If the NHL season does get cancelled, and the Stanley Cup playoffs do not occur, this would open up lots of questions about the NHL Draft.

Currently, there are 14 unresolved conditional draft picks, which range from playoff participation, to playoff performance, to individual player performance during the course of the 2019-20 NHL season and postseason. If we don’t see any more games in the current season, the NHL will have to make decisions on each and every one of these draft picks.

The likely scenario is that they will be taken at face value. No condition had a provision for a work stoppage or pause, and with this season setting precedence for all future seasons that may be shortened or cancelled, the simplest solution is usually the most likely one.

Projected Draft Order

Last week we dove into a potential way for the NHL to determine the draft order for the upcoming draft. Because the order for all teams who make the playoffs are dependent on playoff performance, a new system needs to be created in the event the season does get cancelled.

A full breakdown of the rules we assumed can be found here, but the order is as follows:

Pos Team Pos Team Pos Team 1 Detroit 12 Winnipeg 23 Pittsburgh 2 Ottawa 13 NY Rangers 24 Edmonton 3 San Jose 14 Florida 25 Philadelphia 4 Los Angeles 15 Columbus 26 Tampa Bay 5 Anaheim 16 Calgary 27 Colorado 6 New Jersey 17 NY Islanders 28 Vegas 7 Buffalo 18 Nashville 29 Washington 8 Montreal 19 Carolina 30 St Louis 9 Chicago 20 Vancouver 31 Boston 10 Arizona 21 Toronto 11 Minnesota 22 Dallas

Let’s dive in.

Conditional Picks: Round 1

Round Traded To Traded From Condition Origin 1 New Jersey Devils Arizona Coyotes New Jersey receives a first-round pick in 2020 if Arizona’s first-round pick in 2020 is outside of the top three selections. Otherwise the pick will defer to 2021. Taylor Hall trade 1 Carolina Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs Carolina receives a first-round pick in 2020 if Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020 is outside of the top ten selections. Otherwise the pick will defer to 2021. Patrick Marleau trade 1 New York Rangers Carolina Hurricanes New York receives the later of Carolina or Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020 if Carolina acquires the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick in 2020. Otherwise New York will receive the Hurricanes’ first-round pick in 2020. Brady Skjei trade 1 Ottawa Senators New York Islanders Ottawa receives a first-round pick in 2020 if New York’s first-round pick in 2020 is outside the top three selections. Otherwise the pick will defer to 2021. Jean-Gabriel Pageau trade 1 Minnesota Wild Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota receives a first-round pick in 2020 if Pittsburgh qualifies for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Otherwise the pick can be deferred to 2021. Jason Zucker/ Alex Galchenyuk trade 1 New Jersey Devils Vancouver Canucks (via Tampa Bay Lightning) New Jersey receives a first-round pick in 2020 if Vancouver qualifies for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Otherwise the pick will defer to 2021. Blake Coleman trade

Tampa Bay previously acquired this pick in the JT Miller trade

Arizona’s first round pick is outside the top three selections, so New Jersey receives Arizona’s 2020 first round pick.

Toronto’s first round pick is outside the top 10 selections, therefore Carolina receives Toronto’s 2020 first round pick.

Carolina has Toronto’s first round pick in addition to their own. Therefore, the Rangers receive the later of the two, Toronto’s 2020 first round pick.

The Islanders’ first round pick is outside the top three selections, so Ottawa receives the Islanders’ 2020 first round pick.

Pittsburgh did not qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs as they do not exist. Therefore, Pittsburgh can choose whether to send their 2020 or 2021 first round pick to Minnesota.

Vancouver did not qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs as they do not exist. Therefore, New Jersey receives Tampa Bay’s 2021 first round pick.

