The 2020 NHL Draft Concludes Tonight

NHL Draft Lottery 2020: Phase 2

The NHL Network Studios, Secaucus NJ

TV: Sportsnet

4 PM MST / 6 PM EST

OUR TIME

I’ve bellyached about the Oilers failing to advance past the play-in series versus Chicago. Today, that is set aside for more important priorities. Those priorities? Doing what we do well. I’m talking about the draft lottery.

Tonight is the time to shine. Our time.

Edmonton (along with seven other teams that failed to advance in the play-in series) will each have a 12.5% chance at winning the number one overall pick during the NHL’s Phase 2 Selection Process.

You’ll recall how we got here.

Chaos ruled supreme. A placeholder team will win the first overall pick. Eight teams will have a 12.5% chance of winning the right to draft consensus first round pick Alexis Lafreniere.
Who could the placeholder be?

Edmonton
Toronto
Pittsburgh
Florida
Minnesota
Nashville
Winnipeg
NY Rangers

For the Oilers, it would be their fifth first overall selection since drafting Taylor Hall in 2010. The NHL would absolutely hate that, but we are here for it. It would be an immediate shot in the arm for a roster badly needing a winger who could compliment Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins seems to be doing just fine alongside Connor McDavid.

I don’t think anyone would mind strapping Lafreniere onto the second line and letting the good time roll in.

We’ll know more shortly after 4.