The Toronto Maple Leafs have secured the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, winning the lottery with the combination 7-2-11-12. The team, which entered the lottery hoping to retain a top-five pick, now holds the franchise’s third No. 1 overall selection in history, joining 2016 (Auston Matthews) and 1985 (Wendel Clark).
This victory marks a pivotal moment for the Maple Leafs under the leadership of new general manager John Chayka and special advisor Mats Sundin, who participated via satellite during the announcement. Chayka, in his second day on the job, landed the pick that could shape the team’s future for years to come.
The Maple Leafs entered the lottery with a 12.5% chance of landing the No. 1 pick, behind the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. The Bruins held the second-worst record and controlled Toronto’s second-round pick in 2026 in exchange for the Leafs’ first-rounder in 2025. Had Toronto fallen outside the top five, Boston would have inherited the selection. Instead, Toronto’s gamble paid off.
The 2026 draft class is shaping up as one of the deepest in recent memory. Prospects like Swedish forward Elias Pettersson II, son of Vancouver’s all-time leading scorer, and American center Gavin McKenna are generating buzz as potential top-10 selections. McKenna, a 17-year-old from the USHL, has posted 62 points in 48 games this season and is projected as a potential top-three talent.
With a 6'4", 205-pound frame and a two-way game reminiscent of Auston Matthews in his draft year, Pettersson II could be a perfect fit for the Leafs. The team is expected to prioritize a forward who can complement their current core of Matthews and Mitchell Marner.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers, who finished second in the league but missed the playoffs, are left with the second overall pick. Boston, who were the favorites to land the No. 1 pick, will select third. The Oilers have been linked to a blockbuster trade to move up, but with the draft just weeks away, no deal has materialized.
The Maple Leafs now have a window of opportunity to reshape their future. Chayka faces a critical decision on whether to trade the pick or use it to add elite talent. The team is expected to announce their direction by late June.
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