The NHL Draft Lottery is on tap for Wednesday night, setting up for a fun night of hockey. Tune in to the SYP NHL Draft Lottery Show Wednesday, which you can see on our YouTube channel. Indeed, SYP Creator Scott Konkin and I will be live to preview and give our instant reactions. Before that, here are my rankings on which teams need to win the most.
Desperate to win the NHL Draft Lottery
Buffalo Sabres
Of course, the Sabres should be desperate to get the first overall pick. Buffalo was awful in 2020-21 and I don’t see this team improving anytime soon. In fact, it makes a lot of sense for GM Kevyn Adams to trade forward Jack Eichel this offseason. What direction the Sabres decide to go in will be interesting, especially if they get the first overall pick.
Even if the Sabres wanted to trade the top pick, I’m not sure they could get much in return. The first overall pick has not been traded since 2003, when the Pittsburgh Penguins traded up to draft Marc-Andre Fleury for third overall, 55th overall, and Mikael Samuelsson. It’s a deal that still haunts the Florida Panthers (who traded the first overall pick) and Buffalo can not afford to make any more mistakes than they already have.
Deserving but Do Not Need to Win the NHL Draft Lottery
Seattle Kraken
One of these teams is not like the others. The Seattle Kraken do not need the first overall draft pick. Owners David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke have done a remarkable job with the Kraken franchise since getting team approval from the NHL in 2018. I trust GM Ron Francis to make the proper moves in constructing the roster, even without the top pick.
Detroit Red Wings
The same thing applies to GM Steve Yzerman with the Red Wings. Ask any Red Wings fan and they’ll tell you to trust the “Yzerplan”. Even if Detroit doesn’t draft first overall, which they haven’t since 1986, there’s no reason for fans to be concerned. Anyone within the top six makes sense for this team, putting Hockeytown in a great spot for the upcoming draft.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus doesn’t need first overall, they need an identity. With John Tortorella out as head coach and several big names needing new contracts, the Blue Jackets are going to be fascinating this offseason. Similar to the Sabres, I’m curious to see what direction GM Jarmo Kekalainen goes in. The Blue Jackets already have three first-round picks in this draft, albeit later in the round since they belong to Toronto and Tampa Bay, but they aren’t desperate for first overall.
Not Deserving and Do Not Need to Win NHL Draft Lottery
New Jersey Devils
The Devils don’t deserve the first overall pick. They drafted first overall in 2017 and 2019 while drafting three players in the first round last year. This is enough quality players, cap space, and prospects to be a contending team in the two to three seasons. If New Jersey somehow gets first overall, there’s going to be a lot of outrage from hockey fans.
Vancouver Canucks
Part of me wants Vancouver to win just for the chaos. The Canucks are a perfectly fine time with a good enough roster to make the playoffs. Winning the NHL Draft Lottery is not going to solve the issues Vancouver is facing so I wouldn’t count on them drafting first overall. Still, the chaos would be fantastic.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa is in a good spot right now. They have plenty of prospects for GM Pierre Dorion to build around and several current players they can rely on over the long term. At the same time, having a first overall pick would be nice to accelerate the rebuild. The Sens don’t need first overall and they don’t really deserve it, mostly because of owner Eugene Melnyk, as Ottawa looks to improve next season.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks won the 2007 NHL Draft Lottery and got Patrick Kane with the first overall pick. Three Stanley Cups later, I don’t see how you can say they are deserving of winning this year’s lottery. Otherwise, their roster is better than most teams in the lottery so Chicago doesn’t need to draft first overall.
Los Angeles Kings
I had difficulties deciding on where to put the Los Angeles Kings. They are in an exceptional spot in terms of prospects, cap space, and quality players on the team. The Kings don’t need to win this draft lottery and they don’t necessarily deserve to win it either. However, this team would love the chance to draft first overall, especially since it has not done so since 1967.
Not Deserving but “Need” to Win the NHL Draft Lottery
San Jose Sharks
This is the group of teams who need first overall so they can start rebuilding. The Sharks have some awful contracts on their roster (Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture come to mind) and need to get younger quickly. If they were to win the draft lottery (or at least finish second), this would be an easy way for the organization to commit to a rebuild.
Calgary Flames
This team should’ve started rebuilding in the last offseason. Instead, they signed Chris Tanev and Jacob Markstrom (both quality players) and were a middling team for most of 2020-21. Similar to Columbus, I don’t know what the identity of this team is. It feels like they try to be a skill, finesse team one night and then a power checking team the next night and they struggle at being both. If the Flames get first overall, that is the ultimate sign to tear it down and start over from scratch.
Anaheim Ducks
If there’s a team who should commit to the full rebuild, it’s the Anaheim Ducks. We saw this last season how well the kids played, including Max Comtois leading the team in points with 33. Throw in Sam Steel, Max Jones, Troy Terry, and Jamie Drysdale, and you’ve got yourself a contender three or four years down the line. Again, they don’t need to pick first overall. But with a top-five pick in sight once again, you know SYP Creator Scott Konkin is going to have his eyes on that top pick
Shouldn’t win the NHL Draft Lottery
Philadelphia Flyers
Dallas Stars
New York Rangers
Both the Flyers and Stars were in the playoffs in 2020 and the Rangers are sitting pretty for their first postseason appearance since 2017. None of these teams should be considered for the first overall pick. It is not a pressing need for Philly, Dallas, or New York so these teams will have low expectations coming into Wednesday night. Although, don’t be surprised if there’s outrage should the Rangers ping pong ball comes up once again.
Conclusion
Wednesday will be an awesome night. Likewise, be sure to watch our SYP NHL Draft Lottery show on our YouTube channel starting at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT as we give our live reactions and thoughts. You won’t want to miss it, especially if you root for any of the teams I just mentioned. And to sum up, trust the #Yzerman!