How a lottery reshuffled the NHL's future in Chicago
In short: In June 2017, the NHL entry draft was more than just a talent showcase. Through a complex lottery system and a flurry of high-stakes trades, the league's hierarchy was fundamentally rewritten, moving top picks away from struggling teams and toward new contenders.
The 2017 NHL entry draft, held June 23–24 at the United Center in Chicago, was the league's 55th such event. While the draft is designed to help struggling teams, the lottery system used in 2017—which had been modified starting in the 2014–15 season—was specifically designed to decrease the odds of the lowest-finishing teams winning the top picks. This created a volatile environment where the first three selections were decided by chance on April 29, 2017.
The results of the lottery were transformative for several franchises. The New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and Dallas Stars secured the first, second, and third overall picks, respectively. Substantial shifts occurred: New Jersey climbed four places to secure the top pick, whereas Philadelphia and Dallas rose from eighth and thirteenth. In contrast, the Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and Colorado Avalanche each fell three spots relative to their initial draft ranking.
The draft was also defined by intense maneuvering involving the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The expansion team utilized the draft to build its roster through various trades, including acquiring the Winnipeg Jets' first-round pick by offering assets to secure players like Chris Thorburn in the expansion draft. During this period, individuals born from 1 January 1997 to 15 September 1999 vied for positions; by 2026, 55 members of this cohort remained in the NHL.
Beyond the lottery, the draft floor was a marketplace of talent. The Arizona Coyotes' first-round pick was traded to the New York Rangers for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, while the Chicago Blackhawks' first-round pick ended up with the Dallas Stars. These transactions highlight the strategic complexity of the draft, where teams balance immediate veteran needs against the long-term potential of incoming prospects like Nico Hischolog, Nolan Patrick, and Miro Heiskanen.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2017 NHL entry draft
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