The Detroit Red Wings were unlucky for a third straight year in the NHL draft lottery, once again bumped back rather than into the top three.
Tuesday’s lottery to determine the order of the first 15 picks in June’s entry draft had the Wings bumped from fourth to sixth, as both Chicago and the New York Rangers won the right to pick in the top three. The New Jersey Devils will pick first overall for the second time in three years; the Rangers, second, and the Blackhawks, third. The draft is June 21-22 in Vancouver.
Forwards Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko and Vasily Podkolzin are projected to go in those three spots by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau.