LA Kings will have the 8th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft

Mock draft season is officially underway, as the LA Kings have learned where they will be picking from in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The LA Kings will hold the 8th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. Entering the evening, Los Angeles had a 49.4% chance to land the eighth overall pick, 34.5% chance for the ninth overall pick, and just an 11.8% chance of landing within the top two, including a 5.8% chance for the top draft selection.

Each of the 15 teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs (or acquired first-round picks from those clubs) were eligible to be in the running for the top pick. The odds of each team winning was allocated based on the reverse order of the final season standings. This year’s draft had an extra caveat in that the Seattle Kraken were guaranteed to pick within the top six overall.

Here was a breakdown of the odds to land the top pick in the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery (via TSN):

1. Buffalo Sabres – 16.6%
2. Anaheim Ducks – 12.1%
3. Seattle Kraken – 10.3%
4. New Jersey Devils – 10.3%
5. Columbus Blue Jackets – 8.5%
6. Detroit Red Wings – 7.6%
7. San Jose Sharks – 6.7%
8. LA Kings – 5.8%
9. Vancouver Canucks – 5.4%
10. Ottawa Senators – 4.5%
11. Arizona Coyotes – 3.1%*
12. Chicago Blackhawks – 2.7%
13. Calgary Flames – 2.2%
14. Philadelphia Flyers – 1.8%
15. Dallas Stars – 1.4%
16. New York Rangers – 1.0%

*Arizona being selected would have resulted in a re-draw.

Last year, the Kings had a 9.5% chance at the first overall pick. They lucked out with the second overall pick, which later would be the selection of Quinton Byfield, giving the organization a true blue-chip centerman prospect.

The 2021 NHL draft will be held virtually, with the first round on July 23 and rounds 2-7 scheduled for July 24. We’ll have more on players the LA Kings could target with this pick in the coming days.