Toronto Maple Leafs winning NHL draft lottery would be ‘massive’, per O’Neill

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery with pressure and hope after a disappointing season. Toronto’s 2025-26 campaign collapsed in dramatic fashion. The team finished 32-36-14, ending a nine-year playoff streak and dropping to last in the Atlantic Division.

Now, attention shifts to the lottery on May 5. Toronto holds an 8. 5 percent chance at the No.

1 pick, with a 41. 9 percent chance of keeping its first-round selection. The pick remains top-five protected due to a previous trade with the Boston Bruins.

If it falls outside that range, it transfers to Boston, increasing the stakes. MORE: Maple Leafs look to Mats Sundin to bring back ‘pride’ in Toronto, per Friedman A favorable result could bring elite talent like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg into the system. Considering the stakes, former player and analyst Jeff O’Neill believes a lottery win would be ‘massive’ for the franchise and its fan base.