For a while there, the 2020 NHL Draft lottery was going about as terribly as possible for the Sharks.
Though they learned from the start that a placeholding team currently involved in the league's return-to-play format landed one of the top three picks, the next phase of developments painted a disaster scenario for San Jose.
The top eight picks in the draft were determined in reverse order, with the first big surprise occurring at No. 5 overall. The Ottawa Senators' first-round selection had the second-best odds of landing No. 1 overall, but instead they received the fifth pick.