FEATURE: NHL's Unique 2020 Draft Lottery Explained

The Draft Lottery for the 2020 NHL Draft will be held on Friday, June 26, ironically the day the actual NHL Draft was supposed to be held in Montreal. You can tune in to watch our NHL Draft Lottery Show on njd.TV and Devils social media Friday at 8 PM ET.

Due to the unique circumstances surrounding a paused NHL season that is now getting ready to return to play, the Draft Lottery could potentially be conducted in two phases. Here's what we know about it:

At the outset, the lottery will be conducted the same way it has been since 2016 with all non-playoff teams holding the ability to move into one of the top three selections in the draft.

With the modified 24-team play-in, the one thing that won't be determined by the June 26 Draft Lottery date is which of the play-in teams are going to make it to the round-of-16 playoff and which aren't. As a result, the NHL may need to hold the lottery in two Phases.

Team (Points Percentage | Odds)
1. Detroit Red Wings (.275 | 18.5%)
2. Ottawa Senators (.437 | 13.5%)
3. Ottawa Senators* (.437 | 11.5%)
4. Los Angeles Kings (.457 | 9.5%)
5. Anaheim Ducks (.472 | 8.5%)
6. New Jersey Devils (.493\\ | 7.5%)
7. Buffalo Sabres (.493\\ | 6.5%)
8. Team A (n/a | 6.0%)
9. Team B (n/a | 5.0%)
10. Team C (n/a | 3.5%)
11. Team D (n/a | 3.0%)
12. Team E (n/a | 2.5%)
13. Team F (n/a | 2.0%)
14. Team G (n/a | 1.5%)
15. Team H (n/a | 1.0%)

* Acquired in a trade with San Jose Sharks (.450 points percentage)

\\ Buffalo Sabres ranked higher than New Jersey Devils on the basis of higher regulation/OT win percentage (Buffalo, .406 ROW%; New Jersey, .348 ROW%)

There will be three draws:

So, for an example draw, say the first overall pick goes to New Jersey, the second overall pick goes to "Team E" and the third overall pick goes to Detroit, in the Phase II draw, all eight teams who lost in the play-in round would have an equal opportunity at that second-overall pick (12.5% chance).

The Devils, however, unfortunately would not have a second crack at the lottery in any scenario. Here's how the Arizona and Vancouver picks, which are conditionally owned by New Jersey, break down:

ARIZONA PICK DETAILS

If Arizona loses in the play-in round, the Devils will have the rights to Arizona's top three protected pick in this draft. If they do not win the Lottery for the top-3 slots, the Devils will own the pick outright. Based on the Phases of the lottery, if Arizona's 2020 first-round selection is in the top three, New Jersey will receive Arizona's unprotected first-round pick in 2021. For the top 3, they would have to win Phase II of the draft lottery, which is held between the Qualifying Round and First Round.

If they win their play-in round, and "make the playoffs," that pick falls where they finish in the playoffs. If they win their first round in the playoffs, the Devils third-round pick in 2021, becomes a second-round pick. If Taylor Hall were to then subsequently sign in Arizona, that pick would become a first-round pick.

VANCOUVER PICK DETAILS

If Vancouver wins the play-in round, they will have made the playoffs, and the Devils will have the rights to their pick. If they do not win their play-in round, the Devils receive an unprotected first-round pick in the 2021 Draft.

• POSITIVE SCENARIOS: Vancouver wins a qualifying round and loses in first round means the Devils get this year's first round pick. If they lose the play-in round, the Devils get unprotected in 2021. Both have valuable possibilities depending on what happens in 2021.
• WORST-CASE SCENARIO: The Canucks advancing to the Conference Finals in the 2020 playoffs (moving the pick to slots 28-31).