2021 NHL Draft Lottery recap

 I am doing to do a recap of the Draft Lottery tonight


The Draft Lottery takes all 15 teams who missed the playoffs (and also the expansion Seattle Kraken) to see who gets the top spot in the NHL Entry Draft on July 23.


A couple Notes 

The Arizona Coyotes forfeited their first round pick this year because as discipline for scouting violations so their are only 15 teams in this years lottery. 


The Seattle Kraken had the third best odds to win the draft lottery because they are an expansion team (Vegas also had the third best odds when they were a expansion team four years ago).


Here is what happened tonight 

1 Buffalo Sabres 

2 up 1 Seattle Kraken

3 down 1 Anaheim Ducks 

4 New Jersey

5 Columbus Blue Jackets

6 Detroit Red Wings

7 San Jose Sharks 

8 Los Angeles Kings 

9 Ottawa Senators 

10 Vancouver Canucks 

11 Chicago Blackhawks 

12 Calgary Flames 

13 Philadelphia Flyers

14 Dallas Stars 

15 New York Rangers 



The only movement in the Draft Lottery was between the second and third teams as Seattle leapfrogged Anaheim to go from 3RD to 2ND while Anaheim dropped from 2ND to 3RD.



The NHL changed the Draft Lottery as only the top two picks are determined in the Draft Lottery after 2016-2020 Draft Lottery’s had the top three picks determined by the Draft Lottery.



The Sabres are getting the first overall pick for the second time in the last four years as they also picked first in 2018 when they took Rasmus Dahlin. 



The Kraken get luckier than Golden Knights as they get the 2nd overall pick (while the Golden Knights went from 3 to 6 when they were a expansion team) and Seattle can pick a player who can automatically contribute for them.



There is no front runner for top prospect this year because most of the junior leagues were shortened season or postponed due to the pandemic but a lot of people are saying promising young defensemen Owen Power is the best bet for top pick and would make Buffalo’s back end that much better especially with Rasmus Dahlin there too.

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