Sharks stay put in lottery, will select fourth in 2023 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Sharks, who tallied the fourth-fewest points in the NHL this season, stayed put in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery and will select No. 4 overall in June.
It’s the highest San Jose has drafted since they selected defenseman Brad Stuart with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1998 NHL Draft.
Per Tankathon, the Sharks had a 9.5 percent chance to land the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick in the draft. They had the best odds to land the No. 5 pick (44.6 percent), followed by No. 6 pick (20.8 percent), No. 4 pick (15.4 percent) and No. 3 picks (0.3 percent).
Connor Bedard, a 17-year-old center who tallied 143 points in 57 games with the WHL’s Regina Pats this season, is the consensus top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery and will likely select Bedard.
The Anaheim Ducks will draft second, followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets before the Sharks are on the clock at No. 4.
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San Jose finished the season with a 22-44-16 record and 60 points. The Sharks have missed the playoffs the past four seasons, the longest drought in franchise history.
The 2023 NHL Draft will begin June 28 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.