#Rangers win NHL Draft lottery, Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes

The Rangers didn’t make it too far in the NHL bubble, but they did come away with a big consolation prize — the right to select Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

On Monday, the Blueshirts won the second phase of the draft lottery to secure the top pick in the draft.

Lafreniere, long-considered the consensus No. 1 pick and who has drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby, had 35 goals and 77 assists for 112 points in 52 games last season with Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL).

It is the first time the Rangers have held the top pick since 1965, when they selected André Veilleux, who ended up not playing professional hockey.

After getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoff qualifying round last week, the Rangers and seven other teams had a 12.5 percent chance of drawing the first-overall selection in the second phase of the NHL draft lottery.

The first phase of the lottery was held in June, and despite a 2.5 percent chance, it was won by a team involved in the NHL’s return to play series.

The pick comes a year after the Rangers picked Kaapo Kakko with the No. 2 overall pick, adding a young core that now includes superstar winger Artemi Panarin, goalie Igor Shesterkin and a slew of up-and-coming defensemen.

The rest of the draft order will be determined following the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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NHL Draft lottery results 2020

1. New York Rangers


2. Los Angeles Kings


3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks)


4. Detroit Red Wings


5. Ottawa Senators


6. Anaheim Ducks

7. New Jersey Devils


8. Buffalo Sabres


9. Minnesota Wild


10. Winnipeg Jets


11. Nashville Predators


12. Florida Panthers


13. Carolina Hurricanes (via Toronto Maple Leafs)


14. Edmonton Oilers


15. Pittsburgh Penguins*

• The Penguins have seven days to determine whether they want to send the No. 15 pick to the Minnesota Wild, as per the conditions of a prior trade.