Hockey fans are abuzz with excitement ahead of Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery and ESPN announcer John Buccigross just threw gasoline on the fire.
Ahead of Tuesday’s draft lottery, Buccigross tweeted then quickly deleted a post featuring a suspicious draft board in the corner of the NHL’s Draft Lottery set. The picture, taken during a rehearsal of the event, shows the draft order in its entirety, with the San Jose Sharks grabbing the No. 1 overall pick and Utah (previously Arizona Coyotes) jumping to No. 2 overall.
Buccigross since deleted the tweet and reposted with a different picture, stating that the previous post was happening during rehearsal only.
“this post has been deleted” i’m crying pic.twitter.com/LFfW4h8o6l
— m 🧚🏼♀️ (@spelunky_) May 7, 2024
The Draw happens at 5:30! We are rehearsing!!!! pic.twitter.com/Iil81rrrwX
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 7, 2024
While this wouldn’t be the first time the draft order has leaked ahead of the NHL’s official announcement, it seems as if this truly was a rehearsal and the draft order pictured just a placeholder for the real thing in a few hours. Plus, the official drawing is set to take place at 5:45 p.m. ET before the 6:30 p.m. event, not hours before like the picture showed.
Just an FYI regarding NHL Draft Lottery … the picture floating around right now is from rehearsal. The official draw is at 5:45pm ET, with the broadcast occurring at 6:30pm ET.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 7, 2024
It would be quite funny if this order is how it ends up being when the lottery is over, but we’ll just have to tune in to find out. Hockey fans, however, had a field day with this blunder by Buccigross.
After Kevin Weekes spoiled the ending to last year’s draft lottery, John Buccigross has one upped Kevin by spoiling the entire lottery hours before the actual broadcast. Hilarious.
— Jay Money (@insiderJmoney) May 7, 2024
Buccigross tweeted then deleted this picture, could the draft order just have been leaked? pic.twitter.com/8ytK8oQXvQ
— Yotes Trade Central (@yotestradecen) May 7, 2024
john buccigross trying to act like he didn't just leak how rigged the nhl draft lottery is pic.twitter.com/jJ0aQrgf3s
— cely (patriotic version) (@tbl_cely79) May 7, 2024
Rehearse again
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 7, 2024
