Predators Can Win No. 1 Overall Pick in Tonight's NHL Draft Lottery

Tonight, the Nashville Predators will learn their first-round selection spot in the 2020 NHL Draft, and they could be at the very top of the list.
Phase 2 of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery will determine the No. 1 overall selection of the draft, and the Preds, along with the seven other clubs who were eliminated from playoff contention over the past few days, have an equal, 12.5 percent chance at winning the first pick.
One of the eight ping-pong balls, each one with a different logo of one of the teams in contention, will be selected to determine the victor.

Back in June, Phase 1 of the Lottery took place, and a team To Be Determined saw their lottery ball fall into place, instantly adding intrigue to a necessary Phase 2 of the process.

Heading into this evening's lottery, which can be viewed at 5 p.m. CT on NBCSN and the NHL Network, the current selection order looks like this:
1. TBD\
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS)
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Ottawa Senators
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Buffalo Sabres
9. TBD\
10. TBD\
11. TBD\
12. TBD\
13. TBD\
14. TBD\
15. TBD\
*To be determined by Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery.
Even if the Predators do not win the Lottery tonight, they will receive either the 11th or 12th overall selection in the draft, their highest place in the order since 2014.

The consensus No. 1 overall pick is 6-foot-1 forward Alexis Lafreniere, a left wing for Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
From NHL.com: "The 18-year-old won the Jean Beliveau Trophy, as the leading scorer in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists), the Paul Dumont Trophy as QMJHL personality of the year, the Michel Briere Trophy as the most valuable player in the QMJHL, the Canadian Hockey League Top Draft Prospect of the Year Award, and the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award.
"Lafreniere has lived up to all the hype and well-deserved accolades that have been bestowed upon him leading up to his NHL Draft selection," Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "He will be an excellent player in the NHL and will impact and contribute to the success of whichever NHL club is lucky enough to be awarded the No. 1 overall pick."
"Lafreniere was named most valuable player at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship after he scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games to help Canada win the tournament. He could be the third QMJHL player to be picked No. 1 since 2013, when the Colorado Avalanche selected Halifax center Nathan MacKinnon. The New Jersey Devils selected center Nico Hischier, also of Halifax, No. 1 in 2017."
The 2020 NHL Draft is currently scheduled to take place on Oct. 9 to 10.