The next biggest day on the NHL calendar for non-playoff teams has been announced.
During Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, it was revealed that the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Saturday, April 30.
HNIC announces NHL draft lottery will be on April 30th. All Canadian NHL teams interested.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 20, 2016
This year’s lottery holds a lot of significance for a couple of reasons. Not only is Auston Matthews the top player and prize in this year’s NHL Draft, but the lottery will also decide the top three picks in the draft as opposed to just the first.
Almost every team involved in the running for the top pick this year has been decided. And, for the first time since 1979, every Canadian team in the league looks to be focused on the lottery this year rather than hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Other teams in a certain lottery position include Buffalo, Columbus, and the Arizona Coyotes, among others.
Last year saw the odds changed with the last place team having just a 20-percent chance of winning the first overall pick as opposed the the 25-percent that was had in previous years. This gives the teams that just barely missed the playoffs slightly better odds to grab the top pick. Full odds can be found below as well as the old odds.
| Non-Playoff Team (Fewest Pts. to Most) |
New Draft Lottery Odds | Odds Under Former Allocation |
| 1 | 20.0% | 25.0% |
| 2 | 13.5% | 18.8% |
| 3 | 11.5% | 14.2% |
| 4 | 9.5% | 10.7% |
| 5 | 8.5% | 8.1% |
| 6 | 7.5% | 6.2% |
| 7 | 6.5% | 4.7% |
| 8 | 6.0% | 3.6% |
| 9 | 5.0% | 2.7% |
| 10 | 3.5% | 2.1% |
| 11 | 3.0% | 1.5% |
| 12 | 2.5% | 1.1% |
| 13 | 2.0% | 0.8% |
| 14 | 1.0% | 0.5% |