The National Hockey League rewards losing. I’m sure you have heard it before. No matter where hockey is professionally played, the team that loses in extra time collects a point. Shootouts were brought in to remove ties. Every game would have a winner, even if some fans despise it (count me in that camp).
Losing gives the worst teams the best odds at picking first overall. The lottery is a convoluted mess that is a whole separate can of worms. Worst of all, the value of each NHL game is not the same. The games that end in regulation only award two points to the winner.