Race to the Bottom: A Winner is Crowned

[QUEsteve]

With 10 games to go in the regular season the race to the basement and better odds of winning the top draft pick are heating up. There are only 2 points separating the teams currently residing in places 27th to 29th in league standings, although it appears that the Kings have locked up 30th place as the bottom-feeding team in the league.

For Kings fans, they sit 6 points behind the 29th place Seattle Kraken. After winning just 12 games in their first 72 it seems unlikely that Los Angeles will catch fire and gain 3 wins on the Kraken. It is fair to say that the Kings can be predetermined and crowned as Last Place Champion.

So, then what’s the fuss? With the Kraken, Quebec Nordiques, and Chicago Blackhawks all within 2 points of each other the fuss is about the percentage chance that these teams are vying for. These three places have good odds of winning a lottery position, 13.5%, 11.5%, and 9.5% respectively. Any of those odds provide a great chance of remaining in a top 4 position in the draft and the top of this draft class is loaded with impact defenders and two amazing forwards. That said, there is a clear distinction outside the top 5.

If any of these bottom feeders fall outside the top 5, their organizations will undoubtedly be disappointed. As mentioned, there are three potential number 1 defencemen in this draft class and 2 forwards that will undoubtedly make a meaningful impact within the next 2-3 years. Something all of these teams desperately need.

Now that’s not to take away anything from the group of players expected to go between picks 6-20, as these are all highly likely picks that will hit and play supporting roles in a top 6 forward group or top 4 defensively. Unfortunately, if one of these teams fall to that 6th spot, that big impact projects further away, and perhaps, doesn’t hit quite the same way as a top 5 selection.

As we head down the final stretch it will be interesting to see how the final standings play out and how the balls bounce at the draft lottery.

Good luck to these bottom-feeders and oh ya, happy final grind to all those teams in contention! The push is on.