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"Incredible, changes everything": Examining the fallout from the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery

2023 NHL Entry DraftArticle limited to subscribed members

The tank worked.

While Gary Bettman would have you believe teams don't tank, the Chicago Blackhawks accomplished their mission in futility and landed their next superstar, finding an instant replacement for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to lead the new era.

They are probably already printing No. 98 Connor Bedard jerseys in Chicago as we speak.

"Incredible, changes everything," a Blackhawks source texted EP Rinkside on Monday night. "You go from it being blown up to the rebuild already having the most important piece."

Adam Fantilli will almost certainly be an Anaheim Duck, a pretty good consolation prize.

Texting with multiple NHL scouts after the drawing there were two main takeaways related to the results of the lottery.

1. Some frustration, in one case anger, that Chicago was the team to wi

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