Draft lottery: the Canadian in the driver’s seat

Now guaranteed to finish at 32^and and last in the overall standings, the Montreal Canadiens still don’t have a hand on forward Shane Wright, but the odds are now in his favour.

• Read also: Despite a victory, the CH guaranteed to finish last in the NHL

• Read also: NHL: the last six Quebecers to have smashed the 100-point bar

By virtue of an overtime win by the Arizona Coyotes against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night, the Montreal team now has the best chance of obtaining the first draft pick in the lottery to be held on May 10. The Canadian is also guaranteed to select among the first three players.

The name of Wright, who plays with the Kingston Frontenacs, is on everyone’s lips. He has also totaled 94 points in 63 games this season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. On the other hand, other hopefuls remain interesting, including Logan Cooley, Matthew Savoie, Conor Geekie, Joakim Kemell and Juraj Slafkovsky, to name a few.

Supporters of the Canadian have the right to hope, but it is important to remember that the last 11 teams in the standings can still get the first choice, since a formation cannot climb more than 10 places, according to the new rules in force. The CH thus remains advantaged if the lottery were to first favor one of the five clubs unable to climb to the first rank of selection.

The date of May 10 is circled on the calendar, then will come July 7 and 8, days of the draft scheduled in Montreal.

Lottery for the first pick in the 2022 draft

• 32^and and last rank ………… – 18.5%
• 31^and rank …………………… – 13.5%
• 30^and rank …………………… – 11.5%
• 29^and rank …………………… – 9.5%
• 28^and rank …………………… – 8.5%
• 27^and rank …………………… – 7.5%
• 26^and rank …………………… – 6.5%
• 25^and rank …………………… – 6%
• Other teams ………… – 5% or less