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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 Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images
Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images /

Winner: Buffalo Sabres

For so long, the Buffalo Sabres have been treated unjustly by the draft lottery. They’ve been bad for many years and only have Jack Eichel to show for it. But now the Sabres, thanks to getting the top pick, will have Rasmus Dahlin.

No team in the league needed him more than Buffalo. Once he’s drafted, Dahlin will immediately be the Sabres best overall defenseman. Acquiring the top pick also gives Buffalo some flexibility, as they could trade Rasmus Ristolainen should they decide to shake up their failing roster a bit.

The Sabres rebuild still has a long way to go. And this front office has to use their draft picks more wisely than the previous regime did. But being able to draft Dahlin is a huge gain for the Sabres. That should help jumpstart their rebuild. Buffalo now has a core of guys you can build a team around – Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, and Dahlin.

Loser: Ottawa Senators

Two franchises, both alike in mediocrity. The Ottawa Senators finished with the second-worst record in the NHL, giving them the second-best chances of getting the top pick. However, they’ll be drafting fourth. And while the Senators will surely be able to get a great player there, it won’t be the game-changing talent they need.

Next: Every NHL Team's Mount Rushmore

Dahlin could have served as an immediate replacement for Erik Karlsson. Or, if the Senators signed their captain to an extension, they could have formed an impressive duo. Instead, Ottawa will be stuck with someone like Adam Boqvist, Oliver Wahlstrom, or Brady Tkachuk.

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