2021 NHL Draft: Which team has best odds at getting No. 1 pick?

With the 2021 NHL regular season over, the 15 teams that did not make the playoffs, plus the Seattle Kraken, have their eyes on the NHL draft, which will take place on July 23 and 24.

Each team has a chance at landing the No. 1 pick, or the No. 2 pick, through the NHL draft lottery on June 2. Their odds of getting either of those selections have been set based on their final records and where they finished in the league standings.

After it’s been decided who will be selecting with the first two picks, the remainder of the selections will be determined based on regular-season points, going in inverse order from No. 3 to No. 16. 

The Kraken were automatically given the same odds as the third-worst team, the New Jersey Devils, for the No. 1 pick. The team will start the formation of its squad for the Kraken’s inaugural season in 2021-22. 

Also, the Arizona Coyotes do not own a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, as the team was forced to give up its pick after the NHL discovered the club had violated the league’s combine testing policy. If they land either the No. 1 or No. 2  pick, there will be a redraw. 

Here are the odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft:

1. Buffalo Sabres: 16.6 percent

2. Anaheim Ducks: 12.1 percent

3. Seattle Kraken: 10.3 percent

4. New Jersey Devils: 10.3 percent

5. Columbus Blue Jackets: 8.5 percent

6. Detroit Red Wings: 7.6 percent

7. San Jose Sharks: 6.7 percent

8. Los Angeles Kings: 5.8 percent

9. Vancouver Canucks: 5.4 percent

10. Ottawa Senators: 4.5 percent

11. Arizona Coyotes: 3.1 percent 

12. Chicago Blackhawks: 2.7 percent

13. Calgary Flames: 2.2 percent

14. Philadelphia Flyers: 1.8 percent

15. Dallas Stars: 1.4 percent

16. New York Rangers: 1.0 percent

Bryan Murphy contributed to this story.