2024 NHL Draft Lottery tonight, projected No. 1 pick Celebrini to attend | NHL.com

Macklin Celebrini said he's "curious" to see what team will win the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.

He's so interested, he will be there in person to witness it.

The projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft will be at the NHL Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) when his NHL future is decided.

He was in Budapest, Hungary practicing with Canada ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Championship but will not make the team and was sent back to North America Tuesday.

"I know the NHL Draft Lottery is going to happen soon and, like anyone else, I'm curious," Celebrini wrote in his blog for NHL.com on April 26. "As is the case in any other year, you want to see it. I've grown up watching the draft and watching these prospects so in that sense I don't think it's any different, but I am curious to see how it all unfolds."

The San Jose Sharks are hoping it unfolds in their favor. They are one of 11 NHL teams who can win the right to select Celebrini at No. 1. The 17-year-old Boston University forward was No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2024 draft and the projected top pick.

San Jose has the best odds of winning the lottery at 18.5 percent after finishing last in the NHL standings (19-54-9). General manager Mike Grier played three seasons at Boston University (1993-96). His teammate was current BU coach Jay Pandolfo, so Grier is very aware of Celebrini.

"I don't have a good luck charm (to hold during the lottery) so if you have one, I'll take it," Grier said during the Sharks' breakup day April 20. "The draft is going to be a big part of our rebuild. We should have four picks in the top 50, so hopefully we hit on these players."

The Sharks could have two picks in the top 16, their own and the Pittsburgh Penguins' selection (top 10 protected), which was acquired as part of the trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson on Aug. 6, 2023. If the Penguins' pick is in the top 10, it would stay with Pittsburgh and San Jose instead would receive Pittsburgh's unprotected first-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Chicago Blackhawks, who were 31st in the standings (23-53-6), will have the second-best odds at 13.5 percent, followed by the Anaheim Ducks (27-50-5) at 11.5 percent.

The Blackhawks won the lottery last season and selected forward Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick.

"Cool moment for him," Bedard told NHL.com in Budapest on Monday. "We're all looking forward [to it]. I think we'll all probably stay up and watch it. It's going to be fun."