Greg Wyshynski of ESPN,

... As a result, the Detroit Red Wings, by virtue of being the worst team in the league by several country miles, would secure the first or second overall pick. Their odds for the first overall pick would jump from 19% to 57% (with fewer teams able to jump up to No. 1). The Ottawa Senators, who own the San Jose Sharks' first-rounder as well as their own, could do no worse than securing the third and fourth overall picks.

What's amazing about this solution to a problem that "is extremely unlikely to happen" is that it runs counter, philosophically, to everything the NHL has tried to do with the draft lottery since 2016. From that draft on, the NHL has had three separate lottery drawings for the first three picks in the draft. This was done to discourage teams from tanking for the first overall pick. Now, apparently, we're cool with giving a team that tanked either Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield because some GM on some team is worried the Blue Jackets would win the lottery and the Cup, apparently.

And yes, the Red Wings tanked. We were shocked to discover, via social media, that some Detroit fans have deluded themselves into believing their franchise is above such frowned-upon behavior. They've been conditioned to think that way: Red Wings ownership and management have said for the past three years that "for those people that believe tanking ... there are no guarantees." It's just not what they do ... well, until they did it.

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