1999:
Following the 1998-99 season, the Blackhawks won the lottery - moving them from the eighth spot to the fourth overall pick. Although they would not use this selection, they will forever be associated with being an important piece of the trade that gave the Vancouver Canucks the Sedin twins.
The Blackhawks traded the fourth-overall selection to Vancouver for defenseman Bryan McCabe and the Canucks first selection in the 2000 draft. With some more dealing, the Canucks were able to draft both Daniel and Henrik Sedin at second and third overall, respectively.
The New York Rangers obtained the Blackhawks fourth overall pick in a trade via Vancouver and Tampa Bay, using it to select Pavel Brendl. The Czech forward played just 78 games in the NHL, recording 11 goals and 11 assists. He then spent a long career overseas in several leagues.
2007:
The second - and only other time to date - in which Chicago won the lottery came ahead of the 2007 NHL Draft. By winning, the Blackhawks moved from fifth to first in the pecking order, and selected Patrick Kane.
That pick has worked out just fine for Chicago, as Kane has since went on to star for the Blackhawks in more than 800 NHL games, scoring 312 goals and recording 516 assists. He's also been a major contributor in the post-season, tallying 50 goals and 73 assists in 127 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Chicago's odds of winning the lottery that year were 8.1%.
Playing the odds:
On April 8, the NHL announced this year's odds for the NHL Draft Lottery. The Buffalo Sabres have the highest percentage of selecting first overall (18.5%), while the Blackhawks sit with the seventh-best odds (6.5%).
The League will have three drawings:
1st Draw - Determines the club selecting first overall
2nd Draw - Determines the club selecting second overall
3rd Draw - Determines the club selecting third overall
According to the NHL, the odds for the remaining clubs will increase on a proportionate basis for the second lottery draw based on which club wins the first. The odds increase again for the third based on the results of the second.
The 12 clubs who do not hear their names called during the selection process will be assigned their pick, between selections four and 15, in inverse order of regular-season points.
The Blackhawks have a 20.4% chance of drafting in the top three. If they do not receive selections 1-3, they will draft between 7-10.
Stay tuned chicagoblackhawks.com for full coverage of the NHL Draft Lottery and the 2018 NHL Draft, which will take place June 22-23 in Dallas.
