Blackhawks win draft lottery, right to select Connor Bedard

The Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery on Monday night and with it, the right to select generational talent Connor Bedard No. 1 overall at the June 28 draft in Nashville.

The Blackhawks had finished 30th in the league this season and had 11.5% odds of winning the lottery. Only the bottom 11 teams had a chance of landing the top pick in the lottery.

Bedard, a high-scoring 17-year-old center for the Regina (Saskatchewan) Pats, is considered the NHL’s top prospect since the Edmonton Oilers selected Connor McDavid No. 1 overall in the 2015 draft. Bedard had led NHL Central Scouting’s North American skater rankings all season.

The Anaheim Ducks won the second draft drawing and the Columbus Blue Jackets dropped to third place. University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli, who won the Hobey Baker Award, is expected to be drafted No. 2 overall.

The Blackhawks had pared down in a rebuild that gave them better odds in the lottery. They parted ways with Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik in the offseason and Patrick Kane, Max Domi, Jake McCabe and others before the trade deadline.

The announcement of the draft order followed the NHL standings until the Blue Jackets were announced at No. 3, meaning Anaheim or Chicago were the winners. It was the Blackhawks, who moved up two spots as Edmonton had done in 2015 before drafting McDavid.

Why is Connor Bedard a generational talent?

Connor Bedard, a 5-10, 185 Canadian, has an elite shot and led the WHL this season with 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games, plus had 20 points in seven games in the Pats’ first-round playoff loss. He won a gold medal and was named world junior championships MVP after setting a Team Canada record with nine goals and 23 points in seven games.

“Connor Bedard is one of those unique, elite talents who belongs in the same category as other generational talents before him such as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby,” said Dan Marr, vice president of Central Scouting. “He has been in the spotlight for the past three years and during that time he has risen to impact and impress on every occasion while often being the youngest member of the team.”

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What is the draft order for the first round?

1. Chicago Blackhawks

2. Anaheim Ducks

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

4. San Jose Sharks

5. Montreal Canadiens

6. Arizona Coyotes

7. Philadelphia Flyers

8. Washington Capitals

9. Detroit Red Wings

10. St. Louis Blues

11. Vancouver Canucks

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)

13. Buffalo Sabres

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Nashville Predators

16. Calgary Flames

What were the odds going into the draft lottery?

1. Anaheim Ducks – 23-47-12,  58 points. Odds: 25.5%*

2. Columbus Blue Jackets – 25-48-9,  59. Odds: 13.5%

3. Chicago Blackhawks – 26-49-7,  59. Odds: 11.5%

4. San Jose Sharks – 22-44-16,  60. Odds: 9.5%

5. Montreal Canadiens – 31-45-6, 68. Odds: 8.5%

6. Arizona Coyotes – 28-40-14, 70. Odds: 7.5%

7. Philadelphia Flyers – 31-38-13, 75. Odds: 6.5%

8. Washington Capitals – 35-37-10, 80. Odds: 6.0%

9. Detroit Red Wings – 35-37-10, 80. Odds: 5.0%

10. St. Louis Blues – 37-38-7, 81. Odds: 3.5%

11. Vancouver Canucks – 38-37-7, 83. Odds: 3.0%

12. Ottawa Senators – 39-35-8, 86. Odds: 2.5%**

13. Buffalo Sabres – 42-25-7, 91. Odds: 2.0%.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins – 40-31-11, 92. Odds: 1.5%.

15. Nashville Predators – 42-32-8, 92. Odds: 0.5%.

16. Calgary Flames – 38-27-17, 93. Odds: 0.5%

*-The Ducks had an 18.5% chance of winning outright, plus would hang onto the pick if a team in the 12 to 16 range won.

**-The Senators dealt the pick to Arizona in the Jakob Chychrun trade, but it was top-5 protected. Because the Senators didn’t win either drawing, the Coyotes get the pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connor Bedard: NHL draft lottery won by Chicago Blackhawks