hockeyking2000 said:
If there is a lockout who will get 1rst overall pick next season?
THIS ANSWER IS EASY!(IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT the 2005 draft)
The draft is part of the CBA--so the NHLPA would get their two cents in and all 30 NHL teams would have to be on the same page)
NOW HERE IS THE HARD PART
The teams that were in the lotto this year would wnt just those 14 teams involved in the lotto and the other 16 would disagree. The NHLPA would want all draft elligibal players to become UFA's because there is no CBA signed at this point in time. The current CBA covers how many rounds there are, how much money a player can be signed for, returning to the minor or European team. Transfer rights and what not.
So depending on how you look at it, for the NHL to decide on what to do with the 2005 is rather simple--the bad news is that getting the other parties to agree upon it is the funpart. The NHLPA could say f u to whatever the NHL does and that would then tie the hands of all players drafted.
I hope you get what I am getting at. The nhl can decide whatever they want--but until a cba is signed it would mean nothing.