from Damien Cox of The Spin,

Now, the team with the best record among the non-playoff teams could win the lottery. For a team like Columbus, which also owns the first round selection of the New York Rangers from the Rick Nash trade, it means that if both the Kings and Rangers miss post-season play, the Jackets would have three shots at the first overall pick.

Let's say either the L.A. pick or the New York pick cashed in and won the first overall pick. If Columbus finished last overall, they could only move down one slot in the draft selection.

And thus could end up with Seth Jones AND Nathan MacKinnon.

That's how you rebuild a franchise at warp speed, something new team president John Davidson and GM Jarmo Kekalainen are trying to do before all of Ohio turns off the Blue Jackets for good. Already, the Jackets have a decent cupboard of prospects that includes Ryan Johansen, Ryan Murray, Boone Jenner and goalie Oscar Dansk, and hitting the jackpot this June could make an enormous difference to this franchise.

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