Connor Bedard is placing on a present on the IIHF World Junior Championship, and it is easy to see why so many fan bases are hoping their staff lands the No. 1 total decide within the 2023 NHL Draft.
In Monday evening’s quarterfinal sport towards Slovakia, Bedard led staff Canada to an extra time win with one of many targets of the 12 months at any degree. With a expertise like this on the high of the draft board, tanking is difficult to withstand.
The 2022-23 NHL season is nearing its midway level, and the draft lottery image is changing into a lot clearer. Teams just like the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks are in a heated dash to the underside, however just a few extra are lurking simply north of them with hopes of touchdown Bedard.
Here is the NHL’s up to date battle for final place and one of the best probabilities on the No. 1 total decide.
1. Chicago Blackhawks | 8-24-4 | 20 factors
This was all the time the plan for the Blackhawks, and it’s coming collectively spectacularly. They have received 4 video games within the final two months and sit alone in final place. Being 4 factors behind the Anaheim Ducks is sort of spectacular, given how dangerous they have been this season, however that’s the place the Blackhawks are as of late.
Chicago is final in targets scored (79) and twenty sixth in targets allowed (137). That provides as much as a minus-58 purpose differential. To put it plainly, the Blackhawks are dangerous at every thing, and it might solely worsen. Patrick Kane and several other different gamers may very well be on their method out forward of the NHL commerce deadline, and that will solely speed up the tank.
2. Anaheim Ducks | 10-24-4 | 24 factors
The Ducks should be a little bit annoyed at this level. They have performed every thing they will to be in final place, however they’re nonetheless simply forward of the Blackhawks within the standings. Anaheim is lifeless final in targets allowed (158) and purpose differential (-70). The Ducks have been getting outplayed regularly, they usually have managed simply 40.12% of the anticipated targets at five-on-five.
Despite all their finest efforts, the Ducks nonetheless wouldn’t have one of the best likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 total decide. That’s as a result of they could have simply sufficient expertise, together with budding stars Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras, to tug out just a few extra wins than Chicago. Still, if the NHL Draft Lottery was held as we speak, Anaheim would have an honest shot on the high decide and Connor Bedard.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets | 11-22-2 | 24 factors
Between accidents and poor goaltending, the wheels have come off in a rush for the Blue Jackets. As a consequence, they’re now within the thick of the race for the No. 1 total decide. At this level, it might be within the Blue Jackets’ finest curiosity to maintain the losses coming as a substitute of making an attempt to proper the ship and push for a extremely unlikely playoff berth.
I’m undecided if tanking proper after signing Johnny Gaudreau to a long-term deal was the unique plan for the Blue Jackets, but when it was, it was fairly good. Even with Gaudreau on the roster, Columbus was not going to be a contender, however including a participant like Bedard to the combination may change that in a rush.
4. San Jose Sharks | 12-20-7 | 31 factors
The Sharks’ 2022-23 season has gone as anticipated thus far. They are one of many worst groups within the NHL, however they are not fairly dangerous sufficient to complete final within the NHL, a minimum of not but. What wasn’t anticipated was a resurgent season from defenseman Erik Karlsson, who appears like a Norris Trophy contender once more.
Because of Karlsson’s sudden bounce-back, there’s a likelihood the Sharks may have the ability to unload his large contract in a commerce. Between Karlsson and Timo Meier, who’s within the last 12 months of his contract, San Jose has a few very proficient gamers it may commerce for a huge haul in return. If the Sharks do transfer each of these gamers, they might be really putrid.
5. Arizona Coyotes | 13-17-5 | 31 factors
Things have gone horribly fallacious for the Arizona Coyotes. They have been successful video games towards a few of the finest groups within the NHL. In the final couple of weeks, the Coyotes have overwhelmed the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Islanders. That was not a part of the staff’s plan coming into the 2022-23 season.
In all seriousness, it has been good to see the Coyotes going toe-to-toe with a few of the league’s finest, particularly at residence. However, this current run of success has not helped their probabilities of drafting Connor Bedard, except he one way or the other falls a number of spots within the 2023 draft. There continues to be loads of time for Arizona to go ice chilly and sink like a stone.
6. Montreal Canadiens | 15-19-3 | 33 factors
The Canadiens are actually in a great spot right here. Some of their younger expertise has proven progress with gamers like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield coming into their very own. At the identical time, Montreal is shortly slipping within the standings with two wins in its final 10 video games.
If the ping pong balls do bounce Montreal’s method, that will put the staff in a superb place shifting ahead. In Suzuki and Caufield, the Canadiens have already got a few cornerstone gamers in place, they usually have a great amount of cash coming off the books after this season. If Montreal can flip a pair gamers for future belongings on the commerce deadline, it is going to be sitting fairly in June.
7. Philadelphia Flyers | 14-17-7 | 35 factors
The Flyers received off to an honest begin underneath John Tortorella in his first 12 months in , however that has shortly evaporated, regardless of the staff’s present three-game successful streak. As Philadelphia has drifted towards the underside of the standings, its hopes of calling Connor Bedard’s title subsequent summer season have risen.
This is a rebuilding 12 months for the Flyers, and a high-draft decide would give some optimism to a company that desperately wants it. Philadelphia is not brimming with elite younger expertise, and it’s up towards the wage cap, so touchdown a phenom like Bedard would remedy a few of these issues.
8. Vancouver Canucks | 16-17-3 | 35 factors
The Canucks have not been in a position to dig themselves out of an early gap, and they’re in no man’s land. With every passing day, rebuilding appears increasingly more like one of the best path ahead for Vancouver. The staff may begin by buying and selling away gamers on expiring offers like Bo Horvat, Luke Schenn, and Ethan Bear.
If the Canucks are going to tear all of it down, they should make that call sooner reasonably than later. Right now, Vancouver is likely to be a little bit too good to land one of many premier picks within the 2023 draft, however that would change with just a few main personnel strikes.
