Setting the table for the New Jersey Devils on lottery night

The Devils find out where they're picking tonight. What should they do if they win? What if they drop? Let's discuss!

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The Stanley Cup for non-playoff teams – the draft lottery – goes tonight.

While nearly half the league is fighting it out in effort to win the Holy Grail of hockey, the Devils are sitting idly hoping Lady Luck once again falls in their favor. A tradition like no other.

Heading into the lottery, the Devils possess the fifth highest chance of moving up and claiming the top pick. The odds of that occurring sit at 8.5%.

Here is a full breakdown via NHL.com:

Montreal Canadiens 18.5%
Arizona Coyotes 13.5%
Seattle Kraken 11.5%
Philadelphia Flyers 9.5%
New Jersey Devils 8.5%
Chicago Blackhawks * 7.5%
Ottawa Senators 6.5%
Detroit Red Wings 6.0%
Buffalo Sabres 5.0%
Anaheim Ducks 3.5%
San Jose Sharks 3.0%
Columbus Blue Jackets 2.5%
New York Islanders 2.0%
Winnipeg Jets 1.5%
Vancouver Canucks 0.5%
Vegas Golden Knights ** 0.5%

Those are not great odds. The Devils are nearly three times more likely to stand pat at 5th overall (24.5%) than win top spot. There is also a 58.1% chance they move down in the rankings, ending up either 6th or 7th.

So, while anything can happen, it is more likely than not the Devils actually slip further down the order.

I have some thoughts on what could or should happen if they end up in each range. Let’s dive in.

The Devils pick 1st overall

That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Everyone is sick of being in the basement but, if that’s the case, you might as well maximize your time there.

I will dive much more deeply into the prospect world after the lottery – there’s no point in doing deep dives on Shane Wright if they’re picking 6th – but I think if the Devils win this slot, they stand pat and draft Wright.

‘The Devils don’t need another top-6 center!’

No, they don’t need one. But you draft the best player available to you and Wright seems to be that guy. He is a well-rounded two-way player who possesses high-end vision and a shot that can beat goaltenders from range.

He can likely step into the NHL next season and give you competent 3C minutes or make an impact higher up the lineup on the wing; much like we just saw from Dawson Mercer.

While it would’ve been nice to see a little more dominance from Wright this season, you have to remember he’s an 18-year-old kid who didn’t play hockey last year due to the pandemic. To return to action and put together a 94 point campaign over 63 games is solid.

No, it’s not Connor McDavid production; he was never going to be that kind of player. Wright’s point outputs align more closely with what the likes of Nico Hischier and Steven Stamkos did in their draft years and, again, Wright missed his D-1 year. It’s possible he could’ve had more to give with further development.

I love Kevin Fiala as much as the next guy but I’m not moving the 1st overall pick for him. In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to justify dealing someone who can step in immediately and give you three years of solid hockey at 900K (plus bonuses).