Only my opinion...fueled by red wine and tequila.
What they should have done is take the standings for each team from the last three years. Whatever place they finished, they get that many balls. Por ejemplo...the Winnepeg Jets finished 25th, 19th, and 28th the last three years, so they get 72 balls. The The Red Wings finish 1st, 5th, and 3rd...they get 9 balls. Throw 'em all into a big Chuck E Cheese ball pit ... toss a blind guy in and let him pick.
(PC Disclaimer: No offense against blind hockey fans, but that's the only way it works)