Vancouver Canucks position for 2025 NHL Draft Lottery nearly decided
The Vancouver Canucks are entering an interesting summer, having to answer a lot of questions after a disappointing season.
Nearly everything that could’ve gone wrong this year did, resulting in a major drop in the standings. They’ll miss the playoffs after winning the division last year.
The Canucks will need to use the draft and free agency this summer to improve their roster. They still have their first-round pick, and what they do with it will be a major focus.
The good news for management is that their draft lottery slot is virtually decided. This means they can start planning while knowing their position in the draft.
With three games left to play, the Canucks have 87 points and are 15th in the draft lottery slot. They are tied with the Calgary Flames, who have played one fewer game, meaning they could move into 16th if they make up some ground over the final stretch.
The Utah Hockey Club is also nipping at their heels as they are just two points behind the Canucks. If they catch the Canucks on points, they’ll surpass them, as Utah currently owns the tiebreaker with an extra regulation and overtime win.
Beyond those two teams, it’s unlikely the Canucks move in the standings. The next closest groups are the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers, who are each six points behind the Canucks. It would take a multiple-game losing streak from the Canucks, plus a late-season push from one of those teams, to change things. It’s very unlikely.
NHL.com
All of that means the Canucks are likely to finish between the 14th and 16th slots in the draft lottery. Because NHL teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, this means the Canucks no longer have a chance at getting the first overall pick.
All of the draft slots from 14 to 16 have a greater than 95 per cent chance of staying in that range. The Canucks could get extremely lucky and move up to the four to six range, but it’s overwhelmingly likely they will stick in a similar spot to where they are now.
Tankathon.com
There is a significant chance the Canucks decide to trade their first-round pick. This management group has been aggressive in trading draft picks in the past, dealing first-rounders in deals for Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson.
With Quinn Hughes having just two years left on his contract, the Canucks want to be competitive in that time. It’s unlikely that whoever they pick in the middle of the first round will be ready to contribute in the next two years, and thus, trading the pick for an NHL player is a legitimate option.