Canadiens win NHL draft lottery, own top pick for 1st time since 1980The Montreal Canadiens won the 2022 NHL draft lottery on Tuesday night and have the first selection for the upcoming draft at their home arena. The Canadiens had the best odds to win the lottery at 18.5 per cent after posting an NHL-worst 22-49-11 record this season.

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Montreal entered lottery with best odds at 18.5 per cent

Tristan D'Amours · The Canadian Press(Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)comments

All eyes will be on Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes on July 7. The GM will walk to the draft podium for the first time and will get to make the first-overall selection.

The Canadiens won the 2022 NHL draft lottery on Tuesday night and have the first pick for the upcoming draft which will be held on July 7-8 at Montreal's Bell Centre. For Hughes, winning the lottery and making the first-overall pick at home is "exciting for us as an organization."

"I remember the last time the draft was in Montreal in 2009 and it was a packed house. That isn't the case in every draft location," Hughes said. "So, especially with us owning the first pick, I can only imagine the build up of anticipation, excitement and interest in the Montreal Canadiens."

"You hope as an organization that you don't pick No. 1 overall too often but when you're in that situation, it's pretty special."

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• Canada's Shane Wright takes top spot in final North American NHL draft rankings

The Canadiens had the best odds to win the lottery at 18.5 per cent after posting an NHL-worst 22-49-11 record this season.

The consensus top player ahead of the draft is centreman Shane Wright from the Ontario Hockey League's Kingston Frontenacs. Wright recorded 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 games in the 2021-22 season.

WATCH | Canadiens win NHL Draft Lottery, to select 1st overall as draft hosts: 

Canadiens win NHL Draft Lottery and will select 1st in Montreal

21 hours agoDuration 1:18Montreal becomes the first team since the 1985 Maple Leafs to win the lottery and host the ensuing draft.More NHL coverage

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