Tonight’s 2020 NHL Draft Lottery has come and gone. A placeholder team has emerged as the lucky winners of this year’s first overall pick. As NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly announced, The Detroit Red Wings were tonight’s biggest losers, as they slipped from #1 to #4 overall, missing out on a top-three pick. The Los Angeles Kings moved up into a top-three spot as they look to accelerate their rebuild.
Placeholder Team Gets First Overall Pick
An unknown team will be picking first overall this draft, and a second draft lottery will have to be held at the conclusion of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here is the draft order as it currently stands:
1.) Placeholder Team
2.) Los Angeles Kings
3.) Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks)
4.) Detroit Red Wings
5.) Ottawa Senators
6.) Anaheim Ducks
7.) New Jersey Devils
8.) Buffalo Sabres
9.) TBD
10.) TBD
11.) TBD
12.) TBD
13.) TBD
14.) TBD
15.) TBD
This year’s presumptive first overall pick is Alexis Lafreniere. The left-wing from the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic has turned heads for the past few seasons, as he looks to be one of the NHL’s next elite talents.
Other top forwards in the draft include centre Quinton Byfield from the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Tim Stutzle from the DEL’s Adler Mannheim. They’re both projected to be top-three picks as well. The best defence prospect heading into the draft is Jamie Drysdale, a right-shot force from the Erie Otters, also in the OHL. The top-ranked goalie is Yaroslav Askarov, a Russian netminder who put up a stellar performance at this past year’s World Junior Championships. You can check out the rest of our prospect rankings over at our Top Shelf Prospects Draft Headquarters page.
The 2020 NHL Draft will be held in a virtual format after the conclusion of the delayed 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
