As this disappointing season winds down, the Seattle Kraken organization can look towards the NHL Draft Lottery with a decent level of anticipation. With its recent poor play the club has increased its odds of landing one of the top-two overall picks.
The team has slipped to having the fifth worst point total in the NHL. If that holds up, they’ll have an 8.5% chance at landing one of the top two picks. The lottery only applies to selections one and two. After that, teams are stacked in inverse order of finish.
They’re not alone in the opportunity. As many as 11 teams can win the first overall pick. A ten position jump is the limit.
As it stands, the league-worst Vancouver Canucks have the best lottery odds at 18.5%. They’ve already ‘clinched’ that position, for lack of a better term.
The Kraken could slide up or down. With 77 points as of Friday morning, they’re just one point behind three other NHL clubs. Hopping over all of them, would mean having their odds drop to 5.0% by being in the ninth worst position.
That’s unlikely, but one never knows. Seattle has four games remaining, as does the team just ahead of them in the west, the Blues.
St. Louis has 78 points, as do the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers in the east.
Losing games wouldn’t be upsetting at this point. Seattle plays the non-playoff Calgary Flames on the weekend and then wraps up against three playoff teams in the LA Kings (they’re not in yet, but they will be), the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche. At this point the Kings will be motivated by finalizing a spot, while Vegas remains in a battle for 1st place in the Pacific.
The Avalanche will potentially rest players for the season finale having already wrapped up the President’s Trophy with the most points in the league.
The draft lottery is May 5th.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Deal Golden Knights A 4-3 S.O. Setback
