Sabres lead way as NHL finalizes 2021 draft lottery odds

With the NHL’s unique 56-game regular season now concluded the teams outside the playoffs can turn their attention to the NHL Draft. But before that, the 2021 draft lottery will decide where teams pick in the first round.

The NHL announced the draft lottery odds for all 16 teams outside the post-season with the Buffalo Sabres holding the best odds to pick first overall at 16.6 per cent.

Below is the complete odds list for non-playoff teams:

1. Buffalo Sabres: 16.6%
2. Anaheim Ducks: 12.1%
3. Seattle Kraken: 10.3%
4. New Jersey Devils: 10.3%
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: 8.5%
6. Detroit Red Wings: 7.6%
7. San Jose Sharks: 6.7%
8. Los Angeles Kings: 5.8%
9. Vancouver Canucks: 5.4%
10. Ottawa Senators: 4.5%
11. Arizona Coyotes: 3.1%
12. Chicago Blackhawks: 2.7%
13. Calgary Flames: 2.2%
14. Philadelphia Flyers: 1.8%
15. Dallas Stars: 1.4%
16. New York Rangers: 1.0%

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will be different than in past years in a number of ways.

First, the NHL reduced the number of winning teams to two instead of three, meaning the Sabres can’t drop below third overall. Secondly, with the expansion Seattle Kraken entering the league next season, the team has been given the third-best odds to win the first overall pick, tied with the New Jersey Devils. The Kraken’s first draft pick in team history will be no lower than fifth overall.

Finally, the Arizona Coyotes will forfeit their first-round pick in the 2021 draft as part of their punishment for illegal prospect testing. As a result, if the Coyotes win the draft lottery a re-draft will be held.

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on June 2 at the NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J. The 2021 NHL Draft will then be held virtually on July 23 and 24.

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