Bedard Watch: How Blue Jackets, Geese, Blackhawks can safe high lottery odds

Whereas many are centered on the highest of the standings and the playoff race, half the league is concentrated on a distinct race — the race, or extra precisely, fall for Connor Bedard.

With the prospect to draft the 17-year-old phenom who many are calling a generational expertise up for grabs, ending on the backside of the standings might very effectively flip one among these franchises round.

Bedard, the projected high draft choose within the upcoming NHL Draft, completed the Pats playoff sequence loss in opposition to the Saskatoon Blades with 11 targets and 20 factors in seven video games, after posting an otherworldly 71 targets and 143 factors in 57 common season video games.

The teen can clearly play.

So which staff is within the ballot place for Bedard’s abilities because the season nears its finish?

Heading into the ultimate two nights of the common season, the Columbus Blue Jackets at present maintain the No. 1 lottery spot, which might give them a 25.5-per-cent likelihood to land the No. 1 total choose.

However the Blue Jackets nonetheless have two video games remaining and are just one level behind each the Anaheim Geese and Chicago Blackhawks, who each even have a shot on the high odds.

With that being stated, here’s a transient take a look at each sport that would have an effect on the lottery odds.

Thursday’s video games that affect shot at high lottery odds

Pittsburgh at Columbus, 7 p.m. / 4 p.m. PT

As beforehand talked about, the Blue Jackets at present personal the perfect lottery odds, however nonetheless have two video games remaining. Their first goes Thursday in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had been eradicated from playoff rivalry on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets at present have two extra regulation wins than the Geese, so even a single level in one among their remaining two video games might give the Geese the highest spot.

Philadelphia at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. / 5:30 p.m. PT

In a matchup of two groups with hopes for Bedard, this sport solely actually means something for the Blackhawks. The Flyers are locked into the seventh-best lottery odds that offers them a 6.5-per-cent likelihood. In the meantime, as talked about earlier, the Blackhawks are one among three groups that would nonetheless get the No. 1 total choose with a regulation loss to the Flyers, the Blue Jackets choosing up two factors of their remaining two video games and both an extra-time loss or win by the Geese.

Los Angeles at Anaheim, 10:00 p.m. / 7 p.m. PT

The Geese can safe the perfect lottery odds with any kind of loss and a win by the Blue Jackets in both of their remaining two video games. A Geese loss and an extra-time loss by the Blue Jackets in both sport would additionally give the Geese the perfect lottery odds because the Blue Jackets maintain the sting in regulation wins.

If the Geese beat the Kings, they might probably soar one spot within the standings ought to the Blackhawks lose Thursday.

If the Geese, Blackhawks and Blue Jackets all end the season tied for factors, the Geese will safe the highest lottery odds as they’ve the least quantity of regulation wins between the three groups.

Thursday’s different video games that affect lottery

Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. / 4 p.m. PT

The Pink Wings at present personal the ninth-best lottery odds, which might give them a five-per-cent likelihood to get the highest spot. Heading into their remaining sport, they’re just one level again of each the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues, so a win over the Lightning might push them previous each groups ought to the Canucks and Blues each lose.

Boston at Montreal, 7 p.m. / 4 p.m. PT

The Montreal Canadiens at present personal the perfect lottery odds of the Canadian groups, as they at present have the fifth-best odds that may land them an 8.5-per-cent likelihood at touchdown Bedard. Montreal wraps up its season in opposition to the league-leading Bruins on Thursday. The Canadiens can’t enhance their odds, however might harm their possibilities at Bedard by overtaking the Arizona Coyotes, who’re one level forward of the Habs. Montreal has yet another regulation win than Arizona, so if the 2 groups find yourself tied in factors, the Canadiens will end forward of the Coyotes.

New Jersey at Washington, 7 p.m. / 4 p.m. PT

After a disappointing season, the Washington Capitals at present maintain a six-per-cent likelihood at touchdown Bedard. They’ll solely harm their odds Thursday after they host the New Jersey Devils, as a win and a Pink Wings loss would imply Washington jumps the Pink Wings within the standings, giving the ninth-best lottery odds as an alternative of the eighth.

St. Louis at Dallas, 8 p.m. / 5 p.m. PT

The St. Louis Blues at present maintain the worst odds out of the groups eligible for the No. 1 total choose. They at present have a three-per-cent likelihood at leaping to the primary spot. St. Louis can solely enhance their odds, as they’re at present tied factors smart with the Canucks, and are forward of the Pink Wings by only a single level. The Blues maintain the tiebreaker over the Canucks, so they’ll want both staff to complete with fewer complete factors in the event that they wish to transfer beneath them within the standings.

They’ve fewer regulation wins than the Pink Wings, so if the 2 groups find yourself tied in factors, the Pink Wings will find yourself on high.

San Jose at Edmonton, 9:00 p.m. / 6 p.m. PT

The Sharks head into their matchup with the red-hot Oilers with the fourth-best lottery odds. They’re at present two factors forward of each the Blackhawks, however with fewer regulation wins than Chicago, a loss to the Oilers mixed with a Chicago win would imply the Sharks would fall within the standings and enhance their possibilities at Bedard.

The Sharks is also handed by the Blue Jackers if the Blue Jackets win their remaining two video games and the Sharks lose to the Oilers.

Vancouver at Arizona, 10:00 p.m. / 7 p.m. PT

One other matchup between two groups within the lottery race. The Canucks at present maintain the Tenth-best lottery odds, which might give them a 3.5-per-cent likelihood at Bedard. With a win and a Blues loss, the Canucks would leap previous the Blues and harm their lottery odds. Nevertheless, a loss and a Pink Wings win would see Vancouver enhance their lottery odds by one spot.

The Coyotes want a loss to the Canucks and a Canadiens win over the Bruins to enhance their lottery odds. In any other case, they’ll head to the lottery draw with the sixth-best likelihood at having their ball drawn for the primary choose.

Friday’s Matchup:

Buffalo at Columbus, 7:30 pm / 4:30 pm PT

As talked about earlier, the lottery odds may not be official till Friday because the Blue Jackets nonetheless have two video games remaining.

The Blue Jackets could must lose each video games in regulation to safe the highest lottery odds of 25.5 per cent. Even a single level in both of their remaining two video games, mixed with a Geese loss on Thursday would knock Columbus out of final total.

Nevertheless, if the Blue Jackets lose in regulation on Thursday, the Geese win and the Blackhawks get a minimum of one level, Columbus will probably be assured to complete final total no matter their final result in opposition to the Sabres.

Lottery Desk

With Bedard the top-ranked prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft, right here’s a take a look at the present lottery odds. There will probably be two lottery attracts the place the highest two picks are up for grabs. 

The odds beneath point out the possibilities of a staff profitable the primary lottery when the highest choose is in play. Nevertheless, groups can transfer up a most of 10 spots so as, so if a staff outdoors of the underside 11 wins the primary draw, it gained’t get the primary total choose. Due to this fact, whereas the Thirty second-ranked staff has an 18.5 per cent to win the primary lottery, it nonetheless has a 25.5 per cent likelihood to select first total.

The NHL Draft Lottery will probably be held on Could 8 and the outcomes will probably be revealed stay on Sportsnet and SN NOW.

* denotes a staff outdoors of the underside 11 that may’t get the primary total choose within the lottery

• Standings as of video games ending Wednesday

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