Lightning Win Lottery For Top NHL Draft Pick

New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning won the NHL draft lottery on Monday and will have the first selection when the draft begins on June 20 in Ottawa.

Tampa Bay had the greatest chance of nabbing the top selection, with a 25 percent probability. The Lightning finished with the worst record in the NHL by virtue of winning one fewer game than the Los Angeles Kings, although both teams accumulated 71 points.

Under the lottery system, only the five teams with the fewest points had the chance to win the first overall selection, and no team could have moved up more than four spots, and no team could have slid backward more than one.

The Kings were allotted the second pick, followed by Atlanta, St. Louis and the New York Islanders.

Chicago was awarded the No. 1 overall slot in last year's draft for the first time in franchise history and selected forward Patrick Kane.

The Lightning could select center Steve Stamkos with the top pick. Stamkos, who plays for the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League, had 58 goals and 47 assists in 61 games this past regular season with Sarnia. He also had 11 goals in seven playoff contests.