NHL Draft Lottery 2015: Date, Odds and Final Regular-Season Standings

Saturday concluded the 2015 NHL regular season, sending 16 teams to spar for the Stanley Cup. While the other 14 teams must go home, they can at least look forward to the NHL draft lottery.

The lucky winner of April 18's drawing will earn the rights to Connor McDavid, regarded as the best incoming prospect since Sidney Crosby. Whoever gets slotted at No. 2, however, will be just fine snagging Jack Eichel, who led Boston University to the NCAA tournament finals.

Due to new formatting, the Buffalo Sabres hold a slimmer chance of landing the No. 1 pick than previous clubs carrying the worst record. Per MyNHLDraft.com, they wield a 20 percent chance of successfully completing their McTanking task compared to the old system's 25 percent.

Yet, they'll gladly sacrifice the five percent for the safety net of falling no further than No. 2.

The adjusted odds shortchange the Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, giving everyone else slightly higher probabilities. Here's a look at the lottery odds based on the season's final standings.

Final 2014-15 Standings 

EASTERN CONFERENCE	DIV	W	L	OT	P
WESTERN CONFERENCE	DIV	W	L	OT	P
NY RANGERS	M	53	22	7	113
MONTREAL	A	50	22	10	110
TAMPA BAY	A	50	24	8	108
WASHINGTON	M	45	26	11	101
NY ISLANDERS	M	47	28	7	101
DETROIT	A	43	25	14	100
OTTAWA	A	43	26	13	99
PITTSBURGH	M	43	27	12	98
BOSTON	A	41	27	14	96
FLORIDA	A	38	29	15	91
COLUMBUS	M	42	35	5	89
PHILADELPHIA	M	33	31	18	84
NEW JERSEY	M	32	36	14	78
CAROLINA	M	30	41	11	71
TORONTO	A	30	44	8	68
BUFFALO	A	23	51	8	54
ANAHEIM	P	51	24	7	109
ST. LOUIS	C	51	24	7	109
NASHVILLE	C	47	25	10	104
CHICAGO	C	48	28	6	102
VANCOUVER	P	48	29	5	101
MINNESOTA	C	46	28	8	100
WINNIPEG	C	43	26	13	99
CALGARY	P	45	30	7	97
LOS ANGELES	P	40	27	15	95
DALLAS	C	41	31	10	92
COLORADO	C	39	31	12	90
SAN JOSE	P	40	33	9	89
EDMONTON	P	24	44	14	62
ARIZONA	P	24	50	8	56

Lottery Odds

Team	Odds
Buffalo Sabres	20.0%
Arizona Coyotes	13.5%
Edmonton Oilers	11.5%
Toronto Maple Leafs	9.5%
Carolina Hurricanes	8.5%
New Jersey Devils	7.5%
Philadelphia Flyers	6.5%
Columbus Blue Jackets	6.0%
San Jose Sharks	5.0%
Colorado Avalanche	3.5%
Florida Panthers	3.0%
Dallas Stars	2.5%
Los Angeles Kings	2.0%
Boston Bruins	1.0%

Analyzing Top Prizes

Connor McDavid, C, Erie (OHL)

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Through 187 games in the Ontario Hockey League, McDavid has generated 322 points and a 91 plus-minus rating. After scoring 44 goals during the regular season, he netted five goals during the Erie Otters' playoff win on Friday.

The magnificent scoring feat set a club record, per the team's official Twitter account:

As the 18-year-old continues to decimate the OHL, registering 54 goals during as many games this year, McDavid has fortified positioning over Eichel for the top selection. 

Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski doesn't think the two mega prospects are particularly close:

A dynamite scorer and unselfish playmaker, McDavid can do anything with the puck. Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr raved about the teenage sensation, via NHL.com.

“He’s a craftsman with the puck," Marr said. "His hockey sense, with his vision, his anticipation, his sense of timing and the ability to do those things at a top-end speed, you’re looking at the best skilled player in the draft.”

Such a complete package only comes around once in a while. Whichever team wins the lottery will gain a franchise cornerstone and future MVP-caliber talent. 

Jack Eichel, C, Boston University

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Not content hiding under McDavid's shadow, Eichel led the NCAA with 70 points during his freshman campaign. He capped off his first and likely final college year with a 4-3 loss to Providence on Saturday night.

The day before the Frozen Four final, he received the Hobey Baker Award, an honor handed out to the best player at the collegiate level. Although Harvard's Jimmy Vesey tallied six more goals (32), Eichel's 44 assists distanced him from the pack.

His father, Bob Eichel, reflected with NHL.com's Connor Mellas on a season that shattered his expectations.

"Our goal was like, 'If he gets 30 points in college hockey, it's going to be a great year,'" Eichel said. "'If BU challenges for the division, it's going to be a great year; if they win a Beanpot, it's going to be an unbelievable year.' Now I'm shocked with everything that's happened. It's been a great run."

In the scoring-inflated OHL, McDavid's 120 regular-season points ranked third, with teammate Dylan Strome exceeding him in goals (45) and assists (129). Eichel's NCAA experience makes him more NCAA ready, not that either 18-year-old should be expected to orchestrate a Stanley Cup run as a rookie.

Eichel is also a puck savant, boasting handling skills of a tested veteran while remaining capable of offering his own savory scores. Even if he doesn't brandish the same upside as McDavid, he'll contribute just as much, if not more, off the bat.