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The Phoenix Coyotes will have the fifth overall drafting position for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft following this morning’s NHL Draft Drawing in which the Washington Capitals obtained the first overall drafting position. The 2004 NHL Entry Draft will be held on Saturday, June 26 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Fifth overall is the highest position the Phoenix Coyotes have had since the franchise moved to Phoenix in 1996. The previous high for the Phoenix Coyotes was 11th overall, which occurred in 1996 (Dan Focht) and again in 2001 (Fredrik Sjostrom). Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan was selected 7th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1995. In addition, the Phoenix Coyotes currently have three selections in the second round of the 2004 Entry Draft.
Under the lottery system, only the five teams with the fewest points had the chance to win the first overall selection; no team could move up more than four spots and no team could move backward more than one. The Phoenix Coyotes had an 8.1% chance of moving up to the first overall selection, which was awarded to the Capitals.
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