Oilers Will Pick First in Upcoming Draft
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Tom Szczerbowski/NHLI via Getty Images(TORONTO) — For the third consecutive season the Edmonton Oilers have won the NHL Draft Lottery and will have the first pick in the upcoming 2012 draft.
The Columbus Blue Jackets actually had better odds than the Oilers, but it seems winning the lottery is a right of passage for Edmonton.
The past two seasons the Oilers have selected center Ryan Nugent Hopkins and winger Taylor Hall. This years popular bet to be the first pick is Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting (OHL). He also plays wing, leading to speculation that the Oilers may try to trade the pick.
The last team to pick first in the NHL Draft for three straight seasons was the Quebec Nordiques from 1989-1991.
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