Islanders: League looking at changes to NHL Draft lottery

The NHL has passed a memo to GM’s indicating they’d like to bring changes to the entry draft. Specifically when it comes to earning a top-three pick at the draft. And while that may not concerns the New York Islanders right now, who are one of the top teams in the league, it could eventually.

So what are the proposed changes and what does that mean if the NHL actually goes through with them?

New York Islanders history with NHL Draft lottery

According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the NHL is looking at three changes to the NHL draft. The changes are to essentially enable the worst teams to get the most help while not totally supporting tanking.

Here are the three changes the NHL is proposing:

• No more than two lottery wins in a five-year period;
• Teams can’t jump more than ten spots
• Only two picks up for grabs in the lottery (instead of three)

Any changes to the draft have to be approved by the NHL Board of Governors. There’s no consensus on how successful the NHL would be at getting these changes approved.

The idea here is clear, teams who finish near the bottom should have assurances they’ll have a good chance at being able to get the best players at the draft.

These new rules are clearly trying to prevent another 2020 draft that saw the Rangers move up eleven spots to nab the first overall selection or like how the Edmonton Oilers were able to nab three first overall picks from 2010 to 2015 (Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid).

Again, we’ll see where this goes and if the NHL Board of Governors has any appetite for change.

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History with the no.1 pick at the draft lottery

Since 1995, when the draft lottery began, the Islanders have won it twice and had the best odds twice.

Their first win came in 2000 when they moved up five spots and drafted Rick DiPietro. Atlanta had the best odds that season. While DiPietro was a good goalie when healthy, but unfortunately he couldn’t stay on the ice.

The Isles would be the favorite to win the draft in 2001, but that was inconsequential on account of the Alexei Yashin trade with the Ottawa Senators. The Sens would get the no.2 pick and take Jason Spezza.

The last time the Isles had the best chance of taking the first overall pick was in 2009. As we all know they won it that year and took John Tavares.