The National Hockey League held it's annual Draft Lottery on Saturday and while it was a great moment for the New Jersey Devils, a franchise that could certainly use a jolt, it was a truly heartbreaking event for fans of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings who could also use a little help after missing the playoffs for the first time in decades where incredibly close to moving up big time in the draft not just once by twice.
First, like the Vancouver Canucks the Red Wings were just a single number off of winning the whole thing and walking away with the number one overall pick in the NHL draft.
From Sportsnet's Mike Johnston:
New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft Lottery with a number combination of 1, 5, 6, 12. Canucks had 1, 5, 6, 11. Red Wings had 1, 5, 6, 13.
To make matters worse for the Red Wings, they were also denied the second pick in the draft but just a single number and instead were forced to watch the Flyers claim that pick.
Again from Johnston:
Flyers won 2nd pick with a number combination of 5, 6, 8, 12. Red Wings were one number off that as well at 5, 6, 8, 13. TB had 5, 6, 8, 11.
Instead the Red Wings will be picking ninth, a two spot drop in the draft.
