On Wednesday morning, the NHL announced the odds for the lottery that will precede the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which will be June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
NHL announces new odds for 2018 draft lottery. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/feHvrN2NHJ
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 28, 2018
The team with the worst record in the NHL — currently the Buffalo Sabres at 60 points — will have an 18.5 percent shot at the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, with the consensus suggesting that pick will be Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. It’s a five percent drop to the No. 2 position, and the odds decrease at lower rates from there.
Chicago is currently No. 7 with 72 points, giving it a 6.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall selection.
The Blackhawks had an 8.1-percent chance (the fifth-best odds) to win the lottery when they won in 2007 and drafted Patrick Kane.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 28, 2018
Three teams are just ahead (or behind, depending on your perspective) with 74 points: the Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders and New York Rangers. It’s a four-point gap between the Hawks and the No. 6 Montreal Canadiens at 68 points.
With only five games remaining, the Hawks don’t have a strong chance at moving up in the draft lottery rankings, but they could still get mixed in with that trio of teams that sits at 74 points.
The draft lottery will be April 28 in Toronto.