[News] 2020 Draft lottery Phase 1 results - a placeholder team has the 1st overall pick

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If it was a 100% chance of Lafrenierre, then maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to lose? a 1/8 chance though is not enough to say so. It would be nice if we did get him, but it would be better to beat the Jets and then go on.

Maybe? Id take Lafrenierre over a beating from the Blues without thinking twice.

This long layoff does make things a bit more interesting though. At the start of every season certain teams start really hot and others really cold. These playoffs could be very similar so its really hard to know how things will play out. Normally the best teams are heavily favored but this time who knows.

[OutOfTheCube]

If you would trade winning for a 1-in-8 chance at the first overall pick, well, let me tell you a thing or two about the luck of the Calgary Flames franchise...

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If it was a 100% chance of Lafrenierre, then maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to lose? a 1/8 chance though is not enough to say so. It would be nice if we did get him, but it would be better to beat the Jets and then go on.

If it was a 100% chance, you throw the series, shamelessly.

[agulati]

There is no way I’d ever be comfortable cheering for losses to get the 1st overall pick. If it ends up being the situation, so be it, but I’d rather Flames beat the Jets on their way to deeper in the playoffs

[AustinL_NHL]

If you were 100% guaranteed to get Lafreniere if you lose to the Jets, you throw the series. It's hilarious to think otherwise.

Trying to beat out 23 other NHL teams (less than 5% chance of winning without even accounting for the skill level variance) just because you don't want to have a "loser mentality" is just dumb and idiotic when you could easily have a franchise-altering player as a result of losing 3 non-Playoff games.

[Vinny01]

I really don’t want Vancouver, Edmonton, Arizona getting that pick.

I don’t want the Flames to lose to the Jets but if the team were able to get that pick and use the disappointing season to retool the team I can see it paying off huge down the road.

I would see how interested the Sabres would be in a deal around Lafreniere and Eichel. Other pieces need to be added to balance it out but that is an extremely strong base for an offer.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

If you were 100% guaranteed to get Lafreniere if you lose to the Jets, you throw the series. It's hilarious to think otherwise.

Trying to beat out 23 other NHL teams (less than 5% chance of winning without even accounting for the skill level variance) just because you don't want to have a "loser mentality" is just dumb and idiotic when you could easily have a franchise-altering player as a result of losing 3 non-Playoff games.

Its hilarious to me that anyone actually believes that professional athletes and coaches would have anything to do with throwing any game any where in order to get an 18 year old kid they may or may not ever even play with.

Its just so absurd.

[Poe969]

Come on, these are the Flames. They'll lose to the jets, not win the draft, either draft an average player or trade the pick for an average player. And even if the won the draft lottery, the player would turn out to be a bust. This is an average at best franchise, they'll never be bad enough to draft a good player and never be good enough to actually go on a run in the playoffs and win the cup.

Now if you want the team to do anything other than what they've been doing in order to not just be average, you're a looser!

[CGY12]

The Flames don't have a shot at winning the cup in my opinion. Do I want to see them beat the jets? Of course, nobody cheers for loses, but they are in tough. They have the toughest matchup of all of the western conference match-ups.

I wouldn't expect the Flames to win the lottery if they happen to lose but wow if they were to win it and sign Hall, this team could be on the cusp of greatness, with what they already have upfront and what is brewing on the back end. They would just need to solve the goaltending issue.

Both the Oilers and Canucks aren't losing their qualifying match-ups. Chicago is too weak defensively and Minny isn't a threat. They will both bow out in round 1 of the playoffs though.

[SeanCharles]

I now officially want hockey to come back for the first time since it got cancelled.

A chance to win the cup or get 1st overall vs no hockey and picking 16th.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CGY12

...Both the Oilers and Canucks aren't losing their qualifying match-ups. Chicago is too weak defensively and Minny isn't a threat. They will both bow out in round 1 of the playoffs though.

Have you looked at Edmonton's blue line? Add to that the fact that they have only one top-line player playing on their first line and I would say the Oilers are not an especially good bet to move past the unspectacular Chicago Blackhawks.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Come on, these are the Flames. They'll lose to the jets, not win the draft, either draft an average player or trade the pick for an average player. And even if the won the draft lottery, the player would turn out to be a bust. This is an average at best franchise, they'll never be bad enough to draft a good player and never be good enough to actually go on a run in the playoffs and win the cup.

Now if you want the team to do anything other than what they've been doing in order to not just be average, you're a looser!

If you truly think this way then why on Earth do you follow the team? Serious question. I could find a million better things to do with my time than follow a team I think will suck no matter what.

[getbak]

I hope I did this right. Here are the Flames draft position scenarios...

