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A Toronto Maple Leafs Fan Guide to the NHL Draft Lottery

By Kyle Cushman

WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 24: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 24, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Jets 4-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 24: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs keeps an eye on the play during third period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 24, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Jets 4-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 03: Freddie Hamilton #13 of the Arizona Coyotes skates up ice against the Ottawa Senators at Gila River Arena on March 3, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 03: Freddie Hamilton #13 of the Arizona Coyotes skates up ice against the Ottawa Senators at Gila River Arena on March 3, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

11. Arizona (1.5% chance at first overall)

The best team to miss the playoffs in the Western Conference, the Arizona Coyotes were victim to some dreadful injury luck this season. While they were in the hunt until the final few days of the regular season, the Coyotes lack a true superstar that can propel them to the next level. They may hope that fifth overall pick Barrett Hayton can reach that level in the coming years, or that Clayton Keller takes another step, but adding Jack Hughes would be massive to the Coyotes future success.

10. Chicago (2.5% chance at first overall)

While the Blackhawks have fallen off from the days of their modern dynasty, Chicago seems poised to bounce back into contention in the near future. Jonathan Toews had a resurgence, Patrick Kane continues to produce, and Alex DeBrincat had a breakout campaign. Factor in an absolutely stacked prospect pool on the blueline featuring the likes of Adam Boqvist, Henri Jokiharju, Nicolas Beaudin, and Ian Mitchell, a Chicago victory at the draft lottery could propel them back into the conversation as one of the top teams in the West in just a couple of seasons.

9. Vancouver (5% chance at first overall)

Boasting Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Jack Hughes up front would be absolutely disgusting. That being said, a uniting of the two eldest Hughes brothers in Quinn and Jack would be a fantastic story and would make for some incredible hockey to watch. While the Canucks would become a terrifying team heading into the future, the human element of a new brother tandem in Vancouver makes me a little more comfortable with a Canucks victory in the draft lottery.

8. New Jersey (11.5% chance at first overall)

Any Eastern Conference team winning the lottery is worse for the Toronto Maple Leafs for obvious reasons. Hughes landing in the West simply means facing him less often. Of the potential Eastern destinations, New Jersey would be among the more favorable. Outside of Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall, the Devils lack true game breakers offensively. Add in Hall’s contract uncertainty past the 2019-20 season, and Jack Hughes becoming a New Jersey Devil would be the easiest pill to swallow if he does land in on an Eastern Conference team.

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