Report: NHL draft lottery will be held April 30

The NHL's draft lottery will take place Saturday, April 30, Sportsnet's Damien Cox reported during Saturday's "Headlines" segment on Hockey Night in Canada.

Under the league's new format, three draws will be conducted to determine the top three picks - a departure from the old method of a single draw determining the first overall selection.

The team with the fewest points in the regular season will no longer be guaranteed a top-two pick. Each of the 14 non-playoff clubs will be eligible for the three lotteries, and the 11 teams not selected will be assigned picks four through 14, in reverse order of regular-season points.

All seven Canadian teams entered Saturday's action outside the playoff picture.

The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will be held June 24 and 25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.