For the Dallas Stars, the third overall pick in the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft is the highest overall selection in the organization’s 25-year history. Because on Saturday, April 29th, the odds went in their favor.
The Stars had a 5.8% chance at receiving the number one overall pick, and an 18.3% chance (or, one in six) chance at a top three selection. Thankfully for us, the ping pong balls dropped accordingly on Draft Lottery night and Dallas received the third pick despite only having the eighth-worst record in the League.
The New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers (neither of whom had worse records than the Colorado Avalanche or Arizona Coyotes), were awarded the top two selections.