The Sabres could draft a defenseman like Cale Makar this year. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres will pick 8th in NHL Draft; Devils win lottery

The Buffalo Sabres fell two spots in Saturday’s NHL Draft Lottery and will pick eighth overall June 23 in Chicago.

The Sabres, thanks to finishing 26th overall, had the sixth-highest odds, 7.6 percent, for the No. 1 pick. They couldn’t move back more than three slots.

The New Jersey Devils, who had the fifth-highest odds for the top pick, 8.5 percent, won the lottery and will select first. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers, who owned the 13th-highest odds for the top selection, just 2.2 percent, vaulted up to the second spot.

The hapless Colorado Avalanche, who owned the greatest odds for the top pick at 18 percent, fell to the fourth spot.

The Sabres picked eighth last year (they selected winger Alexander Nylander) and second in 2014 and 2015, when they had the highest odds at the top pick.

The full selection list

1. New Jersey Devils

2. Philadelphia Flyers

3. Dallas Stars

4. Colorado Avalanche

5. Vancouver Canucks

6. Las Vegas Golden Knights

7. Arizona Coyotes

8. Buffalo Sabres

9. Detroit Red Wings

10. Florida Panthers

11. Los Angeles Kings

12. Carolina Hurricanes

13. Winnipeg Jets

14. Tampa Bay Lightning

15. New York Islanders

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