NHL Draft lottery rigged? Fans claim lottery was 'fixed' after Maple Leafs win Gavin McKenna sweepstakes
Gavin McKenna is likely headed to Toronto. The vast majority of NHL fans aren't too happy about it. Some have turned conspiratorial.
NHL Draft lottery rigged? Fans claim lottery was 'fixed' after Maple Leafs win Gavin McKenna sweepstakes originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
There haven't been many bright days for the Maple Leafs in recent history. The franchise plummeted down the NHL standings in 2025โ26, recording a paltry 77 points -- its lowest total in an 82-game season since 2015โ16. Toronto didn't finish with the worst record in the NHL.
In fact, the Maple Leafs tallied more points than four other teams. If anything, they were more likely to surrender their first-round pick than keep it โ Toronto's selection would have gone to the Bruins if it landed outside the top five, as part of the deal to acquire Brandon Carlo last year. The stakes were high for a Maple Leafs side that will come into the 2026 season with a new-look front office led by 36-year-old John Chayka.
The hockey gods were looking out for the snakebitten franchise during Tuesday's draft lottery, blessing Chayka and Co. with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft.
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