COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Blue Jackets are set to pick eighth in the first round of the NHL draft when it is held in Florida in two months.
Columbus entered training camp with high hopes after making the playoffs in 2014, but injuries ravaged the roster for much of the season. A strong finish left the Blue Jackets 42-35-5 record good for fifth in the Metropolitan division of the Eastern Conference. Their 89 points were third-most among non-playoff teams in the conference.
A tweaked lottery system left the CBJ with a six percent chance of securing the top pick, but that went to Edmonton. The Oilers had an 11.5 percent chance to end up with the No. 1 pick and the right to select highly touted Connor McDavid, an 18-year-old center who plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL. Buffalo and Arizona had better chances than Edmonton to claim the No. 1 pick.
The Blue Jackets figure to be busy early in the draft as six of their 10 picks are in the first three rounds.
BLUE JACKETS DRAFT LOTTERY HISTORY*
2000 -- Lost coin flip with fellow expansion club Minnesota (No. 3 pick) to earn No. 4 overall pick in 2000 Entry Draft.
2001 -- Entered in No. 8 position and earned No. 8 pick. Atlanta (No. 3) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2002 -- Entered in No. 2 position and earned No. 3 pick. Florida (No. 3) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.**
2003 -- Entered in No. 3 position and earned No. 4 pick. Florida (No. 4) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2004 -- Entered in No. 4 position and earned No. 4 pick. Washington (No. 3) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2005 -- No Drawing due to cancellation of 2004-05 season.
2006 -- Entered in No. 6 position and earned No. 6 pick. St. Louis (No. 1) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2007 -- Entered in No. 7 position and earned No. 7 pick. Chicago (No. 5) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2008 -- Entered in No. 6 position and earned No. 6 pick. Tampa Bay (No. 1) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2009 -- Not eligible for Drawing. NY Islanders (No. 1) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2010 -- Entered in No. 4 position and earned No. 4 pick. Edmonton (No. 1) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2011 -- Entered in No. 7 position and earned No. 8 pick. New Jersey (No. 8) won Drawing and No. 4 overall pick.
2012 -- Entered in No. 1 position and earned No. 2 pick. Edmonton (No. 2) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2013 -- Entered in No. 14 position and earned No. 14 pick. Colorado (No. 2) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2014 -- Not eligible for Drawing. Florida (No. 2) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
2015 -- Entered in No. 8 position and earned No. 8 pick. Edmonton (No. 3) won Drawing and No. 1 overall pick.
(*Source: Blue Jackets public relations)
(**pick acquired by Columbus, which selected Rick Nash No. 1 overall)
