Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel? Arizona Coyotes’ lottery odds broken down
Apr 13, 2015, 8:22 PM | Updated: 8:22 pm
The Arizona Coyotes wrapped up a rough season Saturday, finishing the campaign with the second-worst record in the league. For them, it’s already time to move on, and Saturday’s NHL draft lottery on could mark the beginning of a new era.
The Coyotes have a 13.5 percent chance to win the lottery and earn the top pick. With top prospects Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel expected to be picked one and two, respectively, the ‘Yotes could use some luck now more than ever.
Unfortunately, Arizona has a much better chance at moving down a spot rather than moving up and winning the lottery. They have a 20 percent chance at staying put and keeping the second overall pick, with their odds of dropping down to No. 3 sitting at 66.5 percent.
Buffalo, who finished with the worst record in the league, has the best odds of winning the lottery, at 20 percent, but recent history doesn’t bode well for them as the worst team in the NHL hasn’t won the lottery since 2010. In fact, the last three lottery winners finished the regular season with the second-worst record, which bodes well for the Coyotes.
Thanks to the NHL’s draft lottery rules, no team can fall more than a selection away from how they finished the year in the standings. So, the Coyotes will be in the top three no matter what happens in the lottery.
The NHL draft lottery will be on Saturday at 5 p.m. Arizona time.