Conditional Picks: Round 3

Round Traded To Traded From Condition Origin 3 Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Calgary receives a third-round pick in 2020 if Neal scores at least 21 goals during the 2019–20 NHL season and Lucic has at least ten fewer goals than Neal. James Neal/ Milan Lucic trade 3 Chicago Blackhawks Calgary Flames Chicago receives the higher of Calgary or Edmonton’s third-round pick in 2020 if Calgary acquires the Oilers’ third-round pick in 2020. Otherwise the Blackhawks will receive the Flames’ third-round pick in 2020. Erik Gustafsson trade 3 San Jose Sharks Washington Capitals San Jose receives Arizona’s third-round pick in 2020 if Washington wins the Stanley Cup in 2020. Otherwise this will remain a third-round pick in 2021. Brenden Dillon trade 3 or 4 New Jersey Devils Carolina Hurricanes New Jersey receives a fourth-round pick in 2020 if Vatanen plays in five games during the 2019–20 NHL season for Carolina. This upgrades to a third-round pick if Vatanen plays in 12 games during the 2019–20 NHL season for the Hurricanes or if he plays in 70% of their playoff games. Sami Vatanen trade

James Neal did not score 21 goals. Therefore, Calgary does not receive Edmonton’s 2020 third round pick.

Calgary only has one third round pick, so Chicago receives Calgary’s 2020 third round pick.

Washington did not win the Stanley Cup in 2020, therefore San Jose does not receive a third round pick in 2020.

Vatanen did not play in five games for Carolina this season. This will come down to the exact specification of the conditions, but from CapFriendly and Wikipedia, the wording implies that Carolina will not receive any pick from New Jersey.

Conditional Picks: Round 4

Round Traded To Traded From Condition Origin 4 Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Detroit receives a fourth-round pick in 2020 if Edmonton does not advance to the 2020 Western Conference Final or if Green does not play in at least 50% of the Oilers’ playoff games. If both conditions are met, this will become a third-round pick in 2021. Mike Green/ Kyle Brodziak trade 4 Anaheim Ducks Philadelphia Flyers Anaheim receives the higher of Nashville or Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick in 2020. Derek Grant trade

Edmonton did not advace to the 2020 Western Conference Final, therefore Detroit receives Edmonton’s 2020 fourth round pick.

Philadelphia received Nashville’s fourth round pick in the Wayne Simmonds deal last year. Nashville’s pick would be higher, therefore Anaheim receives Nashville’s 2020 fourth round pick.

Conditional Picks: Round 7

Round Traded To Traded From Condition Origin 7 Columbus Blue Jackets Arizona Coyotes Columbus receives a seventh-round pick in 2020 if Hannikainen plays 10 games for Arizona during the 2019–20 NHL season. Markus Hannikainen trade 7 Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton Oilers Toronto receives a seventh-round pick in 2020 if Vesey plays in an unknown number of games for Edmonton prior to the expiration of his entry level contract. Nolan Vesey trade

Hannikainen did not play 10 games for Arizona, so Columbus does not receive Arizona’s 2020 seventh round pick.

Vesey did not play any games with Edmonton and his entry level contract expires at the end of this season. Therefore, Toronto does not receive Edmonton’s 2020 seventh round pick.

Final Selections By Round By Team

With the resolution of all 14 conditional picks, there is quite a bit of movement on the draft board. Six selections would now be owned by different teams, three of which are first round picks. There are still decisions to be made that impact the first round as well, with Pittsburgh having the option of sending their 2020 or 2021 first rounder to Minnesota.

Some trades are stickier than others. Any involving teams qualifying for the playoffs, which applies to many of these picks, will be in dispute. Several teams were virtual locks to make the postseason, but no team had clinched a berth at the time of the pause.

Player performance is another issue. The resolution of the Neal/Lucic trade would not see the Flames receive Edmonton’s third round pick, but prorating Neal’s scoring pace over a full season would result in the pick being transferred.

The NHL will have to make a decision. There is no precedent for something like this, and all the complicated conditions teams place on draft picks wasn’t really a concern even just a few years ago. Player bonuses were prorated during the lockout-shortened 2013 season, but whatever the NHL decides to do this year will serve as the example for all future seasons that may be shortened or cancelled.

What do you think the NHL will do with conditional picks? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @wincolumnblog.