The 19th-place Utah Hockey Club won the other drawing and moved up the maximum allowed 10 spots to fourth place. The Islanders, currently between general managers, had 3.5% odds of winning the No.

The Islanders, who at 3.5 percent had the 10th-best chance of winning the lottery, would pick No. 1 for the fifth time and the first since selecting center John Tavares in the 2009 NHL Draft. They also took goalie Rick DiPietro first in 2000, defenseman Denis Potvin in 1973 and forward Billy Harris in 1972.

After not renewing the contract of GM Lou Lamoriello late last month, the New York Islanders entered a period of transition.