Let’s be clear, we didn’t  script anything … and we’ve never scripted anything," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on Monday.

The Nets' full reset became complete when they traded Mikal Bridges for draft picks. The timing made sense before a hyped 2025 draft class. Winning the lottery would obviously justify their moves and strategy. They'll have the sixth-best odds at 9.0 percent to add Cooper Flagg, who'd receive top-option reps for a rebuilding roster.

The Flyers dropped the maximum two spots as their worst-case scenario played out in Monday’s lottery. The hockey gods can be cruel. Despite finishing with the fourth-worst record, the Flyers dropped to the sixth slot in the 2025 NHL draft after Monday’s lottery played out in nightmare fashion for the Orange and Black.