The NHL Draft Lottery is a crucial event for teams hoping to land the top prospects in the upcoming draft. It determines the order in which the bottom 16 teams will select players. Here's a breakdown of how the lottery works:
The Basics
- 16 teams: The 16 teams with the worst records in the previous season are eligible for the draft lottery.
- Top 3 spots: The lottery determines the order of the first three picks in the draft.
- Remaining order: The rest of the draft order is decided by regular season record, with the worst team picking fourth, the next worst fifth, and so on.
The Odds
The lottery is not a simple random draw. Teams with worse records have a higher chance of winning the top pick. Here's how the odds worked in 2021:
- 1st Overall Pick:
- 18.0%: Arizona Coyotes (Worst record)
- 13.5%: Ottawa Senators (2nd worst record)
- 11.5%: Detroit Red Wings (3rd worst record)
- 9.0%: San Jose Sharks (4th worst record)
- 7.5%: Anaheim Ducks (5th worst record)
- 6.0%: Columbus Blue Jackets (6th worst record)
- 4.5%: Seattle Kraken (7th worst record)
- 3.0%: New Jersey Devils (8th worst record)
- 1.5%: Buffalo Sabres (9th worst record)
- 1.0%: Chicago Blackhawks (10th worst record)
- 2nd Overall Pick: The remaining odds for each team are adjusted based on the outcome of the 1st pick.
- 3rd Overall Pick: The remaining odds for each team are adjusted based on the outcomes of the 1st and 2nd pick.
How the Lottery Works
The NHL Draft Lottery is conducted with ping pong balls.
- Ball Selection: 14 ping pong balls are numbered 1-14. Each team is assigned a specific number of balls based on their odds.
- The Draw: The balls are drawn randomly four times.
- The Combination: The four drawn balls create a combination that is matched with a team based on their assigned numbers.
The 2021 Lottery
The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery saw the Buffalo Sabres win the first overall pick, giving them the opportunity to select Owen Power. The Seattle Kraken and the Arizona Coyotes landed the second and third picks, respectively.
Importance of the Lottery
The NHL Draft Lottery gives teams with the worst records a chance to rebuild their franchise by acquiring a top prospect. It also adds excitement and intrigue to the end of the regular season, as teams battle for better lottery odds.