TAMPA, FLA. — Losing their last five games did at least help the Detroit Red Wings’ draft lottery odds.
They finish the 2022-23 season with a 35-37-10 record, in 24th place. That gives the Wings a 5% chance to pick first overall in June’s draft, and 5.4% chance to pick second.
Teams can not move up more than 10 spots, so it benefited the Wings to finish among the bottom 11 teams in the standings.
They lost, 5-0, Thursday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, leaving the Wings 0-4-1 over the last week; that came after the Wings had won four of their previous five games.
“I know we went up a draft spot, so I think our management team is — once the season ends, we are looking towards next year,” Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “So I think they will be happy with what took place tonight, around the league.”
The draft lottery is May 8. The draft is June 28-29 in Nashville.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.