It’s possible either the Islanders or Rangers can wind up with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft as a consolation prize if they lose their best-of-five qualifying series in the NHL’s return to play format.
A to-be-selected placeholder team earned the first overall pick against long odds in Friday night’s first phase of the NHL draft lottery. That team will be selected in the draft lottery’s second phase, to be conducted before the first round of the 16-team NHL playoffs, from among the eight teams eliminated in the qualifying round. All eight teams have a 12.