Tonight is the night we’ve all been waiting for. The NHL will perform its lottery to determine who will get the 1st overall pick.
There are 15 teams who are in the lottery tonight, so here is a look at the teams, and odds they have.
Odds at picking 1st overall
| TEAMS | ODDS (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 18.5 |
| Ottawa Senators | 13.5 |
| Arizona Coyotes | 11.5 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 9.5 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 8.5 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 7.5 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 6.5 |
| New York Rangers | 6 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 5 |
| New York Islanders | 3.5 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 3 |
| New York Islanders (pick acquired from Calgary) | 2.5 |
| Dallas Stars | 2 |
| St. Louis Blues | 1.5 |
| Florida Panthers | 1 |
How to watch (there’s no good way of watching)
Picks 4-15 will be announced at a normal time; 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, CBC, TVAS. The top three selections will be revealed during the second intermission of the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights game. Yeah, it’s ridiculous. The NHL is desperate.
How does it work?
The NHL draws lottery balls to determine who picks where. That process won’t be on television. They’ll just show us big cards with team logos on it in an overdramatic fashion. It’s going to be real exciting.
What to do when the Red Wings win the lottery
Scream, jump through a wall, etc.
What to do when the Red Wings (inevitably) lose the lottery
Just go on with your Saturday night. Enjoy your favorite toilet wine, or soda. Whichever. It’s completely up to you. I’m sure Rasmus Dahlin will do well in Edmonton.
If you’d like to busy yourself and test the odds, I suggest checking out some of the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery Simulators! It’s a great way to burn a bunch of time, if you have it… Which, if you’re reading this right now, you probably do! Enjoy!
