Livescore
The 2023 trade deadline has come and gone.
While for a majority of the league, the focus remains on getting to the playoffs and lifting the Stanley Cup, other clubs have something else in mind, or rather someone: Connor Bedard.
Given the strategies we saw unfold from certain clubs at the deadline, fans have a good idea of who is still in the playoff hunt and who is out. The usual suspects like the Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Ducks and Coyotes sold at the deadline, continuing their trend of finishing at the bottom.
However, we also saw a couple of other teams pivot to the Bedard sweepstakes. The Blues traded two stars in Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly, waiving the white flag on this season. The Capitals did the same, moving Dmitry Orlov, Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway after the team skidded out of a playoff spot.
With all the movement at the deadline, some teams are now in a better position to finish lower in the standings, and as a result, increase the chances at landing the talented Canadian forward.
MORE: Full list of deals completed ahead of the NHL trade deadline
Here are the latest odds and chances for teams to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
Who has the best odds at drafting Connor Bedard?
After the deadline, the Blackhawks have positioned themselves as the favorite to land Bedard. According to Sports Interaction, Chicago’s odds sit at +378, with the Ducks and Blue Jackets very closely behind.
Here are the rest of the odds for the team’s in position to potentially land the No. 1 pick in the draft.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | +378 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +397 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +401 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +487 |
| San Jose Sharks | +515 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +529 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +600 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +664 |
| St. Louis Blues | +800 |
| Washington Capitals | +1300 |
| Ottawa Senators | +1800 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +1900 |
Who has the highest chance at getting the No. 1 pick?
While teams may be tanking to finish as low in the standings as possible, it’s not as simple as finishing in last to get the No. 1 pick.
The NHL uses a draft lottery system to determine who gets the first selection on draft day. A club’s final position in the standings correlates to a certain percentage that it has to land the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery.
Here are those chances, based on where teams currently sit in the standings as of March 4, according to Tankathon.
| Team | Chance at No. 1 pick |
|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 25% |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 13.5% |
| San Jose Sharks | 11.5% |
| Anaheim Ducks | 9.5% |
| Arizona Coyotes | 8.5% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 7.5% |
| Montreal Canadiens | 6.5% |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 6% |
| St. Louis Blues | 5% |
| Washington Capitals | 3.5% |
| Florida Panthers | 3% |
When is the 2023 NHL Draft lottery?
There is no specific date set for the 2023 NHL Draft lottery, which determines the order of the first 16 picks in the draft. It will occur at some point after the conclusion of the regular season, which is not until Friday, April 14.
There are two lottery balls drawn at the event — one for the No. 1 pick, and one for the No. 2 pick. Teams cannot move up higher than 10 spots in the draft lottery.
When is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Day 1 date: Wednesday, June 28
- Day 2 date: Thursday, June 29
The 2023 NHL Draft will span two days. The first round will take place Wednesday, June 28, with representatives from all 32 teams in Nashville.
On Thursday, June 29, the picks in Rounds 2-7 will be made.
Where is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena
- City: Nashville, Tenn.
Bridgestone Arena, home of the Predators, will be the location of the 2023 NHL Draft.
This is the second time that Nashville will host a draft. The city was the site of the 2003 draft.
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