The Edmonton Oilers will select first overall for the fourth time in the last six years after winning the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery.
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The Buffalo Sabres will pick second after finishing in 30th place this season.
Edmonton likely will select Connor McDavid with the first overall pick. The Erie Otters center led the Ontario Hockey League in scoring with 120 points (44 goals, 76 assists) in 47 games and has been compared to NHL stars such as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby. He is expected to make an immediate impact in his rookie season, which in all likelihood will be the 2015-16 campaign.
Boston University freshman forward Jack Eichel led NCAA Division I scoring with 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 40 games and would be the No. 1 pick in almost any other draft. He’s drawn comparisons to highly skilled power-forward centers such as Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf.
The Boston Bruins will pick 14th overall, which is their highest selection in Round 1 since 2007, when they drafted forward Zach Hamill at No. 7. The B’s had a 99 percent chance of picking 14th and one percent odds of selecting first overall.
Here are the results of this year’s lottery. The 2015 NHL Draft will be held June 26 and 27 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Buffalo Sabres
3. Arizona Coyotes
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
5. Carolina Hurricanes
6. New Jersey Devils
7. Philadelphia Flyers
8. Columbus Blue Jackets
9. San Jose Sharks
10. Colorado Avalanche
11. Florida Panthers
12. Dallas Stars
13. Los Angeles Kings
14. Boston Bruins
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@FriedgeHNIC
