Breaking down the NHL Draft Lottery

We're just two days away from the draw so it's time to break down where the Senators stand heading into the NHL Draft Lottery.

With a 39-35-8 record last season the Senator fell just six points shy of a playoff berth and as a result will have their chance at the Draft Lottery. The NHL conducts two separate lotteries for the first and second overall draft picks and adjusts the order of the lottery picks accordingly.

With teams able to leapfrog through the draft there are six potential spots the Senators first round pick could land. Below are the approximate odds of the Senators pick ending up in each of the six positions:

2nd - 5.1%
3rd - 0.1%
4th - 0.1%
12th - 85.7%
13th - 8.9%
14th - 0.2%

Of course, the Senators first round pick was a part of the Jakob Chychrun trade from March, protected through the top five. Should the Senators win the lottery and pick second, third or fourth they will get to use the pick and Arizona will get the Senators first-round pick next season unprotected. Otherwise, Arizona will receive the Senators first round pick and Ottawa will keep their first next season.

It's probably the understatement of the year that every Sens fan is more than happy with this pick being shipped off for Chychrun. Though his season was cut short through injury his impact as a top-four defenceman was evident from his first game in the red, black, white and gold. In 12 games he tallied two goals and three assists for five points but more importantly showcased his ability to shut down the opposing top line forwards and help break the puck out in transition. You need look no further than the fan reaction when Chychrun scored his first goals at Canadian Tire Centre.

While the odds may be slim, it is worth noting that in four of the last six NHL Draft Lotteries a team from outside the Top-10 has won and landed a top-three pick.

After the first round the Senators own five draft picks this year. Their second, third and sixth-round picks were traded to Chicago as a part of the Nikita Zaitsev trade, Toronto as a part of the Matt Murray trade and Philadelphia as a part of the Patrick Brown trade respectively. Additionally, they acquired the Predators and Rangers seventh-round picks as a part of the Erik Gudbranson and Tyler Motte trades respectively. Below is a full breakdown of the Ottawa Senators draft picks.

\1st (OTT)*
4th (OTT)
5th (OTT)
7th (OTT)
7th (NSH)
7th (NYR)

\*To be sent to ARI unless the Senators win the draft lottery

The NHL Draft Lottery will take place Monday evening at 8 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.