Ducks Daily: Looking ahead to the NHL Draft Lottery

Even though the Anaheim Ducks aren’t a part of the NHL’s 24-team Return to Play plan, it is still an exciting time to be a fan of the team.

The Ducks are have the fifth-best odds to win the NHL Draft Lottery, which is scheduled for June 26. Here is how Anaheim’s odds break down going into the lottery:

First pick: 8.5%

Second pick: 8.7%

Third pick: 8.9%

Fourth pick: 0%

Fifth pick: 8.4%

Sixth pick: 34.5%

Seventh pick: 26.7%

Eighth pick: 4.3%

As you can see, the the Ducks most likely landing spot is No. 6, thanks to the NHL’s weird lottery system. Anaheim’s highest pick over the last 14 years was when the Ducks took Hampus Lindholm sixth in the 2012 draft.

Barring a complete surprise, left-winger Alexis Lafreniere will be the No. 1 pick at the 2020 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is clearly the top prospect after piling up 112 points with Rimouski in the QMJHL.

But, who will go No. 2? This draft is deep, so if Anaheim moves up to get the second pick, general manager Bob Murray will have plenty of options, including:

Center Quinton Byfield (82 points with Sudbury in the OHL)

Left-winger Tim Stutzle (34 points in the German league)

Defenseman Jamie Drysdale (47 points with Eerie in the OHL)

Center Marco Rossi (120 points with Ottawa in the OHL)

Defenseman Jake Sanderson (29 points with with the University of North Dakota)

Murray will be able to get young impact player at this draft, but he will have to decide how he wants to approach it. Does he want to add another piece on the back-end, who may have to spend a few season in the AHL to develop, or look for an offensive option that can potentially be in the opening day lineup.

We know Lafreniere is the pick at No. 1, but who do you want Anaheim to take if it ends up with the second pick overall?