NHL Franchise Boys

In what has become an annual event, the NHLPA has yet again approved changes to the NHL Draft lottery odds. It marks the third season in a row that the odds have been modified. I didn’t realize Mr. Cortina had as much influence with the board of governors as he does with the Franchise Boys owners. That explains his frequent trips to Florida! 🙂

The percentage chance that a team is selected to pick first, second, or third, as expressed by the number of ping pong balls present in the lottery draw, is dependent on where they finish in the overall league standings. Changes to the odds first agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement began when the Edmonton Oilers had won yet another lottery in 2015 and would move up in the draft order to select their fourth first overall pick in a six year span. In response, the league significantly boosted the odds in 2016 toward the teams finishing last winning the lottery and the worst team in the NHL retained the top pick that year (Toronto Maple Leafs). Then the league and NHLPA again agreed to lessen the odds and insert more chance and excitement into the lottery which resulted in three teams outside the bottom four winning the lottery and moved into the top three draft slots, the biggest shift being the Philadelphia Flyers, who almost made the playoffs, picking second. Thus, the odds have yet again been increased for those toward the bottom. This yearly change in draft lottery odds is very responsive to the results of each prior lottery, but  the changes have the best interests of competitive balance in mind. I’m betting on Edmonton to get the first overall pick and the Habs to get second!