The NHL Draft Lottery, which typically takes place towards the end of April, goes down pre-playoffs on Tuesday, April 9th in Toronto. That's when the Canucks will find out their 1st Round pick spot for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held June 21st at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
GM Jim Benning is attending the lottery on behalf of the organization.
Over the past three seasons the Canucks have picked 5th (Olli Juolevi), 5th (Elias Pettersson) and 7th (Quinn Hughes), while a top-three pick has eluded the franchise since Daniel and Henrik Sedin were taken 2nd and 3rd overall in 1999.
This year the Canucks have a 16% chance of landing a top 3 pick; 5% at 1st, 5.3% at 2nd and 5.7% of 3rd. The best odds, however, have Vancouver picking either 9th (48.8%) or 10th (30.7%).
The Canucks can only pick 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 or 12 - picks 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 are off the table, as are 13, 14 & 15.
The draft lottery hasn't been overly kind to the Canucks in the past three seasons. Vancouver fell one spot last season and two spots in 2016 & 2017. Clearly what I'm saying is that we're due for a surprise finish this year, preferably in the top 3.
Feelin' lucky?
Regardless of what pick the Canucks land, their top-12 selection will be made at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver. The first round takes place Friday, June 21. Rounds 2-7 take place Saturday, June 22.
Vancouver's other 2019 picks are as follows:
Round 2: 40th
Round 3: 71st
Round 4: 102nd
Round 5: 133rd
Round 6: 156th (from Ottawa)
Round 6: 164th
Round 6: 179th to 186th (from Washington, spot depends on their playoff finish)
Round 7: 195th
