Predators Draft Lottery Primer

The ping pong balls will roll on Monday night to reveal who will draft hockey's next generation of superstars at the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery.

In light of the changes to the NHL's lottery system implemented in 2022, here's a quick overview of the rules and the possible scenarios for the Nashville Predators as they prepare to host the 2023 NHL Draft on June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena.

HOW IT WORKS

There will be two drawings the night of the lottery, with the 16 teams who did not qualify for the playoffs taking part. Teams are randomly assigned four-digit combinations that are computer generated. Numbered balls are then placed into the lottery machine, and four balls are drawn at 15-second intervals. The team with the winning combination is awarded the first pick.

The numbered balls are then returned to the machine, and the process is repeated for the second pick. (The number of drawings was reduced from three to two beginning in 2022 to ensure that the team finishing last in the standings picks no later than No. 3.)

Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, and only the bottom 11 teams in the standings have a shot at the No. 1 pick. The Anaheim Ducks have the best odds to win the draft lottery at 18.5 percent. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks follow the Ducks in terms of odds after all three teams finished with fewer than 60 points during the regular season.

PREDS SCENARIOS

Based on where they finished in the standings at the end of the regular season, the Predators own the 15th-best odds in this year's NHL Draft Lottery (0.5 percent). The Calgary Flames sit immediately behind them with the 16th-best odds. With that in mind, here are the potential scenarios for Nashville on Monday night:

• If neither Nashville nor Calgary wins the first draw, the Predators will pick 15th overall. (Based on the math, this is the most likely scenario.)
• If the Predators win the first draw, they will pick fifth overall. (Wouldn't that be nice?)
• If a team other than Calgary wins the first draw, and Nashville wins the second draw, the Predators will pick fifth overall. (Again, sounds pretty nice.)
• If Calgary wins either draw, and Nashville wins neither, the Predators will pick 16th overall. (Not ideal.)
• If Calgary wins the first draw, and Nashville wins the second draw, the Predators will pick seventh overall. In winning the first draw, Calgary would move up to sixth overall and Nashville would move back to 16th; if the Predators then won the second draw, they would only move up nine spots since Calgary would be locked in at sixth overall. (This is the most unlikely scenario, but it could still happen.)

HOW TO WATCH

The lottery will take place on Monday at 7 p.m. CT in Secaucus, N.J., home of the NHL Network studios. It will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

Be sure to tune in to find out the Predators fate in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, and may the ping pong balls be ever in your favor.