The Chicago Blackhawks have dropped to the bottom of the NHL standings as All-Star representative Connor Bedard remains out with an injury.
Now the San Jose Sharks will be without their All-Star for at least several weeks.
The Sharks announced Monday that Tomas Hertl was having surgery to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee. He played through it, including going to the All-Star Game, because doctors told him it couldn’t get worse.
The Sharks have the league’s second-worst record and are two points ahead of Chicago with a game in hand.
The Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators round out the bottom five.
The Ducks, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks and Sharks were the bottom four teams last season. The Blackhawks won the lottery and drafted Bedard and the Ducks (Leo Carlsson) won the second pick.
NHL Central Scouting last month named Boston University center Macklin Celebrini as the top North American prospect in its midseason rankings.
Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery so only the bottom 11 teams have a chance to gain the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.
Which NHL teams have the best draft lottery odds (this file will be updated during the season)?
Which NHL teams have the best draft lottery odds?
Odds in parentheses. Standings as of Feb. 11, based on winning percentage.
Chicago Blackhawks (25.5%): 52 GP, 14-35-3, 31, .298
San Jose Sharks (13.5%): 51 GP, 13-32-5, 33, .324
Anaheim Ducks (11.5%): 51 GP, 18-31-2, 38, .373
Columbus Blue Jackets (9.5%): 51 GP, 16-25-10, 42, .412
Ottawa Senators (8.5%): 48 GP, 21-25-2, 46, .458
Buffalo Sabres (7.5%): 48 GP, 22-25-4, 48, .471
Montreal Canadiens (6.5%): 52 GP, 21-23-8, 50, .481
Minnesota Wild (6.0%): 51 GP, 23-23-5, 51, .500
Arizona Coyotes (5.0%): 50 GP, 23-24-4, 50, .500
Seattle Kraken (3.5%): 48 GP, 21-20-10, 52, .510
Calgary Flames (3.0%): 52 GP, 25-22-5, 55, .529
Who is Macklin Celebrini?
The 6-0, 190 center is the top scorer for Boston University as a 17-year-old freshman and ranks second in the NCAA in both goals and points per game with 22 goals and 41 points in 25 games. He was Canada’s leading scorer at the world junior championship with eight points in five games.
Central Scouting says Celebrini plays a complete game and is a strong skater with a fluid stride and top-end NHL speed.
“Macklin plays at a level all his own and it’s truly impressive to see how he thrives in every environment he competes in,’ said Dan Marr, vice president of NHL Central Scouting.
Who are the top prospects in the 2024 NHL draft?
Behind Celebrini, the remaining top five North American skaters are:
Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov
Medicine Hat center Cayden Lindstrom
University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium
Tri-City (USHL) left wing Trevor Connelly
The top three international skaters are Finnish center Konsta Helenius and two Russians, 6-7 defenseman Anton Silayev and right wing Ivan Demidov.
How does the draft lottery work?
There are two drawings, first for a chance at the top pick and then for a chance at the second pick. The last-place team can draft no lower than third overall. Beginning with the 2022 lottery, a team cannot win more than twice in a five-year period. There are 14 ping pong balls in the machine and each team is assigned a series of four numbers. The lower a team is in the standings, the more series of numbers it gets. If a team’s numbers are chosen, it wins the lottery. If a team in the 12 to 16 range wins, the last-place team retains the No. 1 overall pick.