The New York Rangers have a minimal chance to get the number overall pick when the NHL holds its Draft Lottery on Wednesday night.
The New York Rangers have all the odds against them when it comes to winning the number one overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft.
The NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Wednesday night setting up the order for the first 16 selections and can be seen on NBCSN at 7 P.M.
In last year’s Draft Lottery, The Blueshirts won the 2020 lottery and choose Alexis Lafreniere first overall. Â In 2019, the Rangers were lucky enough to win the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft taking Kakko Kappo.
The Buffalo Sabres, who finished last in the regular-season standings, hold the best odds (16.6 percent) of winning the lottery. The Anaheim Ducks have the second-best odds (12.1 percent). The expansion Seattle Kraken, who begin play next season, has the third-best odds, equal to the New Jersey Devils, who finished with the third-worst record in the regular season.
The Kraken has the same lottery placement as the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of their first season in 2017-18 and is guaranteed to pick no lower than No. 5 in the first round.
The NHL announced on March 23 that two drawings will be held, to determine the top two picks in the draft. Since 2016, the first three selections had been determined by the lottery. The change was made to reduce the likelihood of the team with the worst record dropping in the draft order. That means the Sabres will pick no worse than No. 3 in the 2021 draft (via NHL.Com).
Top Prospects
Owen Power, a defenseman from the University of Michigan, is the top prospect in Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters. William Eklund, a left-wing from Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League, is ranked number one in Central Scouting’s final ranking of International skaters.
Odds to win the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery:
1. Buffalo Sabres, 16.6 percent
2. Anaheim Ducks, 12.1 percent
3. Seattle Kraken, 10.3 percent
4. New Jersey Devils, 10.3 percent
5. Columbus Blue Jackets, 8.5 percent
6. Detroit Red Wings, 7.6 percent
7. San Jose Sharks, 6.7 percent
8. Los Angeles Kings, 5.8 percent
9. Vancouver Canucks, 5.4 percent
10. Ottawa Senators, 4.5 percent
11. Arizona Coyotes, 3.1 percent
12. Chicago Blackhawks, 2.7 percent
13. Calgary Flames, 2.2 percent
14. Philadelphia Flyers, 1.8 percent
15. Dallas Stars, 1.4 percent
16. New York Rangers, 1.0 percent
(per NHL.com).