from Damien Cox at the Toronto Star,
The Detroit Red Wings, with 71 games played and only 39 points accumulated, would want the season to be treated as if it were complete, giving them the most balls in the regular lottery process. If you believe that being dreadful should be rewarded with a high draft pick — I don’t — then you would probably side with the Wings....
For a more logical solution, look back to the 2005 draft....
It made no sense to go with the same order again. Instead, the NHL came up with a rather clever plan.