The New York Icelanders won against all odds, the Restchage of the National Hockey League lottery on Monday evening, and will speak at the very row on June 27 in Los Angeles.
Posted at 7:35 p.m.
Updated at 8:22 p.m.
New York training, which was normally to select at 10e rank, had only 3.5 % chance of winning the lottery.
“It’s incredible,” said the Icelanders recruitment director Ken Morrow. The gods of hockey are with us.
“Our recruiters staff will be very excited and prepared for this selection which will be historic for this organization. I can’t find the words to say how happy I am. »»
The Icelanders will speak in the front row for the fifth time in their history and for the first time since 2009. John Tavares had then been their choice.
We were treated to another surprise afterwards.
The Utah hockey club, which was initially recovered at 14e Echelon, for its part won the second draw and will therefore select in fourth row, since a team cannot climb more than 10 places.
The San Jose Sharks, who had the best chance for the lottery, will speak second. The Californian training was trying to become the first team in the NHL history to win the lottery and recover in the front row two years in a row.
The Chicago Blackhawks, who had the second best chances, will choose the third step.
The Montreal Canadian, who also has the choice of Calgary’s flames, will speak to the 16e et 17e ranks.
-The draw took place in the studios of NHL Network in New Jersey and took place live for the first time in 30 years of history.
Previously, the draw took place shortly before the broadcast, in front of a restricted audience of confined observers, then the selections were revealed in the opposite order.
Schaefer at the top of the list
Defender Matthew Schaefer, otters of Érié, is the best North American hope according to the NHL recruitment center. He is followed by center player Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit, and striker James Hagens, from Boston College.
Schaefer retained his first place despite a collarbone injury, suffered last December at the World Junior Hockey Championship, which prevented him from playing for three months.
“It is logical to believe that Schaefer will be a star player in the NHL,” said Dan Marr, vice-president of the recruitment center. It has a complete and dynamic style that generates results and influences the outcome of matches. »»
Schaefer has the potential to become only the fifth defender selected in the front row since 2000, and the first since the Buffalo sabers chose Owen Power in 2021.
He also has the chance to become the first player in the Ontario hockey league to be selected in the front row since the EDMONTON Oilers drafted Connor McDavid in 2015.
The best classified international skaters are the attackers Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, both teammates in Djurgarden, in the second Swedish division.
Frondell scored 11 goals and 25 points in 25 games last season, displaying the second largest number of points by a player 17 or under in the second division. Only William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs, did better in 2013-2014.
