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Jack Hughes is expected to be No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft in 2019. The Detroit Red Wings would like to have the right to choose him.
Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Red Wings have been well positioned to head to the major 2019 NHL preliminary lottery on Tuesday.

A 7-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabers in which the Little Caesars Arena's fans booed them helped the Wings to finish fourth, as they were bypassed by the Sabers.

In fourth place, the Wings have a 9.5% chance of winning the No. 1 and 28.8% of the top 3. The Wings will not be worse than the seventh. Filip Zadina was ranked sixth overall last year.

The lottery takes place Tuesday in Toronto (8 pm, NBCSN) and is the most important event of the Wings' reconstruction to date. Colorado – via Ottawa – has the best chance of winning the lottery at 18.5%.

Jack Hughes is expected to be the first pick in the NHL's June draft. (Photo: The associated press)

Jack Hughes Center is the consensus No. 1 choice and considered an outstanding talent. Aged 17, he plays for the development program of the US National Hockey Team. Finland striker Kaapo Kakko is the No. 2 potential player.

The NHL draft will take place June 21-22 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.

[ Jack Hughes is the ‘generational’ talent who could help save Hockeytown ]

Follow Marlowe Alter on Twitter: @Marlowe Alter.

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Take a look at the recent selections from the Detroit Red Wings first round.
Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press