Islanders' GM Snow Wins Lottery; Leafs Have Snowball's Chance for John Tavares

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow won the lottery for the NHL Entry Draft, so now Brian Burke doesn't have a snowball's chance of getting John Tavares in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Burke made headlines across Canada today saying he wanted Tavares no matter what happened in the lottery and would do whatever he had to in order to get him.

Snow has not said if he wants Tavares or Victor Hedman, the top two on most people's lists for the Entry Draft. 

The Islanders landed in last place in the NHL this season and that used to guarantee a team the first pick in the draft. Now it goes to a lottery and the last team gets the best chance of wining that.

This year the ping pong balls of the lottery gave the first pick to the last team, the second choice to the second last team, and so on down the line.

Following the Islanders will be Tampa Bay Lightning wit the No. 2 pick, the Colorado Avalanche at No. 3, the Atlanta Thrashers at No. 4, and Los Angeles Kings at No. 5.

Many hockey commentators claim there is a big drop-off after the fifth pick this year.

Toronto ended up with the seventh pick, Ottawa got the ninth selection, and Edmonton received the 10th choice.

It is highly unlikely anyone will make a deal to trade the first or second draft pick this year as both Tavares and Hedman are regarded so highly.

Burke and the Leafs have the seventh pick. Leafs' future star Luke Schenn has a little brother who will be available in the draft. He is expected to go fifth or sixth unless the Leafs trade up and take him.

The Leafs, with the Schenn brothers, would become a strong team but Tavares or Hedman are rated quite a bit higher.

The Leafs lost Mats Sundin last year, traded away Nik Antropov this year, and are said to be rebuilding for next year.