No team is eyeing the NHL Draft Lottery with more anticipation than the Vancouver Canucks this year. With the best odds of landing the top pick, the Canucks are hoping for a change in their luck.
The NHL Draft Lottery is set for May 5, as reported by Frank Seravalli of Hockey 24/7, though the start time remains under wraps.
If Vancouver finishes last as expected, they’ll have a 43.7% chance of securing a top-two pick. Their odds for the first pick stand at 25.1%, while the second pick is at 18.6%.
The draft rules allow teams to drop a maximum of two spots, ensuring the last-place team picks no later than third.
The Canucks haven't held a top-three pick since they drafted Daniel and Henrik Sedin in 1999. Remarkably, Vancouver has never picked first overall in their 56-year history.
Gavin McKenna is widely anticipated to be the first overall pick, though Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg and Canadian defenseman Keaton Verhoeff are also strong contenders in the top three.
A lottery win would mark a first for the Canucks, who have a history of misfortune in the draft. From 2016 to 2019, they consistently dropped in the lottery despite having strong odds, picking lower than expected each year.
Back in 1970, the Canucks also lost a high-stakes lottery to the Buffalo Sabres, who selected future Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault.
For Vancouver, a stroke of luck this year could finally reverse their draft fortunes.