Los Angeles Kings: The Bright side – 2% Chance At Connor McDavid
The Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the 2015 NHL Playoffs after losing 3-1 to the Calgary Flames.
Now with the 2014-2015 schedule over and a lot of questions facing team management, there is one bright side to look forward to.
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The NHL Draft Lottery.
The Draft Lottery is scheduled to take place this Saturday, April 18th at 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST). All 14 NHL teams that did not make the playoffs will have a chance to win the number one pick.
This year the NHL made some changes to the draft lottery process. The percentage chance that each team has, according to finishing position, has changed. The new rank is available at NHL.com. One of the changes moved a greater percent chance to the worst finishing teams, and put a lower chance on the higher finishing teams, or the teams that just missed the playoffs.
In the NHL standings the Kings finished 18th overall, making them 13th worst from the draft lottery’s point of view.
That means the Kings have a 2% chance to win the first overall pick and what many have dubbed “The Connor McDavid Lottery”.
For those Kings fans that are unaware of who Connor McDavid is we’ll provide a brief rundown . . .
McDavid already has a nickname. It’s “The Next One”, referencing former Los Angeles Kings Legend Wayne Gretzky’s nickname, “The Great One”.
McDavid has been called “the next Sidney Crosby,” and a “generational player.”
Here are a few of McDavid’s highlights:
Buffalo Sabres fans have known McDavid’s name since last year, if not before then.
McDavid currently plays center for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, one of three major-junior hockey leagues in the Canadian Hockey League.
In 47 games for the Otters this season McDavid has scored 44 goals, 76 assists and 120 points.
In three seasons in the OHL with the Otters McDavid has played in 166 games registering 97 goals, 188 assists and 285 points.
McDavid is 18-years-old.
The lottery is only for the first-overall pick in the draft. So, if the Kings don’t win the lottery they will pick 13th overall. A lottery machine will select 4 out of 14 balls, each numbered 1-14. The 4-numbered series selected relates to a combination assigned to an NHL team. Whichever team’s combination matches the drawing wins the first pick.
Simple right?
That’s the NHL for you. But if that’s too complicated to wrap your head around consider this: the Kings have a 2% chance to get one of the best young up-and-coming players in hockey.
It sucks that L.A. missed the playoffs and won’t be able to defend their title, but if there was one good year for that to happen it was this one. Connor McDavid a Los Angeles King? It’s not likely. But hey, you never know.
So we’re saying there’s a chance . . .
Next: Poll: If the Kings Won't Win The Cup, Who Will?
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports