Seven teams in the NHL didn’t get a chance to return to play this summer. Their regular seasons were so disastrous that they didn’t qualify for a tournament which saw 24-teams take part. But none of them will be rewarded with the first-overall pick in 2020. Instead, that selection will go to one of the eight teams eliminated over the past week, after the first part of the draft lottery ended with a TBA club taking home the top spot.
The qualification round provided some incredible storylines. It also provided some eye-popping upsets. Both the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, respective 12-seeds going into the return to play format, defeated Stanley Cup contenders with all-world talents leading the way. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and their teams are out before even seeing the first round but now have a chance to land a consolation prize of sorts.
The Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, and Minnesota Wild all have a 12.5% chance of being awarded that first-overall pick, and the chance to select two-time CHL Player of the Year Alexis Lafreniere.
That may seem ridiculous, given the regular season performances from those clubs, but remember it required a previous lottery to get to this point. There was only a 24.5% chance of a qualification-round team earning the pick in the first place. That ended up happening, with the Los Angeles Kings also moving up to second place. The Detroit Red Wings, who had the highest chance of winning any of the three lottery spots ended up the big losers of the event, dropping all the way down to fourth despite winning just 17 games this season.
The league will announce the lottery winner this evening, with hockey fans all over the world tuning in to see where Lafreniere will go. The format of the lottery has drawn massive criticism given how things played out, but that won’t stop it from being a must-see event for the entire NHL.
Where do you want to see the phenom go? Which of the eliminated teams deserves the pick? Which would you hate to see win? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain your choice in the comments!
[Mobile users click here to vote]
I want the Rangers. I don’t want the Penguins.
Let’s go Rangers!!
none of them. even though they moved on the Blue Jackets still deserve it.
but Hell give it to the Wild. 2020 hasnt been weird enough yet.
Panthers, Wild, Jets are the only ones who wouldn’t gain an absurdly unfair advantage by winning.
I agree.
The link for mobile users never works
Worked for me
Anyone but the pens and leafs
Ah come on. Leafs haven’t even made it out of the first round never mind a cup in 20-40-60 years. Throw them a bone. They are more than deserving.
Nashville or Minnesota but anyone out West will do.
Send him to Florida where he can’t hurt anyone.
none of these teams deserve it, but whatever happens, happens.
Anyone but Pittsburgh.
Florida? Might as well have him play on the moon.
Winnipeg? He might prefer to play on the moon.
Oilers? Fifth #1 overall pick in ten years? No way.
Leafs? No need to add to their cap issues.
Wild? Ugly jerseys.
Preds? Uglier jerseys.
Rangers? Would look like the NHL rigged the draft for the biggest market city.
Gotta be the Pens, by default, I guess. Seems fair to me.
Pulling for nashville. They could really use an elite player. Pitt/Edm/Tor getting it would really look bad for the league me thinks
Pens
Minnesota could use a star. Nashville’s offense is inept. Those two probably need Lafreniere more than the rest.
Definitely the Red Wings since they had a record setting bad season, but why would a league that obviously has a rigged draft, not live pulled balls, care about any of that?
The Kings would say the same thing.
Truly, I don’t care who is goes to as long as it doesn’t end up with Edmonton. They’ve had 4 #1’s in 10 years and still can’t make the playoffs. They don’t deserve another. If I had to pick, it would be Minnesota or Winnipeg as Minnesota has never actually had a #1 and Winnipeg feels underrated.
Preds. They always try to be competitive, deserve to be rewarded for that.
The lotto balls don’t care who deserves it the most or needs it the most.
But, just for the record, the Pens have had exactly one top ten pick in the past 14 years. And that was a #8 we got for trading a #2 in Jordan Staal and Shero wasted the pick on Derrick Pouliot anyway.
No top ten picks for 14 years. Except for Derrick Pouliot. C’mon, Karma.
I’d be fine with Nashville, Florida or Minnesota getting it, indeferent to Winnipeg or the Rangers, and will stop watching hockey if Toronto, Edmonton, or Pittsburgh get first.
Boo.
Clearly rigged for Bettman’s hometown big market NY team.
But 2005 wasn’t for Pittsburgh? Be real dude.
LOL, Rangers win it!
Let’s go Wild
Wild.