Odds for worst team to get No. 1 pick up in 2018 NHL Draft

The NHL announced lottery odds for the 2018 draft, and it would contain good news for the Buffalo Sabres if the season were to end Wednesday.

The chances for the team with the lowest point total to earn the No. 1 overall pick are slightly up from last year, 18.5 percent compared to 18. As it stands, the Sabres (24-40-12) are in the cellar of the NHL standings with 60 points, though the Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes aren't far ahead with 63 points each.

The NHL draft lottery will consist of three drawings to determine the three teams selecting first, second and third. The lottery includes the 15 teams that don't qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Here are the odds for each team, fewest points to most, for 2018 as compared to the 2017 odds, which accounted for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights receiving the same odds as a team finishing the regular season in 28th place:

1. 18.5 percent (18.0 percent in 2017)

2. 13.5 percent (12.1 percent)

3. 11.5 percent (10.3 percent)

4. 9.5 percent (10.3 percent)

5. 8.5 percent (8.5 percent)

6. 7.5 percent (7.6 percent)

7. 6.5 percent (6.7 percent)

8. 6.0 percent (5.8 percent)

9. 5.0 percent (5.4 percent)

10. 3.5 percent (4.5 percent)

11. 3.0 percent (3.2 percent)

12. 2.5 percent (2.7 percent)

13. 2.0 percent (2.2 percent)

14. 1.5 percent (1.8 percent)

15. 1.0 percent (0.9 percent)

The 12 clubs not selected in the lottery will be assigned their picks, Nos. 4 to 15, in inverse order of regular-season points.

The 2018 NHL Draft will take place on June 22-23 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

--Field Level Media