The LA Kings finished with the 2nd worst record in the NHL this year, (Ottawa Senators were the worst). Yesterday the NHL had the ‘draft lottery’ where they selected who was going to get the #1 overall pick.
The following is a list of the odds to win the #1 pick, and the odds to NOT get a top 5 pick.
Chicago had a 92% chance of NOT getting a top 5 pick, and NY Rangers had a 77% chance of getting a top 6 pick, and they pick #3 and #2.
In the “old” days, there used to be a bingo ball thingy, and they picked in the reverse order, and it was “out there for all to see”. They way they do it now, Bill Daly, the Deputy Commissioner of the NHL comes out with a stack of envelopes, already with the worst to first pick. It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth that it doesn’t look “above board”.
A top 5 pick is still great, heck Kopitar was #11 pick, Brown a #13 pick, and Luc Robitaille, the Kings president and hall of fame left winger, was picked in the 9th round, and they don’t even have a 9th round anymore. So many 1st round picks don’t even play in the NHL, but having the chance to get a “Crosby/Gretzky” like player in Jack Hughes or Kappo Kakko, the Finish born player