Sabres' odds revealed for 2020 NHL Draft Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres will have a 6.5-percent chance to win the first overall pick when the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery is held on June 26.

Commissioner Gary Bettman unveiled a revised format for the lottery Tuesday as part of the league's return to play announcement. The top 12 teams in each conference ranked by points percentage will play for a chance at the Stanley Cup.

The remaining seven teams - along with the eight that do not advance past the qualifying round - will have a chance to claim one of the top three picks in the 2020 NHL Draft. The Sabres are one of the seven clubs that will not return to play in 2019-20.

Because the lottery will be held prior to the qualifying round, the league will designate placeholders for the eight clubs that are resuming play. If any of the top three picks are won by one of those clubs that is resuming play, a "second phase" of the lottery will take place between the resuming teams at a later date.

If all three picks are won by non-resuming teams, no second phase will be necessary.

The odds for the No. 1 pick are as follows.

1. Detroit (.275) - 18.5 percent
   2. Ottawa (.437) - 13.5 percent
   3. Ottawa - 11.5 percent*
   4. Los Angeles (.457) - 9.5 percent
   5. Anaheim (.472) - 8.5 percent
   6. New Jersey (.493) - 7.5 percent
   7. Buffalo (.493) - 6.5 percent
   8. Returning Team A - 6.0 percent
   9. Returning Team B - 5.0 percent
   10. Returning Team C - 3.5 percent
   11. Returning Team D - 3.0 percent
   12. Returning Team E - 2.5 percent
   13. Returning Team F - 2.0 percent
   14. Returning Team G - 1.5 percent
   15. Returning Team H - 1.0 percent

\From San Jose*

The NHL used regulation/overtime winning percentage as a tiebreaker between New Jersey and Buffalo.

Once the top three picks are awarded, remaining selections will be slotted in reverse order based on points percentage.

Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere is the top-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting Services and the presumed favorite to be drafted with the top pick. German forward Tim Stuetzle is the top-ranked European skater.

The 2020 NHL Draft - originally slated to begin on June 26 in Montreal - has not yet been rescheduled.