If the Flames lose their play-in round and ...

... win the second lottery: 1st Overall Pick

... lose the second lottery: 13th Overall Pick at worst. Their pick will move up one spot if the second lottery is won by one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN, and will move up one spot for every one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN that wins their play-in round. The Flames' best possible draft position in this scenario is 9th overall.

If the Flames win their play-in round ...

... 16th Overall Pick at best. Their pick will drop down one spot for every one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN that wins their play-in round (but doesn't reach the Conference Finals). The Flames' worst possible draft position in this scenario is 20th overall.

... and loses the Western Conference Final: 28th Overall Pick, unless Montreal also loses the Eastern Conference Final, in which case, the Flames would get the 29th Overall Pick.

... and loses the Stanley Cup Final: 30th Overall Pick.

... and wins the Stanley Cup: 31st Overall Pick and all the Oilers' tears you can drink!

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Its hilarious to me that anyone actually believes that professional athletes and coaches would have anything to do with throwing any game any where in order to get an 18 year old kid they may or may not ever even play with.

Its just so absurd.

I'm not talking from the athletes or coaches POV. I'm talking from the logical outside point of view.

It's called the "lottery" for a reason.

If you know you're guaranteed to win the lottery that could set you up for the next 10+ years just for losing 3 games, you'd say "No, I'd rather win the 3 games and take the 4% chance of winning it all"?

I wonder what you'd be hoping if you were told you'd win the lotto max if the Flames lost the play-in series.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

I'm not talking from the athletes or coaches POV. I'm talking from the logical outside point of view.

It's called the "lottery" for a reason.

If you know you're guaranteed to win the lottery that could set you up for the next 10+ years just for losing 3 games, you'd say "No, I'd rather win the 3 games and take the 4% chance of winning it all"?

I wonder what you'd be hoping if you were told you'd win the lotto max if the Flames lost the play-in series.

Yeah that’s the same.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Yeah that’s the same.

It's an exaggerated point.

But in the NHL, it really is a game changer.

I can guarantee you every fanbase minus the top 4-5 in 2015 would've accepted missing the Playoffs in exchange for being guaranteed to get Connor McDavid

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Have you looked at Edmonton's blue line? Add to that the fact that they have only one top-line player playing on their first line and I would say the Oilers are not an especially good bet to move past the unspectacular Chicago Blackhawks.

I dont necessarily disagree about the defence. Both are putrid. One line or not, I'd rather have McDavid/Draisatle over Kane/Toews right now in a best of 5. I think the Oilers win that series rather easily in 4. They are done after that though. I want that to happen, I do not want them involved in the lottery.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by getbak

I hope I did this right. Here are the Flames draft position scenarios...

If the Flames lose their play-in round and ...

... win the second lottery: 1st Overall Pick

... lose the second lottery: 13th Overall Pick at worst. Their pick will move up one spot if the second lottery is won by one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN, and will move up one spot for every one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN that wins their play-in round. The Flames' best possible draft position in this scenario is 9th overall.

If the Flames win their play-in round ...

... 16th Overall Pick at best. Their pick will drop down one spot for every one of MTL/CHI/ARI/MIN that wins their play-in round (but doesn't reach the Conference Finals). The Flames' worst possible draft position in this scenario is 20th overall.

... and loses the Western Conference Final: 28th Overall Pick, unless Montreal also loses the Eastern Conference Final, in which case, the Flames would get the 29th Overall Pick.

... and loses the Stanley Cup Final: 30th Overall Pick.

... and wins the Stanley Cup: 31st Overall Pick and all the Oilers' tears you can drink!

The first and last options or nothing!

[Erick Estrada]

There's no way an NHL team would ever throw a series but the Flames fans now have a safety blanket knowing that another of a long line of failed opening series will come with a silver lining of a 12.5% chance of drafting a franchise player.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by getbak

873 (at time of recording) people who either are or should be Oiler fans.

Losers cheer for losses.

Yes, but up until game day, based on recent performances, I can’t logically predict a scenario where the Flames go deep in the playoffs. Could happen, but less likely than not. So I’d rather hedge with a hope at the first overall pick to strengthen our chances of going deep in subsequent seasons. Once game day hits though it’s vote for winning games and multiple series 100%.

[topfiverecords]

I think my ranking of where I’d want to be after all games are over.

8. Lose play-in. Lose lottery. Oilers win lottery.
7. Lose play-in. Lose lottery. East team wins.
6. Win play-in. Jets won lottery.
5. Lose first round.
4. Lose second round.
3. Lose conference finals.
2. Lose Play-in. Win 1st Overall in lottery.
1. Stanley Cup Champion