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2018 NHL Draft Lottery: 5 Winners And Losers

By Dave Stevenson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly poses with Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill after the Buffalo Sabres won the first overall pick during the NHL Draft Lottery at the CBC Studios on April 28, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly poses with Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill after the Buffalo Sabres won the first overall pick during the NHL Draft Lottery at the CBC Studios on April 28, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images /

Loser: Arizona Coyotes

Goodness gracious, what did the Arizona Coyotes do to warrant not getting a top-three lottery pick? Since the start of the 21st century, they’ve only had two top three picks – Dylan Strome and Kyle Turris. The Coyotes were on pace to finish with the best lottery odds. Unfortunately, they did too well after their historically awful start.

A bad team starts winning and hurts their chances of getting a top three pick. Doesn’t this seem backwards? Well, it should. The Gold Drafting method, first proposed several years ago, would reward a team like the Coyotes. Teams who still fight for points after being eliminated should be rewarded, not hurt.

Unfortunately, because of a really bad lottery system that encourages teams to tank hard and tank often, the Coyotes won’t have a top three pick. Even though, frankly, they deserve one for ending the season on such a positive note.

Winner: Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens moved up to get the third overall pick. This is perfect for them, because they’re going to get a darn good player. And the Canadiens will have options too. Do they go with Svechinkov or Zadina? Montreal could sure use a skilled forward. Even though neither of the two likely top three draft picks are centers. But Brady Tkachuk is one and he’s not too far behind those two.

However, suppose the Canadiens want to add a blueliner. That’s great, this is a deep draft for them. If the Canadiens love Adam Boqvist, they could grab him with the third overall pick and it would be a justifiable stretch. But maybe Montreal loves someone else. They could trade down and get even more draft picks. Because trust me, if the Canadiens are interested in shopping the third overall pick, they won’t have a shortage of suitors.

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