Here is something to consider.
The idea in hoping to finish low is to improve the odds of getting a good player or two through the draft.
We're told that the WORST thing would be to beat Pittsburgh, win another round, then lose in the second round (final 8). But is it? Teams that finish in the final 8 have a better chance of getting good players in Free Agency. So your odds go down on one metric but go up on another.
Even if winning one round is possible on luck, it is just as likely to happen because some of our young players take a next step. Suppose Kotkaniemi, with the extra time, comes back and provides a credible third line scoring threat. Suppose Romanov is allowed to play and immediately provides an upgrade on LD. So now, going into next season, you have the same prospects you have now, but they are better than we might have thought, we get a chance at better free agents, and we still have 12 picks.
More importantly, suppose we win two series because Price stands on his head, or Tatar becomes Mike Cammalleri, or Petry or Weber play at a Conn Smythe level for 12 games. Well then their trade values just shot way up!! That would likely get us way more than the difference in draft position. Would you rather lose fast and be stuck with an old weakened Price at $10.5M for six years? Or get to the final 8 and be able to trade Price for a first-line winger?