Buffalo Sabres Win NHL Draft Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres have struck some lady luck as they will select first overall at the NHL Draft in July after winning the lottery on Wednesday night. The Seattle Kraken who were ranked as the three seed going in, move up one spot and will pick second, meanwhile the Anaheim Ducks dropped a spot and will select third. Here's how it will all play out:

Sabres
Kraken
Ducks
Devils
Blue Jackets
Red Wings
Sharks
Kings
Canucks
Senators
Blackhawks
Flames
Flyers
Stars
Rangers

One team you don't see is the Arizona Coyotes who forfeited their first-round pick for violating the NHL's combine testing policy back in 2019-20. If the 'Yotes would have won, a redraw would have occurred. To the picks, this draft is going to be like no other considering how players were scouted the past 12 months. With hardly any hockey being played to evaluate the talent, expect teams to go off the board throughout the first round. Canadian defenseman Owen Power is the top-ranked North American skater, while Swedish winger William Eklund is ranked #1 internationally.

The NHL has its final rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft.

N.A.:
1. Owen Power, D
2. Mason McTavish, C
3. Kent Johnson, C
4. Luke Hughes, D
5. Dylan Guenther, RW

International:
1. William Eklund, LW
2. Simon Edvinsson, D
3. Aatu Raty, C
4. Nikita Chibirov, RW
5. Daniil Chayka, D
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 27, 2021

As for the Sabres this is the perfect chance to hit the rebuild button and bring in a #1 overall pick to pair with former #1 Rasmus Dahlin. The team is expected to trade Jack Eichel, who perhaps a team like the Ducks at #3 may have interest in. The Ducks are looking for someone for Ryan Getzlaf to pass the torch too, and Eichel would be a prime candidate. Another team to watch in the top five are the Columbus Blue Jackets. They are desperate for a #1 center and may be willing to include the fifth pick in their offer package.

The Sabres have picked first overall three times in franchise history. The mentioned Dahlin was the latest back in 2018, meanwhile they also selected first in 1987 taking Pierre Turgeon and back in 1970, selecting Gilbert Perreault. We'll find out in July who's next.

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports