Maple Leafs’ odds of winning Connor McDavid lottery set
Posted April 11, 2015 10:55 am.
Last Updated April 17, 2015 9:34 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
If you’re reading this, it’s too late.
Tank Nation can tank no further.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ odds of winning the NHL draft lottery, and thus Connor McDavid, on April 18 are now locked at 9.5 percent, regardless of the outcome of the season’s remaining game, Saturday at home to Montreal.
The Leafs secured the 27th position in the NHL’s final standings Thursday night with the Carolina Hurricanes’ 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. (A 26th-place finish would have dropped Toronto’s odds to 8.5 percent.)
“The Leafs fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world,” McDavid, who grew up in nearby Newmarket, Ont., told the Toronto Sun last week.
“They’re obviously not enjoying the experience of all the losing. But if there is some benefit to the losing, they are going to get a very very good player and, whether that’s whoever, it doesn’t matter. The draft is so deep this year. So I’m sure Leaf fans are going to be pretty excited.”
The Edmonton Oilers, too, have locked in their lottery odds at 11.5% by finishing 28th overall. Carolina (26th place) is locked in at 8.5 percent, and the New Jersey Devils (25th place) are secure with a 7.5 percent shot to win the first pick.
The Buffalo Sabres (54 points, one game left) locked up 30th place and a 20 percent chance to win the lottery with a loss to Columbus on Friday night.
“I love the Sabres too, but I’m just a Leafs fan because that’s the way I grew up,” McDavid said. “I grew up a Leafs fan and I’d like to see them do well.”
Fans of all 14 non-playoff teams can have fun and/or drive themselves batty by running the NHL draft lottery simulator.
