Canadian Press
4/10/2007 1:42:07 PM
The Chicago Blackhawks lucked out in the NHL draft lottery Tuesday, jumping from fifth to first.
Chicago had only an 8.1 per cent chance of getting the first pick going into the lottery at the league's New York office to determine the order of the first 14 picks.
''It's a great opportunity for us to continue to turn things around,'' said Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon.
''This is a great break for our organization. It allows us to keep adding pieces to our puzzle.''
It will be the first time the Blackhawks get the first pick in the modern-day format introduced in 1969, and they quickly identified their biggest need.
''I know we will definitely get something that we need - a goal-scorer,'' said chief amateur scout Michel Dumas. ''The top five or six players in this draft are very good players.
''It's very possible that the player we select will be able to step in and play next year.''
The Philadelphia Flyers have the No. 2 spot and the Phoenix Coyotes have the No. 3 position.
The Los Angeles Kings get the No. 4 pick, the Washington Capitals are No. 5 and the Edmonton Oilers are No. 6.
Rounding out the top 14, in order, are: Columbus, Boston, St. Louis, Florida, Carolina, Montreal, Toronto and Colorado
Right-wingers Jakub Voracek of the Halifax Mooseheads, Patrick Kane of the London Knights and Alexei Cherepanov of Omsk of the Russian elite league, centres Angelo Esposito of the Quebec Remparts and Sam Gagner of the Knights, and left-winger James Van Riemsdyk of the U.S. development team are the top-ranked juniors in most scouting reports.
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Hawks win NHL Draft Lottery
Hawks win NHL Draft Lottery
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