Did anyone watch the way overhyped NHL Draft Lottery earlier tonight? In case you weren’t aware, this ridiculous process was on either Versus or the NHL Network.

I’ve always been a fan of the NBA version because it actually gives every team which doesn’t qualify for the postseason a chance at getting the No.1 overall pick. So, even if the weighted system odds are slim for a team that’s further down, there’s at least that remote chance. And that’s still much better than my chances with Brooklyn Decker.

Out of curiosity, I decided to flip on the NHL Network to see TSN’s Lottery coverage which basically went like this: Whichever of the five worst teams won would get the upperhand in drafting hot shot Canadian prospect Steve Stamkos, who actually was interviewed during the half hour segment before and after this silly process.

Now, the only reason I remembered to put it on in the first place was because good Buffalo Sabre buddy Brian Sanborn (grosek18) called me after work on his way back home to Long Beach, California. So, this is what our always cynical former St. John’s alum had flipped on XM radio for. Cause he wanted to see who it was “catered to.”

Would the Bettman fix be in? But wait. As we learned, if only the five worst teams have a shot, that meant little to a Sabre fan whose team teased them to death tanking at home in crushing defeats to Ottawa and Montreal. Once again, Brian’s team was getting the screw job and they weren’t even in the playoffs.

If only it were that simple. What about teams such as Columbus, Phoenix or even Sanborn fave Toronto? You’re telling us it’s fair for them to not even be included. This was just another typical BHL move. Anyone who follows today’s shootout induced league chock full of three-point games knows just how tough it is to make the playoffs.

Sure, many races were left undecided which makes it all the more exasperating for teams such as Buffalo, Carolina and Edmonton, which just missed. So I don’t believe in throwing Vancouver a bone for that tank job.

When is this league going to realize that just over half its teams make the playoffs? Shouldn’t all 14 which miss have a shot at that lottery? Which brings me to how boring and pathetic the process was.

Here you had all this talk trying to make it sound thrilling. And what do they give us but Mr. Clean himself Bill Daly revealing the top five order. He’s about as boring as one of those voicemail machines with 9,000 different options.

There you had the percentages on the five worst teams which included the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As Daly opened up the first three NBA-esque draft envelopes to reveal the Islanders fifth, Blues fourth and Thrashers third, it became painfully obvious that there would be no drama as myself and Brian on speaker mocked it.

Instead of announcing who was picking second a la NBA commisioner David Stern, Mr. Clean had his own process going right to who would pick first overall. As expected, the NHL worst Lightning won. This was what we tuned in for?!?!?!?!?!

God. At least the NBA gets it right. And there in a nutshell is what’s wrong with our product. Even a simple draft lottery which should be a little unpredictable lacked excitement as more laughter came from myself and our Buffalo blogger who is probably preparing the mother of all columns entitled either “Why the Shootout killed Buffalo” or “How Bettman Got His Wish.”

You can’t make this stuff up.

So here’s the NHL Draft top 14 official order:

1.Tampa Bay Lightning

2.Los Angeles Kings

3.Atlanta Thrashers

4.St. Louis Blues

5.New York Islanders

6.Columbus Blue Jackets

7.Toronto Maple Leafs

8.Phoenix Coyotes

9.Nashville Predators (Fla)

10.Vancouver Canucks

11.Chicago Blackhawks

12.Anaheim Ducks (Edm)

13.Buffalo Sabres

14.Carolina Hurricanes

Hey. As I remarked earlier to Brian, there was at least one positive out of this wasted half an hour process. Buffalo finally got the better of Carolina (pronounced Cry–o–lin–ah by Sabre fans).