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Oilers win NHL draft lottery and chance to select McDavid

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2015, file photo, Canada's Connor McDavid skates with the trophy following his team's 5-4 win over Russia in the title game at the hockey World Junior Championship in Toronto. The Edmonton Oilers have won the NHL draft lottery and the right to select McDavid first overall. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT
FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2015, file photo, Canada's Connor McDavid skates with the trophy following his team's 5-4 win over Russia in the title game at the hockey World Junior Championship in Toronto. The Edmonton Oilers have won the NHL draft lottery and the right to select McDavid first overall. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press 4 min read

The Edmonton Oilers won the NHL draft lottery and the right to select Erie Otters star center Connor McDavid with the top pick.

The Oilers bucked the odds Saturday night after finishing 28th in the NHL standings. They had just an 11.5 percent chance to win the lottery.

At 20 percent, the Buffalo Sabres had the best odds to win, followed by the Arizona Coyotes at 13.5 percent among the 14 non-playoff teams

The Sabres will pick second and the chance to land a highly touted consolation prize in Boston University freshman center Jack Eichel. Arizona will pick third.

Both centers are described as having “once-in-a-generation” type of talent by NHL scouts and executives.