If the Rangers lose to Carolina, they can win #1 pick Alexis Lafreniere
The NHL Draft Lottery has come and gone but it did so leaving a tremendous wake of misery to every team not in the Return to Play scenario. That’s because the #1 pick in the lottery went to a placeholder team. Yes, not the lowly Detroit Red Wings who will pick 4th, and not the woeful Senators who had two shots at it, but will pick 3rd and 5th.
The 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Results
Here is how the lottery balls came out. As you can see the 4th place Kings actually did well by getting pick two which will likely be Quinton Byfield.
So now let me make this as easy as possible to understand, and if you read our complete guide to the draft lottery for Rangers fans earlier, you already know the answer.
The only way the Rangers can get the #1 pick in the draft is if they lose to Carolina.
You see, the only scenario in which they could beat the Canes and get that first overall pick is if two placeholder teams won the lottery. Then the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs both lost in the qualifiers. Subsequently both Carolina and Toronto need to win those two picks in the Phase 2 Lottery and the Canes select first. Then the Rangers would get to select Alexis Lafreniere.
That’s because the Canes also hold Toronto’s pick but it’s top 10 protected, which would force Carolina to give up the #1 pick to the Rangers to complete the Brady Skjei deal. Dizzy? I know I am.
NHL Draft’s top prize, Alexis Lafreniere
Alexis Lafreniere, could be an amazing consolation prize if the Rangers lose to Carolina. At an early age, he seemed to excel and looked destined to be a top draft pick in the NHL. The kid has all the makings to be an elite player in the league and has been under the microscope for years. This is truly a win-win situation for the Blueshirts.
The team is going to get invaluable experience this summer, and if they lose could get a chance to draft a generational talent. Lafreniere has the skills to be exactly that and could be a Ranger to boot. The kid has the possibility to be the next Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid. He’s that good.
What a time to be a fan of the New York Rangers.
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