New York Islanders win draft lottery for 1st time since 2009

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SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The New York Islanders won the NHL draft lottery on Monday and vaulted nine teams, including the last-place San Jose Sharks, in winning the opportunity to have the No. 1 pick.

The Islanders, who finished 10th in the standings and are in the midst of a front-office change, overcame having just a 3.5% chance to winning the lottery. New York has the right to pick first for the fifth time in team history, and first since selecting center John Tavares with the No. 1 pick in 2009.

Back then, the struggling Islanders played in an aging arena in Uniondale, New York. They now call the UBS Arena home -- a state-of-the-art facility located at Belmont Park in Elmont,…