Penticton Herald

Habs claim lottery win for NHL draft

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MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens won the 2022 NHL draft lottery on Tuesday night and have the first selection for the draft at their home arena.

The Canadiens had the best odds to win the lottery at 18.5% after posting an NHL-worst 22-49-11 record this season.

They are now poised to be first team to speak at the draft, which will be held on July 7-8 at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

The New Jersey Devils moved up in the lottery and earned the second pick. The Arizona Coyotes hold the third-overall pick.

For a second straight year, the team with the highest odds won the lottery. The Buffalo Sabres selected defenceman Owen Power with the top pick in 2021.

The Habs have not had a first overall selection since drafting Doug Wickenheis­er at the 1980 draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum.

Four other players were selected first overall by the Canadiens in club history: Guy Lafleur in 1971, Rejean Houle in 1969, Michel Plasse in 1968 and Garry Monahan at the very first draft in 1963.

The Seattle Kraken, Philadelph­ia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets (via Chicago), Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks round out the top 10 of the draft order.

The consensus top player ahead of the draft is centreman Shane Wright from the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs. He recorded 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 games in the 2021-22 season.

Among the other top prospects are centres Logan Cooley of the United States Developmen­t Program and Matthew Savoie of the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice.

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