The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the NHL draft lottery, securing the first overall pick in next month’s draft.
The victory comes at a pivotal moment for the franchise. Newly hired general manager John Chayka and newly appointed hockey operations adviser, franchise legend Mats Sundin, now hold the top selection.
Sundin expressed his elation during the lottery broadcast, stating, 'I’m extremely happy for the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base... It’s great to get the first pick.'
The win marks the first time Toronto has held the top pick since selecting Auston Matthews first overall in 2016. That pick came a decade ago. The team's current captain and superstar, Matthews, faces an uncertain future after the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in his career.
The Leafs entered the lottery with the fifth-best odds at 8.5 percent. For this draft, the top prospects are Penn State forward Gavin McKenna and Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg.
McKenna, from Whitehorse, Yukon, tied for fifth in NCAA scoring with 51 points in 35 games. Stenberg, 18, posted 33 points in Sweden’s top league, the most by an 18-year-old there since Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.