The Sharks found out at the May 5 NHL draft lottery that they would have the No. 2 selection and have now drafted inside the top seven four times since 2021, with Celebrini taken first overall last year, Smith the No. 4 pick in 2023 and Eklund going No. 7 to San Jose in 2021.

Doerrie predicted that the Islanders would use the No. 1 pick on Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The 17-year-old was limited to just 17 games in the 2024-25 season after he suffered a broken collarbone while playing for Canada at the 2025 World Juniors. In those 17 games, he scored five goals and had 22 points.