What to know about the Flyers draft lottery odds

It’s that time of year again. While the Stanley Cup playoffs are well underway, other teams will have their eyes focused on the draft. The Flyers are one of 16 teams that have a chance to grab the top pick in the draft.

This year’s lottery draft will feature the NHL’s newest expansion team, the Seattle Kraken. As a first-year team, they were given the third-best odds to take the number one selection. They cannot pick any lower than fifth, similar to where the Golden Knight ended up when they entered the league. They had the sixth selection in said draft.

The Flyers odds of selecting first are improbable as they sit with just a 1.8 percent chance at making the jump. They have the 14th best odds of making the move. It would not be the first time they made a historical jump, however.

Philadelphia had a 2.4 percent chance back in 2017. They jumped from 13th all the way up to the second selection. That was the year they drafted Nolan Patrick. The Devils earned the top spot that year, selecting Nico Hischier. So a leap that high is not out of the question. But the Flyers will likely remain in the 14th spot.

Here are how the odds shake out for all 16 teams that will be involved:

1. Buffalo Sabres — 16.6 percent
2. Anaheim Ducks — 12.1 percent
3. Seattle Kraken — 10.3 percent
4. New Jersey Devils — 10.3 percent
5. Columbus Blue Jackets — 8.5 percent
6. Detroit Red Wings — 7.6 percent
7. San Jose Sharks — 6.7 percent
8. Los Angeles Kings — 5.8 percent
9. Vancouver Canucks — 5.4 percent
10. Ottawa Senators — 4.5 percent
*11. Arizona Coyotes — 3.1 percent
12. Chicago Blackhawks — 2.7 percent
13. Calgary Flames — 2.2 percent
14. Philadelphia Flyers — 1.8 percent
15. Dallas Stars — 1.4 percent
16. New York Rangers — 1.0 percent

*Of note, the NHL announced the forfeiture of the Coyotes first-round pick back in August of 2020. This came after the organization was under investigation for violating combine testing policies. If Arizona draws the first or second pick, the league will simply have a re-draw.

There will be two separate selections to determine the team who selects first and second in the draft. The remaining teams not selected while be ordered based on how they finished during the regular season.

Unlike other years, there is currently not a true consensus on who could be selected with the top pick. Owen Powers, Luke Hughes, and Matt Beniers are just a few of the possible names floating around. In a first round that appears to have plenty of depth to it, the Flyers should have a handful of players to choose from wherever they end up picking.

Fans can watch the event starting at 7 p.m. on NBCSN and the NHL Network.