The NHL draft lottery has long been surrounded by skepticism, with many fans doubting its fairness and suggesting it might be manipulated by the league. Insider Chris Johnston recently addressed these rumors, firmly rejecting claims that the process is rigged, especially regarding the Connor McDavid NHL draft lottery.
Historically, the team finishing last in the league automatically earned the first pick in the next draft. This method changed to a lottery system where teams with poor records enter a ping-pong ball drawing for top selections. This shift was intended to add an element of chance and fairness for teams vying for the highest draft spots.
Experts Affirm Transparency of the NHL Draft Lottery Process
On “The Steve Dangle Podcast,” host Steve Dangle directly questioned Chris Johnston about allegations that the lottery is manipulated. Johnston dismissed the claim outright, supported by fellow panelist Adam Wylde who highlighted that Ernst & Young, a well-known accounting firm, oversees the lottery to ensure proper conduct.
“They bring in an outside security team to do it. Ernst and Young,” Wylde said on Tuesday (1:18:00), via “The Steve Dangle Podcast.” They do have a reputation for fairness. If it was rigged, Connor McDavid would have been a Leaf, I think. I don’t think he would have gone to Edmonton.
“Or a Sabre or something,” Johnston said.
Both commentators pointed out that if the lottery was influenced to benefit big-market teams, McDavid, one of the most celebrated prospects, likely would have been selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs or Buffalo Sabres, as both teams were struggling prior to his draft year. Johnston reasoned that assigning McDavid to a major market would have amplified his impact, similar to how Wayne Gretzky’s move from Edmonton to Los Angeles raised hockey’s profile in the United States.
Instead, McDavid was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, a smaller market franchise in Western Canada, underscoring the lottery’s impartiality.
This Year’s Draft Lottery Raised Doubts Despite Enhanced Transparency
The NHL aimed to improve transparency by live-streaming the draft lottery this year. The New York Islanders, with just a 3.5% chance as the 10th-lowest team, won the first overall pick, selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer—marking the Isles’ first top pick since John Tavares in 2009.
Although the probability of the Islanders winning was low, the league clearly explained the lottery mechanics during the broadcast. Despite this, some viewers found the presentation confusing. The outcome has kept conversations alive about the lottery’s fairness and complexity, sparking questions about its operation going forward.
The draft lottery remains critical, especially with highly ranked prospects like Gavin McKenna expected in the next class. McKenna, touted as one of the best prospects ever, will likely intensify scrutiny around the NHL draft lottery process as teams and fans eagerly anticipate how it will unfold.