Colorado Avalanche Will Select First Overall In 2013 NHL Entry Draft

Well the NHL Draft Lottery was much ado about nothing, as was expected.  Despite the hoopla surrounding the fact that all 14 non-playoff teams could get the first overall pick, the winner ended up moving up just one spot in the order.

Apr 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Ryan Hejduk (23) during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Here is how the draft will go down:

  1. Colorado Avalanche
  2. Florida Panthers
  3. Tampa Bay Lighting
  4. Nashville Predators
  5. Carolina Hurricanes
  6. Calgary Flames
  7. Edmonton Oilers
  8. Buffalo Sabres
  9. New Jersey Devils
  10. Dallas Stars
  11. Philadelphia Flyers
  12. Phoenix Coyotes
  13. Winnipeg Jets
  14. Columbus Blue Jackets

This meas that two of the top 3 picks will be in the new look Central division with the Ottawa Senators next season as the Panthers dropped to 2nd and Lightning retained third slot.

All in all, it was anticlimactic but at least the Avalanche have something to look forward to.  The Avalanche will probably select Seth Jones with the pick, a player who learned to play hockey in Denver while his dad played for the NBA’s Nuggets, a story that will no doubt rule headlines leading up to the draft.