For teams already eliminated from playoff contention, the next biggest date on the schedule is the NHL Draft Lottery. The event, which determines the order of selection in the upcoming NHL Draft, can drastically change the direction of a franchise or prolong a rebuild by forcing them to miss out on top talent. This year’s event will be held remotely on May 10, according to Chris Johnston of TSN.
Currently, the Arizona Coyotes have the best chance at the top pick, though that could change in the coming weeks. The Montreal Canadiens are just two points ahead of them and actually have two fewer regulation wins, the first tiebreaker should it come to that. The Philadelphia Flyers are also doing their best to secure a top spot, losing six in a row to drop them down below the Seattle Kraken in terms of points percentage.
The draft, set to begin July 7 in Montreal, still has a likely first-overall pick in Shane Wright, though that is no longer a consensus. Players like Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley have pushed themselves up draft boards with strong play, while another potential top selection–Ivan Miroschnichenko–was unfortunately diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
With a few games left to jostle position, the race is on toward May 10 and the lottery.
Not a great year to be a bottom team. No consensus first pick and no game changers.
Flyers always win the shit drafts
Should’ve won in ‘07
Seattle might have another B2B top 5 pick years!
That’s what happens with bad teams! See the Oilers recent draft placement…how many top 5 picks?
Nugent, Drai, Hall, McJesus, Eberle, that Russian guy nobody remembers, Poolparty, Nurse (at #7), Gagne (#6)
After reading that…it’s amazing they haven’t found success….
should have drafted or traded for an elite goalie.
They will go for MAF this summer! LOL
His wife will make him retire before she moves to Edmonton.
Yakopov, Nail. Read; another nail in the Oilers coffin.