I do not believe that the NHL lottery is fixed, at all. I am fully convinced that professional leagues make their money on TV ratings and what the best TV deals that they can make. Not gate revenue. If the NHL Game of the Week on NBC was a game featuring "Arizona Coyotes", who would watch no matter who is on their team? Any casual fan would not even know they had a team. What has winning the lottery done for Florida?

If Arizona wins the lottery, so be it. The odds favor that Buffalo will not win even if they finish last. I am not certain, but I think that the team that has finished 30th or 29th the last few years have won the lottery as the odds would dictate.

If the lottery were actually fixed to increase a fanbase interest, wouldn't the NHL want them to win next year when the projected top overall pick is from Arizona?

Gut team. Check.

Finish last. 19 more to go.

Get Eichel jersey because league will make sure Buffalo doesn't get McDavid. Fine by me.

I do not believe that the NHL lottery is fixed, at all. I am fully convinced that professional leagues make their money on TV ratings and what the best TV deals that they can make. Not gate revenue. If the NHL Game of the Week on NBC was a game featuring "Arizona Coyotes", who would watch no matter who is on their team? Any casual fan would not even know they had a team. What has winning the lottery done for Florida?

If Arizona wins the lottery, so be it. The odds favor that Buffalo will not win even if they finish last. I am not certain, but I think that the team that has finished 30th or 29th the last few years have won the lottery as the odds would dictate.

If the lottery were actually fixed to increase a fanbase interest, wouldn't the NHL want them to win next year when the projected top overall pick is from Arizona?
- rmiethaner

I still think they gave Crosby to Pittsburgh. It's too obvious.

Gut team. Check.

Finish last. 19 more to go.

Get Eichel jersey because league will make sure Buffalo doesn't get McDavid. Fine by me.
- grand-magus

Ugh. It is not fixed. The lottery being fixed sound like the people who questioned the moon landing and it was just done on some TV set.

Zed's dead.

I still think they gave Crosby to Pittsburgh. It's too obvious.
- sippyd

I honestly don't remember how that lottery went, rules wise. I know it was after the lockout, so it was different.

But maybe that is a good point. Not talking about the money problems that they were having and they "needed saving", but they were at least a team with history, two cups, and two of the best players of all time in their past.

What was the design of that lottery?

Edit: I just looked it up and Pittsburgh had one of the best chances at winning that lottery with three balls.

- gerbe75pts

Nut

Thats a great point. How many players are teams allowed to protect? I totally forgot about a potential expansion draft.
- seedy

1 G - 5 Def- 9 F or 2 G - 3 def and 7 F


I just think the NHL will expand, regardless if it is here in Vegas or not. But we will be looking at 2 more teams.

1 G - 5 Def- 9 F or 2 G - 3 def and 7 F


I just think the NHL will expand, regardless if it is here in Vegas or not. But we will be looking at 2 more teams.
- markyjoe

Who wouldn't select option 1? 15 players against 12 players. Why would a team think that saving one more goalie would be worth it?

I agree that Buffalo is going to get the shaft when it comes to the lottery. Hence the reason I support the tank. I grew up in Toronto and there would be a Vancouver-esque riot there if the Sabres won the McDavid lottery. The only way for the Sabres to get better, faster is to solidify our position to grab Jack E with the second pick. I am liking the sounds of Eichel, Reinhardt and Girgs as our top 3 centres! Throw in ROR or somebody like him if GMTM doesn't want to rush E&R.

By the way, not all Torontonians are poopheads. There are a few of us who are from there but chose to leave because we were sick of the insufferable centre-of-the-universe attitude that prevails. All of my childhood, high school and university friends were Laff fans. Makes me want to

Ugh. It is not fixed. The lottery being fixed sound like the people who questioned the moon landing and it was just done on some TV set.

Zed's dead.
- rmiethaner

We'll revisit this in April.



Edit: And you are right. Zed is dead

I agree that Buffalo is going to get the shaft when it comes to the lottery. Hence the reason I support the tank. I grew up in Toronto and there would be a Vancouver-esque riot there if the Sabres won the McDavid lottery. The only way for the Sabres to get better, faster is to solidify our position to grab Jack E with the second pick. I am liking the sounds of Eichel, Reinhardt and Girgs as our top 3 centres! Throw in ROR or somebody like him if GMTM doesn't want to rush E&R.

