The Washington Capitals are about to find out their fate in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the annual draft lottery set for Tuesday evening. For a team that just missed the playoffs, this is a pivotal moment to shape their future—and for fans, it's a chance to dream about the next star wearing the red, white, and blue.

Here's how the lottery works: The NHL uses a machine with 14 numbered ping-pong balls, creating 1,000 possible four-number combinations. Each non-playoff team gets a set number of combinations based on their regular-season record—the worse the record, the more combos they have. Four balls are drawn to determine the winner of the first pick.

For the Capitals, who finished 16th among non-playoff teams, the odds are slim but not zero. They hold just five of the 1,000 combinations, giving them a 0.5 percent chance of winning the first draw. However, due to a rule change in 2021, teams in the 12th to 16th spots can only move up a maximum of 10 positions. That means Washington's highest possible pick is sixth overall—a tantalizing possibility for a franchise looking to reload.

After the first draw, a second draw determines the second overall pick, with the same 10-slot limit for teams 13 through 16. Once the top two selections are locked in, the remaining non-playoff teams fill out the order in reverse order of their point totals. So, even if the Capitals don't jump up, they'll still pick somewhere in the top 16.

The team with the best odds is the Vancouver Canucks, who finished with the league's worst record. They own 185 combinations (an 18.5 percent chance) at the first overall pick. The projected top prospect for 2025 is Gavin McKenna, a dynamic forward who could be a game-changer for any franchise.

Washington's last lottery appearance was in 2023, when they landed the eighth overall pick and selected Ryan Leonard—a promising young talent now developing in their system. This year, the stakes are just as high as the Capitals look to build around their core.

Tune in to the NHL Draft Lottery live on ESPN, Sportsnet, or TVA Sports at 7 p.m. ET. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love the excitement of draft day, this is one event you won't want to miss—and who knows, the Caps might just get lucky.