The Ottawa Senators have earned the third-overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, thanks to Phase 1 of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery on Friday night. The pick, which originally belonged to the Sharks, had the third-best odds at becoming first overall.
Instead, an unknown team has earned the right to the first overall selection, as a placeholder was drawn for that pick. The eight teams eliminated in the league’s Return to Play qualifying round will all have the same odds to earn the first overall pick during Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery before the first round of playoffs, sometime in early August.
Though the Sharks do not have their original pick, as it was part of the package that brought defender Erik Karlsson to San Jose in September 2018, they did obtain a first-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Barclay Goodrow at the 2020 trade deadline. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the Bolts finished second in the Eastern Conference and will not be eligible for Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery.
The Sharks have seven picks in the upcoming draft, with no picks in the third, fourth and sixth rounds and two selections in each of the second, fifth and seventh rounds.
Here’s the full result of the Draft Lottery:
- ELIMINATED TEAM TBD
- Los Angeles Kings
- Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks)
- Detroit Red Wings
- Ottawa Senators
- Anaheim Ducks
- New Jersey Devils
- Buffalo Sabres
The remaining spots will be assigned in reverse order of points percentage among the eliminated teams after Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery.
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