By the way, not all Torontonians are poopheads. There are a few of us who are from there but chose to leave because we were sick of the insufferable centre-of-the-universe attitude that prevails. All of my childhood, high school and university friends were Laff fans. Makes me want to
- SabreWest

Welcome aboard

Who wouldn't select option 1? 15 players against 12 players. Why would a team think that saving one more goalie would be worth it?
- rmiethaner

Taken from the last expansion draft

All teams can protect one goaltender, five defensemen and nine forwards OR two goaltenders, three defensemen and seven forwards

Goaltenders need to have appeared in a minimum of 10 games over the previous season or 25 games over the past two seasons

Players need to have played in a minimum of 40 games over the previous season or 70 in the past two seasons

First and second year players are exempt

Only one position player can be chosen from each NHL franchise

In general I don't think things are fixed, however that lottery with Crosby just seemed to play out perfectly, I will not be at all surprised to the Sabres don't get the number 1 pick.

What is the word on Jack Nevins ??? Wow doesn't sound good at all after doing some reading, sounds basically like a list clogger.....

In general I don't think things are fixed, however that lottery with Crosby just seemed to play out perfectly, I will not be at all surprised to the Sabres don't get the number 1 pick.
- MikeyOz

The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing say hello

What is the word on Jack Nevins ??? Wow doesn't sound good at all after doing some reading, sounds basically like a list clogger.....
- MikeyOz

Cement head.

The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing say hello
- grand-magus

Hey don't you mis-quote me! I said "In general" but you didn't include that in the quote!

The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing say hello
- grand-magus

My counter argument to that would be what I mentioned earlier. TV markets, ratings and TV deals. If that draft was fixed, they did it right. They gave it to a big market. So why would the Florida Panthers or Arizona Coyotes be desirable to fix for?

Question for everyone that thinks the NHL draft is fixed, not necessarily you, just responded to the post:

If Buffalo wins the lottery, is the draft still fixed? And it becomes that the NHL loves Buffalo and wanted to give them the pick?

Need to powder my nose. Be right back in two shakes of a lambs tail.

Edit: That's not the right quote. I feel shame.

Ugh. It is not fixed. The lottery being fixed sound like the people who questioned the moon landing and it was just done on some TV set.

Zed's dead.
- rmiethaner

I dont think its fixed. I just dont like a 20% chance. Which is why the tank is key. It wouldnt KILL the NHL to televise or at leas webcast the draws for a little credibility.

I dont think its fixed. I just dont like a 20% chance. Which is why the tank is key. It wouldnt KILL the NHL to televise or at leas webcast the draws for a little credibility.
- seedy

That I agree with for sure.

I still think they gave Crosby to Pittsburgh. It's too obvious.
- sippyd

I agree as well.
It was so obvious that year, it was funny!!

I agree as well.
It was so obvious that year, it was funny!!
- Sabresfan88

How? There were four teams with equal chance at winning and they were one of them. They did not beat any odds.

I dont think its fixed. I just dont like a 20% chance. Which is why the tank is key. It wouldnt KILL the NHL to televise or at leas webcast the draws for a little credibility.
- seedy

Yup, I've been whining about this for years. Just ask every Non Cavs fan in the NBA wished the same thing, when they had a 1.7% chance to win the lottery which was one of Lebrons prerequisites to go home (not purely a #1 but a high pick) and lo and behold......
I believe they said the NBA has already tripled their revue in merchandise and apparel and tv deals are super hot so you can see the conspiracy theorist dreams coming full circle business sense wise

At least we have a 20% chance, so if we win we at least could say there was a 1/5 chance, but a 1.7%? yeah a webcast was certainly needed for that one

I just invested in my first stock ever. 500 shares of Reynolds Aluminum Foil wrap. I am going to be rich!

The pre game on NBC tomorrow should an interesting segment let's see how much that moron Milbury bashes Buffalo, the guy that single single handedly destroyed the Islanders.