The National Hockey League announced Wednesday changes to its draft lottery, which will be phased in over a two-year period, beginning with the Draft Lottery in 2015. According to the NHL, the odds of winning the first overall selection in the NHL Draft for the 14 non-playoff teams will be adjusted to more appropriately reflect the current state of competitive balance. The league will implement a more evenly-balanced allocation of odds, with the 10 highest-finishing non-playoff qualifying teams receiving better odds than they received previously and the four lowest-finishing teams receiving worse odds. The revised set of odds will remain in effect year-to-year in the future. The league added that beginning in 2016, the lottery will be utilized to assign the top three drafting slots in the draft, an expansion over previous years when the lottery was used to determine the winner of the first overall selection only. Three draws will be held - the first lottery draw will determine the club selecting first overall, the second lottery draw will determine the club selecting second overall and the third draw will determine the club selecting third overall. As a result of this change, the team earning the fewest points during the regular season will no longer be guaranteed, at worst, the second overall pick. That club could fall as low as fourth overall. The allocation of odds for the first lottery draw will be the same as outlined above for the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery. The odds for the remaining teams will increase on a proportionate basis for the second lottery draw, based on which club wins the first lottery draw and again for the third lottery draw, based on which club wins the second Lottery draw. The 11 clubs not selected in the lottery will be assigned draft selections 4 through 14, in inverse order of regular season points. 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"I think hes listening to his body and hes doing what makes him happy and thats what life is about ultimately.CALGARY -- As the NHL entry draft approaches, Sam Reinharts stock keeps rising. The Kootenay Ice captain won the Western Hockey Leagues player-of-the-year award Wednesday. The leagues general managers and coaches voted for Reinhart over Western Conference finalist Mitch Holmberg, a 62-goal scorer for the Spokane Chiefs. Reinhart set a franchise record for assists in a season with 69 and, combined with 36 goals in 60 games, the 18-year-old from Vancouver tied for fourth in WHL scoring. But the son of former NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart was a stellar two-way player for the Ice with a plus-24 rating. He posted a torrid 48 points in 22 games from Dec. 4 to Feb. 28. Central Scouting ranks Reinhart third among North American skaters for the NHL draft, up from fourth in Januarys midterm rankings. The Four Broncos Trophy that goes to the player of the year is given in memory of four Swift Current Broncos who died in a team bus crash in 1986. Reinhart, six foot one and 186 pounds, also earned the WHLs sportsmanlike award for his paltry 11 minutes in penalties. "Both of those awards say a lot about his character," Ice coach Ryan McGill said. "Mitch Holmberg is one heck of a player, but Sam is the complete package. He is the smartest player in the Western Hockey League not only with the puck, but without the puck." Reinharts brother Griffin is an Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman who was drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders two years ago. Another brother Max is a Calgary Flames prospect currently playing in the AHL. Sam and Griffin both played for the Canadian team that finished fourth in the world junior hockey championship in Malmo, Sweden, in January. Sam was a dominant player upon his return to the Ice. "It was a good year individually and as a team," Sam said. "I think our depth really showed in the second half and ultimately made it easier on me to produce offensively." The Ice were eliminated in the second round of playoffs in a seven-game series with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Reinhart had six goals and 17 assists in 13 playoff game. Hes begun preparing for the NHL combine May 25-31 in Toronto. Reinhart intends to play in the NHL next season. "Im confident in my abilities right now to do that," he said. "I learned a lot this year, played in a lot of situations. I think thats only going to benefit me down the road. "Im excited for it and Im ultimately preparing for training camp in September where ever that may be." Holmberg, a 21-year-old winger from Sherwood Park, Alta., won the WHLs scoring trophy. Hes only the second player to score over 60 goals in a season in the last 13 years. Holmberg spent his entire five-year career with the Spokane Chiefs and recently joined the Bakersfield Condors for the ECHL playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets picked up a pair of major player trophies with Jordon Cooke named the seasons best goalie and centre Nick Merkley taking the rookie awaard.dddddddddddd The 16-year-old Merkley, from Calgary, compiled 25 goals and 33 assists in 66 games. Cooke posted a 39-7-0-4 record with four shutouts. The 20-year-old from Leduc, Alta., had a 2.28 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922. Derek Pouliot of the Portland Winterhawks was chosen top defenceman. The 19-year-old from Weyburn, Sask., contributed 19 goals and 53 assists in 58 games and posted a plus-minus of plus-40. Pouliot is a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Victoria Royals swept the hockey management awards with former NHL winger Dave Lowry taking the coaching award and general manager Cam Hope named executive of the year. The Royals finished third overall in the Western Conference with a 48-20-1-3 record. Saskatoon Blades defenceman Nelson Nogier earned the scholastic award with a 96 per cent average in his Grade 11 studies, while the Calgary Hitmen took team scholastic honours. Moose Jaw Warriors captain Sam Fioretti was given the humanitarian award for his work in anti-bullying and reading programs. Nathan Wieler from Regina was chosen the WHLs top official. Prior to the awards luncheon, the WHLs board of governors approved the sale of the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars to new owners. The Cougars ownership group includes local businessmen as well as alumni and NHL players Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer. "Its great to have WHL alumni like Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, both former Prince George Cougars, who will do a great job," WHL commissioner Ron Robson said. "These guys are not just there because of their names. Theyre there because they want to contribute and be actively involved and thats great news for us." A group of Regina businessmen headed by Anthony Marquart takes over the Pats from Russ and Diane Parker, who have owned the team for 19 seasons. Both sales are expected to be finalized next month. Robson says the WHL has taken a hands-on role with the struggling Lethbridge Hurricanes, who have been losing games, money and attendance in recent years. Some players left the community-owned team during the season and an assistant coach is reportedly suing the team for wrongful dismissal. The league is working with the club on a new business plan. "Weve set out some conditions of approval of that business plan of which we want to see some changes immediately," Robson said. "One is certainly improving the financial performance of the franchise and probably most important is making sure the on-ice performance of the team is going in the right direction. "Theres not a team thats not going to be impacted by missing the playoffs the number of seasons that they have and they find themselves in a bit of a hole, but with the proper structure moving forward, they can be successful. "Its a great hockey community, a great facility and we just need the right leadership to get in place to get that job done." ' ' '