Breaking Down the Carolina Hurricanes' NHL Draft Lottery Chances
Ten games now separate the Carolina Hurricanes from the end of the 2014-15 season and an offseason that could shape the franchise for years to come.
The 'Canes appear most likely to conclude the campaign with the fifth-worst record out of the NHL's 30 teams, putting them right in the thick of the most anticipated and important draft lottery in years.
The prize of the No. 1 pick—OHL superstar Connor McDavid—would almost certainly change the entire course of and mood surrounding the otherwise struggling club.
Using the official draft lottery odds and the odds of finishing in each seed according to Sports Club Stats, the 'Canes real chances of landing McDavid:
| 23rd | 0.06% | 6.0% |
| 24th | 0.36% | 6.5% |
| 25th | 2.37% | 7.5% |
| 26th | 81.63% | 8.5% |
| 27th | 15.50% | 9.5% |
| 28th | 0.07% | 11.5% |
If the 'Canes do not win the lottery, the chance that either the Sabres, Coyotes, Oilers or Maple Leafs win the lottery and the Hurricanes retain the No. 5 overall selection are 59.47 percent.
They'll face 40.53 percent odds of falling down to No. 6.
If stuck in the middle of the top 10 picks, the 'Canes will likely focus on adding another elite young forward after taking defenseman Haydn Fleury with the No. 7 choice last June and adding prospect defenseman Roland McKeown at the trade deadline.
The top four selections are most likely solidified as McDavid, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin and Dylan Strome, leaving forwards like Lawson Crouse, Mitchell Marner, Mikko Rantanen and Pavel Zacha from which the 'Canes could have their pick.
Marner offers the flashy offensive skill of a stereotypical top-five pick, while Crouse and Rantanen serve as big power forwards and Zacha is acclaimed as a reliable two-way center.
Of course, general manager Ron Francis will be hoping he doesn't get his pick of the four: his eyes are more likely lusting for McDavid's franchise-changing stardom.
He has an 8.62 percent chance of those dreams being fulfilled.
Mark Jones has been a Carolina Hurricanes featured columnist for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more or follow him on Twitter.
