A crazy night of drama unfolded tonight as the number 1 pick is still available.
We all knew this could happen, we all knew there could be a potential for a Phase 2 of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery. But we didn’t predict it happening.
After months of no action, the NHL took the sports world over tonight with Phase 1 of the NHL Draft lottery. The rules were simple. There were seven non-playoff teams and eight placeholders for the potential losers of the play in who didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
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The odds had Detroit and Ottawa as the favorites to land number one pick and the coveted Alexis Lafrenière. Detroit had an 18.5% chance while Ottawa had two picks in the top 10 thanks to the Erik Karlsson deal.
Even before the lottery began, we had Bill Daly mention that the fact he was holding eight place cards, which meant that a team in the play-in series still had a chance at the number one pick. We knew it was going to happen but we didn’t know at what number it would come out.
We started at the bottom with Buffalo, New Jersey, and Anaheim winning the 8,7, and 6 picks respectively. Then the craziness began as Ottawa’s first pick was at five and Detroit for being the worst team in the league got drawn at four.
There is probably no fan base more upset right now then the Detroit faithful. Ottawa would once again be picked at 3, LA at 2 and somehow out of nowhere the number 1 pick is a placeholder.
That means phase 2 will finally decide where the young Rimouski native Alexis Lafrenière lands. I’m pretty sure with all the delays due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, he probably felt tonight was the night but I guess he will have to wait a few more months.
Just a footnote Elliot Freidman did confirm however if the NHL is not able to resume play the other 8 spots will have an equal chance. The night proved to be dramatic for the first NHL event to be televised since March. Let’s hope this is another step forward towards a resumption in play.