa at the second spot in 2025. This year, they had the ninth-best odds to claim the lottery before the outcome was revealed.
Season Improvement
The Sharks exhibited notable progress this season, jumping from 52 points to 86 points in the NHL standings. This improvement was partly fueled by the remarkable performance of Celebrini, who tallied 45 goals and finished with 115 points. His efforts ranked him among the top scorers in the league.
Potential Draft Picks
Looking ahead, the Sharks have an opportunity to enhance their roster with another elite player. Ivar Stenberg, a Swedish winger, is widely projected to be the second overall pick in many mock drafts. He has been in close competition with Gavin McKenna from Penn State for this coveted position.
Stenberg’s Season Stats
- Goals: 11
- Assists: 22
- Games Played: 43 (Frolunda, Swedish Hockey League)
Additionally, Stenberg contributed to Sweden’s gold medal victory at the World Junior Championship, recording four goals and six assists over seven games.
NHL Draft Order After Lottery
The complete order for the NHL Draft following the lottery is as follows:
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 4 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 5 | New York Rangers |
| 6 | Calgary Flames |
| 7 | Seattle Kraken |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets |
| 9 | Florida Panthers |
| 10 | Nashville Predators |
| 11 | St. Louis Blues |
| 12 | New Jersey Devils |
| 13 | New York Islanders |
| 14 | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 15 | St. Louis Blues (via Detroit Red Wings) |
| 16 | Washington Capitals |
As the Sharks look to end their seven-year playoff drought, this lottery victory is a pivotal moment for the franchise.
