Jack Hughes could go first overall June 21. ©2019, Hickling Images

Devils thrilled to win NHL Draft Lottery; Sabres to pick seventh

TORONTO – After winning Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery, Ray Shero wouldn’t confirm the New Jersey Devils plan to select center Jack Hughes first overall.

Like most NHL general managers, he probably wants to respect the work his scouts have put in and leave a little suspense.

But the Devils, who own the first pick for the second time in three years, will almost certainly draft Hughes come June 21 in Vancouver.

Hughes, who has spent the last two seasons playing with Team USA’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team, is the No. 1 North American skater for the 2019 NHL Draft, according to Central Scouting.

“I’m not prepared to say,” Shero said inside the CBC building. “To me, this happened so quickly. I’m cognizant there’s other great, young players that are there. I don’t think it’s fair for me to say that.”

The Devils had the third-highest odds, 11.5 percent, for the top pick.

The Buffalo Sabres, who had the fifth-highest odds for the top selection, 8.5 percent, will pick seventh. The Sabres, of course, won last year’s lottery and drafted defenseman Rasmus Dahlin first overall.

Following a breakout campaign in which they earned their first playoff berth in six years, the New Jersey Devils dropped 25 points in the standings this season.

But suddenly, the Devils have become one of the NHL’s most intriguing teams. They picked center Nico Hischier first overall in 2017. They also have winger Taylor Hall, the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner.

The 5-foot-10, 186-pound Hughes, 17, scored 23 goals and 86 points in 41 games this season captaining the NTDP.

“My biggest things are my inner drive, my competitiveness,” Hughes said before the lottery. “I want to score, I want to score every shift and make a play happen. But I mean, obviously, I’m a smaller, skilled, speed player. I translate really well.

“I like to say I play like (Chicago Blackhawks winger) Patrick Kane a little bit, but I feel I’m more of a (New York Islanders center) Mat Barzal in how I carve through the neutral zone, lug the puck, and find my teammates. I feel that’s more my game.”

Hughes’ brother, Quinn, is a defenseman the Vancouver Canucks drafted eighth overall in 2018.

The Chicago Blackhawks, who had just a 2.5 percent chance for the top pick, made the biggest jump, moving up to third. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers, who had 7.5 percent odds, jumped to second.

The Sabres last picked seventh in 1996, when they grabbed center Erik Rasmussen out of the University of Minnesota.

The full draft order from the lottery:

1. New Jersey Devils

2. New York Rangers

3. Chicago Blackhawks

4. Colorado Avalanche

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. Detroit Red Wings

7. Buffalo Sabres

8. Edmonton Oilers

9. Anaheim Ducks

10. Vancouver Canucks

11. Philadelphia Flyers

12. Minnesota Wild

13. Florida Panthers

14. Arizona Coyotes

15. Montreal Canadiens

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