The previous winners of the NHL Draft Lottery from the past 20 years
The 2023 NHL Draft Lottery is almost here. Which makes now the best time to look back at some of the previous winners of the lottery and how it has impacted their franchise.
Each year, the NHL Draft Lottery gives one team the chance to draft a real difference maker to alter the course of their franchise. While there have been some draft classes with more talent than others, landing the number one overall pick does give one team the chance to pick from the best of the best.
The previous winners of the NHL Draft Lottery from the past 20 years
2022: Montreal Canadiens select Juraj Slafkovsky.
The Canadiens had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2021: Buffalo Sabres select Owen Power.
The Sabres had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2020: New York Rangers select Alex Lafreniere.
The Detroit Red Wings had the best odds at drafting first overall, New York moved up from the 14th spot.
2019: The New Jersey Devils select Jack Hughes.
The Ottawa Senators’ draft pick had the best odds at drafting first overall, but their pick was owned by the Colorado Avalanche. New Jersey moved up from third.
2018: The Buffalo Sabres select Rasmus Dahlin.
The Sabres had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2017: The New Jersey Devils select Nico Hischier.
The Avalanche had the best odds at drafting first overall. New Jersey moved up from fifth.
2016: The Toronto Maple Leafs select Auston Matthews.
The Maple Leafs had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2015: The Edmonton Oilers select Connor McDavid.
The Sabres had the best odds at drafting first overall, Edmonton moved up from third.
2014: The Florida Panthers select Aaron Ekblad.
The Sabres had the best odds at drafting first overall, Florida moved up from second place.
2013: The Colorado Avalanche select Nathan MacKinnon.
The Panthers had the best odds at drafting first overall, Colorado moved up from second place.
2012: The Edmonton Oilers select Nail Yakupov.
The Columbus Blue Jackets had the best odds at drafting first overall, Edmonton moved up from second place.
2011: The Edmonton Oilers select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The Devils won the lottery but were only able to move up from the eighth spot to the fourth spot.
2010: The Edmonton Oilers select Taylor Hall.
The Oilers had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2009: The New York Islanders select John Tavares.
The Islanders had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2008: The Tampa Bay Lightning select Steven Stamkos.
The Lightning had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2007: The Chicago Blackhawks select Patrick Kane.
The Philadelphia Flyers had the best odds at drafting first overall, Chicago moved up from fifth.
2006: The St. Louis Blues select Erik Johnson.
The Blues had the best odds at drafting first overall.
2005: The Pittsburgh Penguins select Sidney Crosby.
The Penguins, Blue Jackets, Sabres and Rangers had the best odds at drafting first overall, due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, this was a weird draft lottery system.
2004: The Washington Capitals select Alexander Ovechkin.
The Penguins had the best odds at drafting first overall, Washington moved up from third place.
2003: The Pittsburgh Penguins select Marc-Andre Fleury.
The Hurricanes had the best odds at drafting first overall, Pittsburgh moved up from fourth place with the Florida Panthers draft pick they acquired in a trade.
This is considered to be another really good draft class coming up in 2023. The winner of this lottery will definitely have a lot to look forward to, as will the team who gets the second overall pick.