*** 2008 NHL Draft Lottery Thread ***

[Wolvie]

The "Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery Special" is live tonight at 5:00 pm PT on TSN, Versus, and the NHL Network. The ping pong balls will be televised from New York.

Bob McKenzie will provide his top 10 prospect list and Mike Milbury will be providing analysis before and after the lottery. James Duthie will host the 30 minute show.

Steven Stamkos will join the "Stamkos Sweepstakes" live via satellite.



Here is the pre-lottery order, with odds of winning the lottery in paretheses:

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (25.0%)
2. Los Angeles Kings (18.8%)
3. Atlanta Thrashers (14.2%)
4. St. Louis Blues (10.7%)
5. New York Islanders (8.1%)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (6.2%)
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (4.7%)
8. Phoenix Coyotes (2.7%)
9. Nashville Predators - from Florida (2.1%)
10. Vancouver Canucks (1.5%)
11. Anaeim Ducks - from Edmonton (1.1%)
12. Buffalo Sabres (0.8%)
13. Carolina Hurricanes (0.5%)

This is a description of possible outcomes (adapted from a nicely succinct and thorough post by BDTR):

Odds of winning the first overall pick
18.8%

Odds of drafting second overall
(This happens if Tampa Bay, Toranto, Phoenix, Nashville (via Florida), Vancouver, Chicago, Anaheim (via Edmonton), Buffalo or Carolina wins the lottery)
42%

Odds of drafting third overall
(This happens if Atlanta, St. Louis, Long Island, or Columbus wins the lottery)
39.2%

Here are some more useful links:

TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader
TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader
RESOURCES for the ARMCHAIR KINGS GM
dizzyd's HockeyBuzz.com blog


In 2007-08, Steve Stamkos had
58 goals and 105 points in 61
regular-season games for
the OHL's Sarnia Sting.
(per ESPN.com)

[Annapurna]

My fingers are crossed for the best possible outcome.

[Jim Jones]

Here's how I'm looking at it:

best scenerio - Kings 1st - 18.8%
2nd best scenerio - Tampa 2nd, Kings 3rd - 33%
2nd worst scenerio - Tampa 1st, Kings 2nd - 42%
worst scenerio - Tampa 1st, Kings 3rd - 6.2%

Basically, I don't mind drafting 3rd as long as the ****ers in Tampa draft 2nd.

[girl4kings]

Thanks for this link. So are they going to draw from 30-1 or 1-30?

[Thirteen-Ten]

Lets all just think realistically here, we are going to either be picking 2nd or 3rd overall. After all, we are the Kings.

[rinkrat]

Under 2 hours left!!!

[Kngcussion]

yikes, the odds actually aren't that unrealistic that we pick 3rd...

[Vargsmal]

hopefully the kings finally have enough balls to win something....

[goodguy]

1st pick I'm telling ya something has to go our way someday!

[The Natural]

Hm.

Stamkos would make The Kings a viable contender year in and year out starting in a year or two with that 1-2 punch down the middle (as long as The Kings shore up the defense, which with Stamkos could be a trade or two away from happening and get Bernier to play up to his potential).

Doughty would give The Kings a second franchise defenseman that would give The Kings a very potent defensive game with plenty of offensive potential. The upside of Johnson/Doughty would allow The Kings to make deals to upgrade the center position.

Bogosian would be the ideal pick as his game would and should be everything Stuart was, at times. He would fit perfectly with the system in place and would be the perfect presence along with Johnson in making The Kings a TOUGH team to play AGAINST.

Not bad either way!!!

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by Vargsmal

hopefully the kings finally have enough balls to win something....

I hope you're right!