NHL fans whose teams didn’t make the playoffs haven’t had a ton to cheer about as of late, but that will soon change.
All 16 teams that failed to qualify for the postseason will be praying for good luck at the NHL draft lottery, scheduled to take place this coming Tuesday at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT. It will be held at the NHL Network’s studio headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey.
It will be available to watch on television and stream online, via Sportsnet.
Who has the best odds?
The Vancouver Canucks have the best chance at landing the first-overall pick. They finished dead last in NHL standings this season, giving them a 25.5 per cent chance at picking first.
In total, there are 11 teams that have a shot at moving all the way up to select first overall. Here’s a look at the odds heading in.
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The Canucks are not the only Canadian franchise that has a shot at landing the first-overall pick. The Calgary Flames (9.5%), Toronto Maple Leafs (8.5%), and Winnipeg Jets (6.5%) also have slim opportunities to move all the way up.
Just last year, the New York Islanders, who had just a 3.5 per cent chance at winning the lottery, won the first pick and went on to select standout defenceman Matthew Schaefer.
The general consensus is that Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna will be taken with the first-overall pick. There will be plenty of talent that follows, as prospects such as Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, and Caleb Malholtra are all considered to be potential game-changing players.
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