The Chicago Blackhawks entered Tuesday night’s NHL Draft Lottery looking to defy the odds and win the top pick for the second-straight season.

But it wasn’t to be.

That said, the Blackhawks still walked away a winner after securing the No. 2 overall pick in next month’s NHL Draft. While they were guaranteed no lower than the fourth overall pick, there was a combined 70 percent chance they would pick third or fourth.

But the NHL Draft Lottery held serve the entire way with the league’s worst team, the San Jose Sharks, being revealed as the No. 1 spot. The Blackhawks, who finished second-worst, were awarded the second pick.

Anaheim, Columbus and Montreal round out the top five.

The Sharks will likely draft Boston University center Macklin Celebrini first-overall, but the Hawks will have to choose from the other myriad of options with the second pick.

Defensively, Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State), Zeev Buium (University of Denver) and Sam Dickinson (London Knights) headline the 2024 draft class, while forwards Ivan Demidov (SKA-1946 St. Petersburg), Cayden Lindstrom (Medicine Hat Tigers), and Cole Eiserman (USNTDP) could be tempting options.

For more on these names and top players in the 2024 draft, check out Mario Tirabassi’s 50 Names to Know post.

The No. 2 pick will kick-off an extremely busy time for GM Kyle Davidson in Las Vegas. The team also owns the No. 20 pick courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and hold seven total picks over the first three rounds.

The Blackhawks have only held the No. 2 overall pick once before, selecting Andy Culligan in 1965.

Tuesday’s lottery came 365 days after the team won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery and the rights to draft superstar Connor Bedard.

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