TORONTO – The Buffalo Sabres will have one of the top three picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Thanks to their last-place finish, the Sabres have the highest odds – just 18.5 percent – for the first overall pick in tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery.
When the league announced the 15th through fourth picks before the San Jose Sharks/Vegas Golden Knights second-round playoff tilt, the Sabres weren’t among them. They couldn’t have fallen past the fourth pick.
The first three picks will be announced during the second intermission.
The Sabres, Montreal Canadiens (9.5 odds) and Carolina Hurricanes (3.0) are all alive for the opportunity to draft defenseman Rasmus Dahlin first overall.
The Sabres also had the highest odds for the top pick in 2014 and 2015.
In 2014, the Florida Panthers won and drafted defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Sabres selected winger Sam Reinhart second overall. In 2015, the Sabres, after a year of tanking, famously lost the lottery to the Edmonton Oilers, who won the right to draft center Connor McDavid. The Sabres drafted center Jack Eichel second.
Tired of prospects.
I enjoy your Sabres coverage.