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The first year that the NHL held the draft lottery happened to be the year that the Flyers were slated to pick first. The Chicago Blackhawks were in the fifth position. Then the lottery balls were mixed up and selected.
The Blackhawks were awarded the first overall pick over the Flyers, even though they outperformed the Flyers by 14 points in the 2006/07 regular season. Had it not been for the new lottery system being implemented, the Flyers would have had the first overall pick.
American talent was aplenty in the first round.