New York Rangers win NHL draft lottery, right to choose high-scoring Alexis Lafreniere
The New York Rangers were swept in the qualifying round but got an impressive consolation prize by winning the second phase of the draft lottery Monday and the right to choose high-scoring winger Alexis Lafreniere.
Lafreniere dominated the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 112 points in 52 games for the Rimouski Oceanic before the coronavirus shut down that league's play.
The NHL had to go to a second lottery round because none of the seven teams that failed to make the expanded 24-team postseason field won the initial lottery. That drawing awarded the pick to one of the teams that lost in the qualifying round, even though there was only a 2.5% chance of that happening.
The Rangers picked second overall last year, taking Kaapo Kakko.
Each of the eight teams had an equal chance (12.5%) of winning Monday, and the drawing was shown live on television.
Lafreniere totaled 114 goals and 183 assists in 172 games during his three years in junior hockey and played in two world junior championships with Canada. He was MVP of the 2020 tournament, winning a gold medal as team captain.
The Los Angeles Kings will draft second and Ottawa Senators third. The Detroit Red Wings, who had the league's worst record, will pick fourth.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL draft lottery: Rangers win right to take Alexis Lafreniere
