Draft Lottery Set for Wednesday, June 2
NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS
The National Hockey League announced today the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery, used to determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, will be held on Wednesday, June 2. That’s right friends, it will soon be ping pong ball time.
The Draft Lottery will consist of two drawings: the 1st Lottery Draw will determine the club selecting first overall, the 2nd Lottery Draw will determine the club selecting second overall.
The Seattle Kraken, who are guaranteed no lower than the fifth overall selection, have the third-best odds to win the lottery — the same as the New Jersey Devils, the team with the third-worst winning percentage from the 2021-22 season. The same position was true of the Vegas Golden Knights before their first NHL draft. Think of it as a “welcome to the NHL” gift basket.
The New York Rangers have a 1.0 percent chance to win the lottery. That’s all they need.
Note: The Arizona Coyotes’ were forced to forfeit their 1st round pick in 2021 NHL Draft. Arizona being selected in either Lottery Draw will result in a re-draw. So, naturally, we are all hoping it happens so that it’s very awkward for everyone involved.
The 14 clubs who do not win the lottery for the first or second overall pick will pick, in order, from 3 to 16 based on the inverse order of their regular season points.
The 2021 Draft will be held virtually over two days. Round 1 will take place on Friday, July 23, followed by Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, July 24.
