Sea Dogs have best odds of landing top pick

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs will have the best odds of landing the first overall pick in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft.

With a loss on Saturday in Cape Breton, the Sea Dogs officially finished last overall in the 18-team Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Unlike past seasons when the Sea Dogs missed the post-season, there will be an actual lottery rather than a coin flip or 50/50 odds.

Under the new system, which began last year, the 18th place team will have nine chances of winning the first overall pick, 17th place will have six, 16th will have three, 15th will have two and 14th will have one.

Previously, only the bottom two teams had a chance at landing the first pick. Saint John won every time they took part in that format.

The move was made to reduce teams tanking. It certainly worked as the last-place Moncton Wildcats, who tanked, ended up picking third last year while the 16th-place Rimouski Oceanic picked first.

The draft lottery will be held around the first week of April, so the Sea Dogs will know where they are picking soon.

Saint John also owns Gatineau's first round pick in this year's draft, which will be eighth.

L’ordre du prochain repêchage de la #LHJMQ

Positions 1 à 5 (Boulier: SNB, SHA, CHA, CHI et SHE)
6- ROU
7- CAP
8- SNB
9- CAP
10- CHI
11- SHA
12- HAL
13- VDO
14- DRU
15- HAL
16- RIM
17- VDO
18- MON

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) March 18, 2018

In HockeyProspect.com's latest rankings, Fredericton-born forward Josh Lawrence is the top rated prospect. Currently playing in the United States, Lawrence is already committed to Boston University for the 2020-21 season.