NHL Draft Lottery Results: Buffalo Sabres win first pick; Seattle Kraken move up to number two

Forever Blueshirts Updated: Jun 3, 2021

Oct 6, 2018; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) reacts before a game against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres will select first overall in the 2021 NHL draft after the ping pong ball bounced their way in Wednesday’s draft lottery.

The expansion Seattle Kraken, who will begin play in 2021-22, landed the No. 2 overall pick.

Under this year’s rules, all other draft positions for non-playoff teams were determined by regular-season record. This means the Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets round out the top five.

The New York Rangers who won the previous two lotteries came in at 15 overall.

Sabres win first pick of NHL Draft Lottery

Buffalo finished in the NHL’s cellar in 2020-21 with a 15-34-7 record (37 points), giving them the greatest odds to land the No. 1 pick at 16.6 percent.

“It’s a great moment for franchise,” Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams told NBCSN. “It’s obviously been a been a tough year for a lot of different reasons, and we’re here. We’re very excited. We’re proud to have this selection, and it’s a step in the right direction, and I got a text a couple of minutes ago from our owner saying ‘Smile,’ so now I can smile.”
NHL.com

It marks the Sabres’ second time picking first overall in four years. They made defenseman Rasmus Dahlin the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. Their roster also includes a pair of No. 2 overall selections, centers Jack Eichel (2015) and Sam Reinhart (2014).

University of Michigan defenseman Owen Power is considered the top prospect available in this year’s draft, which will be held July 23-24. Power is the No. 1-rated North American draft prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s current rankings.

"We're not going to rush a player and we're certainly not going to pick a player we think has the best chance to play right away. We want the player we think is going to be the best player in the long run. That's really a critical differentiate as we look at this draft." (2/2)
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) June 3, 2021

NHL draft lottery results:

1. Buffalo Sabres
2. Seattle Kraken
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. New Jersey Devils
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. San Jose Sharks
8. Los Angeles Kings
9. Vancouver Canucks
10. Ottawa Senators
11. Chicago Blackhawks
12. Calgary Flames
13. Philadelphia Flyers
14. Dallas Stars
15. New York Rangers

Also Read:
The New York Rangers don’t win NHL Lottery; stay at 15

–Field Level Media

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