Toronto Maple Leafs win 2026 NHL draft lottery for first pick

The Maple Leafs had an 8.5 percent chance to win the top pick. This is a big change for the team after they recently hired a new general manager.
By Newsroom | Sports, Toronto |

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft following Tuesday night's draft lottery proceedings. This significant win comes mere days after a substantial shake-up in the team's front office, with the recent appointments of John Chayka as general manager and Mats Sundin as a hockey operations adviser.

The lottery, held in Secaucus, N.J., saw the Maple Leafs, who entered with an 8.5 percent chance, draw the winning number to claim the top selection. The win provides an immediate, high-profile boost to the newly installed leadership, which faced pointed questions during their introductory press conference. The presumptive top prospect available in this year's draft is Gavin McKenna, a winger from Penn State University.

This draft lottery victory concludes a period of considerable instability for the franchise. The outcome also means the Vancouver Canucks, who held better odds, will pick third. The Calgary Flames, despite having the fourth-best chance at 9.5 percent, will select sixth. The Maple Leafs' pick was subject to top-five protection, meaning it would have gone to the Boston Bruins had Toronto fallen outside the top five selections.

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Contextualizing the Odds

While the Maple Leafs' path to the top pick was far from guaranteed, their odds placed them with the fifth-best chance heading into the lottery. Their position in the standings at season's end had clinched them this fifth-best chance, avoiding a worse fate due to tiebreakers and a narrow point deficit. The club had previously traded away conditional first-round picks, one to the Boston Bruins and another to the Philadelphia Flyers, related to the acquisition of Scott Laughton, underscoring the importance of retaining their own first-round selection. Historically, under the current lottery format, a fifth-overall projected pick has occasionally climbed to second or dropped to seventh.

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The Maple Leafs’ acquisition of the No. 1 pick is being characterized by some as a "fortuitous bounce" for the new leadership, offering a substantial opportunity to reshape the team's trajectory. The selection of McKenna, a player widely expected to go first, is now firmly in Toronto's hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the Toronto Maple Leafs get the first pick in the 2026 NHL draft?
The Maple Leafs won the NHL draft lottery held on June 2, 2026, in Secaucus, New Jersey. They had an 8.5 percent chance to win and were successful, allowing them to pick first overall.
Q: Who is the top player the Maple Leafs might choose with the first pick?
Gavin McKenna, a winger from Penn State University, is the expected top choice. He is considered the best player available in the 2026 draft class.
Q: How does this draft win affect the new Maple Leafs front office?
The win gives the new leadership team, including general manager John Chayka, a major boost. It provides them with a chance to add a top-tier player to the roster immediately after starting their new roles.
Q: What would have happened if the Maple Leafs did not get a top-five pick?
The Maple Leafs' draft pick had top-five protection. If they had fallen outside the top five, the pick would have gone to the Boston Bruins due to a previous trade.