These teams have the best odds at Bedard in 2023 NHL Draft Lottery
The pain of the past seven months is about to be erased for one team about to land consensus No. 1 prospect Connor Bedard in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery.
But who is about to land the franchise-defining forward?
Eleven teams will be in the running to nab Bedard, the No. 1-ranked prospect for the 2023 draft and buzzing center who posted a remarkable season with the Regina Pats that saw him lead the entire Western Hockey League in goals (71), assists (72), and points (143) in becoming the first player on that circuit to record 140-plus points in a season since 1995-96.
By comparison, Connor McDavid logged 120 points (44 goals, 76 assists) in 47 games in his draft-eligible season in 2014-15 with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Anaheim Ducks, by way of a 23-47-12 record for a .354 points percentage after losing 13 straight to end the 2022-23 campaign, hold the draft lottery’s best odds at nabbing Bedard at 25.5%. The Columbus Blue Jackets, at 25-48-9 and a .360 points percentage, rank second at 13.5%. The Chicago Blackhawks have the third-best odds at 11.5% after struggling to the tune of a 26-49-7 record for a .360 points percentage.
Under recently-altered draft lottery rules, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots from their finishing position. That means a team like the Calgary Flames, who have the words odds of a lottery win at just a 0.5%, can only jump to sixth — and out of the Bedard sweepstakes.
The 2023 NHL Draft Lottery will be held May 8 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).
Here’s who can claim the No. 1 spot and the right to draft Bedard:
| RNK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | ODDS |
| 1 | Anaheim Ducks | 23-47-12 | .354 | 25.5% |
| 2 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 25-48-9 | .360 | 13.5% |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | 26-49-7 | .360 | 11.5% |
| 4 | San Jose Sharks | 22-44-16 | .366 | 9.5% |
| 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 31-45-6 | .415 | 8.5% |
| 6 | Arizona Coyotes | 28-40-14 | .427 | 7.5% |
| 7 | Philadelphia Flyers | 31-38-13 | .457 | 6.5% |
| 8 | Washington Capitals | 35-37-10 | .488 | 6.0% |
| 9 | Detroit Red Wings | 35-37-10 | .488 | 5.0% |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | 37-38-7 | .494 | 3.5% |
| 11 | Vancouver Canucks | 37-37-7 | .500 | 3.0% |