The Chicago Blackhawks struck out twice in the NHL draft lottery Tuesday night, which was no surprise.
That means their first-round pick — No. 6 overall — goes to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the trade for defenseman Seth Jones last July.
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The Hawks had just a 7.5% chance of winning the first draw, which went to the Montreal Canadiens.
According to tankathon.com, the Hawks had a 7.9% chance of winning the second draw, won by the New Jersey Devils.
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The Hawks’ chances of landing in the sixth, seventh or eighth slots were 34.1%, 41.4% and 9.1%, respectively, based on whether a fellow lottery participant leapfrogged them in the two drawings.
But for the Hawks, the stakes were first, second or nothing.
Their 2022 first-rounder was top-two protected, and if the lottery balls had lined up in their favor, they would’ve transferred their 2023 first-rounder to the Blue Jackets instead.