Detroit Red Wings to draft fourth overall after losing NHL draft lottery

The Detroit Red Wings will be drafting fourth overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Despite having an 18.5 per cent chance to select first overall after a league-worst 17-49-5 record — the third-worst in the organization’s history — Detroit didn’t get the luck of the draw on their side.

This means the organization has lost the ability to choose any of Alexis Lafreniere, Tim Stutzle or Quinton Byfield and instead will be waiting to see who they’re able to select.

Winning the lottery was one of the eight teams who lose in the first round of the play-in tournament as a placeholder. Second overall goes to the Los Angeles Kings, while the Ottawa Senators will select third.

It’s the fourth straight year the Detroit Red Wings have been in the draft lottery and the third year in a row that the team has been pushed back.

On Twitter: @zjlaing