The Buffalo Sabres stayed put in Monday’s NHL Draft Lottery, receiving the 13th overall pick.
The most interesting news, of course, was the Chicago Blackhawks, who had the third-highest odds at 11.5 percent, winning the lottery and the right to draft junior superstar Connor Bedard.
The Sabres, thanks to their 91-point finish this season – the fourth-highest total among non-playoff teams – weren’t eligible to win the first or second overall pick. A team can only move up 10 spots if it wins one of the draws for the first or second selection.
The Sabres have drafted 13th overall six times in franchise history, most recently when they picked forward Zack Kassian in 2009.
This year’s draft will be held June 28 and 29 in Nashville.
The complete lottery draft order:
1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. Anaheim Ducks
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. San Jose Sharks
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Arizona Coyotes
7. Philadelphia Flyers
8. Washington Capitals
9. Detroit Red Wings
10. St. Louis Blues
11. Arizona Coyotes (from the Ottawa Senators)
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
15. Nashville Predators
16. Calgary Flames
–
The Sabres on Monday assigned forward prospect Olivier Nadeau, 20, to the Rochester Americans. Nadeau’s junior season with the Gatineau Olympiques recently ended.
The Sabres drafted Nadeau in the fourth round in 2021, 97th overall.
