There is one NHL playoff game on the schedule tonight, as the Edmonton Oilers will host the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of their second round series.
After bouncing back from a game one loss with a convincing win on Saturday, the Oilers will be looking to take their first lead of the series at home this evening.
While that game is certainly important, fans of 11 non-playoff teams will be tuning into Sportsnet pregame with their focus on something entirely different.
That’s because we are just hours away from the NHL draft lottery, when hockey fans around the world will find out who will get the right to select a generational talent in Connor Bedard.
The Vancouver Canucks, who Bedard grew up cheering for during his childhood in North Vancouver, are one of those 11 teams.
Due to a late-season run of good form under new coach Rick Tocchet, the Canucks have the slimmest chance of the 11 clubs in the running for the first-overall pick, but it’s a chance nonetheless.
To put a number behind it, it’s a 3% chance. They also have a 3.2% chance of moving up to second overall in the draft, a pick that will likely be Michigan Wolverines standout Adam Fantilli.
The Anaheim Ducks have the best chance to get the first overall pick and boy did they earn it, losing 13 straight games to end the season in last place by a hair.
Anaheim edged out the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets by a single point and the San Jose Sharks by two points.
Those three teams will have the second-, third- and fourth-best odds respectively in today’s draft lottery.
The draft lottery will be broadcast on Sportsnet starting at 5 pm and we will know where Connor Bedard will almost certainly play next season by 5:30 pm.
Here are the lottery odds for all non-playoff teams, although only the bottom 11 in the standings have a chance to move up to first overall:
