This may sound far-fetched -- but u never know. What if this is Bettman and the BOGs motive...
After holding the draft lottery behind closed doors, the NHL would be absolutly insane to come out and say that NYR, TOR, MTL or LA has just won the lottery...whether or not it's legitimate, who the hell is going to believe them...nobody is that stupid to think that there wouldn't be irate fans all over the place calling it a fix.
....but...Why in the world -- if they wanted to rig it -- wouldn't they formulate a smarter plan to make it look more legitimate? do it out of a drum during the press conference?? atleast show us something to make it look normal? Maybe because that's too tough of a task. It's very difficult to get this passed fans even if you show the rangers ball float to the top. "It could be a weighted ball, it was fixed!"
BUT let's be realistic for a second on how far the average person is going to take the lotto getting fixed theory seriously. The way I see it, if they keep it behind closed doors, the only problem people will have with it is if NYR or Toronto wins. When the winner is announced and neither nyr or toronto has won, people won't think fix anymore.
SO why in the world would the NHL basically eliminate the possiblilty of Crosby going to NYR or Toronto when one of those is the place they would want him to go most. Plain and Simple: The NHL can't afford to have this kid land in a small hockey market.
My point is,(assuming they keep the lotto drawing behind closed doors) I think the BOG, the executive committee and/or the owners might just pull a fix that they feel would keep legitimacy and help grow the game at the same time. Sure they would love Crosby to go to NY or TOR -- but they can't take the chance of doing this publically and having him land somewhere that will do nothing to help the sport get back.
If I were a gambling man, I would place my money on Crosby landing in a large US city that might just catch onto (or back onto) the sport. I would say Boston or Chicago best fit that description. Once cherished original six hockey cities, it seems as tho they have lost there appeal. If fans treated the Bruins like they did decades ago, that's huge for the league in terms of fan base. Boston as you all know is a sports crazed city..and home to the first american NHL team.
Also...it doesn't hurt to have Wirtz and Jacobs on the execute committee. Bogus or not, you know I could be right.