The 2022-23 regular season has wrapped up and the NHL Draft Lottery odds, aka the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, have been determined. The Anaheim Ducks have secured the best chance at the number one overall pick this summer. When it comes to the odds, it’s been a chaotic last couple of days for the rights to the top spot as teams have swapped positions several times as the season came to a close. On May 8th, the NHL Draft Lottery will commence and we’ll get to see which team comes out on top for the coveted top overall selection.
2023 NHL Draft Lottery Odds
1. Anaheim Ducks (18.5%)
The Anaheim Ducks finished the regular season on a 13-game losing streak, including a loss against the Kings in game 82 to secure the best odds to win the NHL Draft Lottery. They tallied a league-worst 58 points with a record of 23-47-12 that led to the firing of head coach Dallas Eakins. Now the Ducks will go into the draft with hopes of having the number one overall pick to select Connor Bedard, who would be surrounded by a young talented core of Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Mason Mctavish. Even if they don’t wind up with the first overall selection, they are still in pretty good shape for the future with whoever they bring in.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets (13.5%)
The last couple of days for the Columbus Blue Jackets has been up and down, to say the least. Usually wins would be celebrated but that wasn’t the case this past Thursday when they beat the Penguins in overtime, causing them to drop from the best odds to win the NHL Draft Lottery to the third-best odds. They turned around the next day and lost their final regular season game to the Sabres, jumping them up to the second-best odds. The Blue Jackets are looked at as probably the most likely team to turn things around the quickest, having the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, and Boone Jenner to surround their future draft pick.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (11.5%)
Not including the shortened season in 2020-21, the Chicago Blackhawks finished this campaign with 59 points (26-49-7), their worst since the 2003-04 season when they also finished with 59 points. Players have come and gone over the past few seasons that meant a lot to the city of Chicago but a chapter officially came to a close this season. Not only did the Blackhawks trade Patrick Kane but they also announced that they won’t bring back Jonathan Toews, two icons to the organization that led them to three Stanley Cups. Now they shift focus to one of the most important drafts in recent memory and try to recreate magic yet again.
4. San Jose Sharks (9.5%)
For the fourth consecutive season, the San Jose Sharks will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This resulted from a 60-point, 22-44-16 season that now has them placed fourth in the odds in the NHL Draft Lottery. Down the stretch, they went 3-11 in March and had a six-game losing streak to end the season. There were many low points but they remained in the spotlight because of one man, Erik Karlsson. In all 82 games, he ended the season with 101 points, becoming the first defenseman to hit 100 points since 1992. The Sharks have some good talent on this roster and whatever pick they end up getting, they have to feel good about the future.
5. Montreal Canadiens (8.5%)
To round out the top five is the Montreal Canadiens, who finished the season with 68 points. This was Martin St. Louis‘ first full season as head coach after taking over as interim last year and eventually being named the head coach in June. While things are still trying to be put together in Montreal, St. Louis has a bright future ahead of him and showed he is capable of leading the charge. He has the building blocks to do so with young talents like Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, and Cole Caufield. Now add a top selection in a deep draft and St. Louis could be one step closer to restoring a historic franchise back to their winning ways.
Next Best Odds (6-16)
6. Arizona Coyotes (7.5%)
7. Philadelphia Flyers (6.5%)
8. Washington Capitals (6.0%)
9. Detroit Red Wings (5.0%)
10. St. Louis Blues (3.5%)
11. Vancouver Canucks (3.0%)
12. *Ottawa Senators (2.5%)**
13. *Buffalo Sabres (2.0%)
14. *Pittsburgh Penguins (1.5%)
15. *Nashville Predators (0.5%)
16. *Calgary Flames (0.5%)
*Ineligible to win NHL Draft Lottery as teams can only move up 10 spots
**Ottawa’s pick goes to Arizona if it’s not in the top five
Main Image: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
