Trending Now - Bruins' Draft Lottery Chances for Maple Leafs' First-round Pick

WHO:

Fox News - John Chayka, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, expressed his feelings about winning the lottery, stating, "We needed some luck and we got it tonight."

NHL.com - Mats Sundin was announced as the senior executive advisor of hockey operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

NHL.com - John Chayka was introduced as the 19th general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

NHL.com - The Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved in a trade agreement.

NHL.com - Fraser Minten is a player acquired by the Bruins from the Maple Leafs.

NHL.com - Brandon Carlo is the player traded from the Bruins to the Maple Leafs.

WHAT:

Fox News - The Toronto Maple Leafs won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, jumping from fifth place despite having only an 8.5% chance of winning.

Audacy - The Bruins may not receive Toronto's first-round pick until 2028 due to conditions tied to the pick from previous trades.

Audacy - If Toronto's 2027 first-round pick ends up outside the top 10, it will go to the Philadelphia Flyers, resulting in the Bruins receiving an unprotected 2028 first-round pick instead.

Audacy - If Toronto's 2027 first-round pick is in the top 10, the Maple Leafs can choose to send it to either Philadelphia or Boston, with the other team receiving the unprotected 2028 first-round pick.

Boston.com - The Bruins had a 58.1 percent chance of snagging Toronto's first-round pick in the draft lottery.

Audacy - The Bruins may not receive Toronto's first-round pick until 2028 due to conditions tied to the pick from previous trades.

Audacy - If Toronto's 2027 first-round pick ends up outside the top 10, it will go to the Philadelphia Flyers, resulting in the Bruins receiving an unprotected 2028 first-round pick instead.

Fox News - The Toronto Maple Leafs' captain, Auston Matthews, suffered a season-ending injury during the regular season.

Fox News - The Maple Leafs allowed 299 goals during the regular season, one of the league's worst defensive marks.

Fox News - Gavin McKenna is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, having finished second in the NCAA in points per game.

Fox News - The Toronto Maple Leafs won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, which has not happened since 2016.

Fox News - The Maple Leafs finished the regular season with a record of 32-36-14, marking a 30-point drop from the previous year.

Fox News - The outcome of the lottery allows Toronto to keep the No. 1 selection, avoiding a potential asset-management misstep tied to previous trades.

Fox News - The lottery result triggered the protection clause on the first-round pick sent to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal.

Fox News - The Toronto Maple Leafs were announced as the winners of the first overall pick during the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at the NHL Network Studio in Secaucus, N.J., on May 5, 2026.

Fox News - The Toronto Maple Leafs won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, jumping from fifth place despite having only an 8.5% chance of winning.

Fox News - The Maple Leafs finished the regular season with a record of 32-36-14, marking a 30-point drop from the previous year and leading to their first missed postseason since 2016.

Fox News - The lottery result allowed Toronto to keep the No. 1 selection, avoiding a potential asset-management misstep tied to previous trades.

NHL.com - The Bruins acquired a 2025 fourth-round pick along with Fraser Minten and a 2026 conditional first-round pick from the Maple Leafs in March 2025.

NHL.com - The Bruins currently hold eight selections in the upcoming draft, including two first-round picks, one second-round pick, one third-round pick, three fourth-round picks, and one seventh-round pick.

NHL.com - The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

NHL.com - The Bruins received a 2026 conditional first-round pick from the Maple Leafs, which is top-five protected.

NHL.com - The Maple Leafs finished last in the Atlantic Division with a record of 32-36-14 and 78 points.

NHL.com - The Maple Leafs have an 8.5% chance of winning the draft lottery and moving to the No. 1 overall pick.

NHL.com - The Bruins currently hold eight selections in the upcoming draft, including two first-round picks.

WHERE:

NHL.com - The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be held at NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J.

NHL.com - The NHL Draft is set to take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

WHEN:

NHL.com - The NHL Draft is set for June 26-27, 2026.

Fox News - The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery was announced on May 5, 2026.

NHL.com - The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET.

NHL.com - The NHL Draft is set for June 26-27, 2026.

HOW:

NHL.com - John Chayka expressed his feelings about winning the lottery, stating, "We needed some luck and we got it tonight."

Fox News - The lottery result allowed Toronto to avoid a situation where the pick would have gone to a division rival had it slipped outside the top five.

NHL.com - The draft lottery will occur in two stages: first to determine the first overall pick and then to determine the second overall pick.

NHL.com - The lottery will feature a live drawing of the lottery balls, similar to the previous year.

(UPDATED May 6, 2026 17:24 UTC)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, a surprising leap from fifth place despite having only an 8.5% chance of winning. John Chayka, the general manager of the Maple Leafs, expressed his excitement, saying, "We needed some luck and we got it tonight." The NHL Draft is scheduled to take place on June 26-27, 2026.

(UPDATED May 6, 2026 11:32 UTC)

The Bruins currently have a 58.1 percent chance of acquiring Toronto's first-round pick in the upcoming draft lottery. However, due to conditions from previous trades, they may not actually receive that pick until 2028. If Toronto's 2027 first-round pick falls outside the top 10, it will go to the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing the Bruins to receive an unprotected first-round pick in 2028 instead.

(UPDATED May 6, 2026 05:53 UTC)

In a significant shakeup for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mats Sundin has been named the senior executive advisor of hockey operations, while John Chayka has been introduced as the team's 19th general manager. The Maple Leafs faced challenges this season, with captain Auston Matthews suffering a season-ending injury and the team allowing 299 goals, marking one of the league's worst defensive records. Looking ahead, Gavin McKenna is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and Chayka expressed his excitement about the future, saying, "We needed some luck and we got it tonight."

(UPDATED May 6, 2026 04:13 UTC)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, marking their first time at the top since 2016. Despite finishing the regular season with a record of 32 wins, 36 losses, and 14 overtime losses, this lottery win allows Toronto to retain their first-round selection and avoid a potential asset-management issue tied to past trades. The outcome also triggered a protection clause on the first-round pick sent to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal, ensuring the Maple Leafs keep their valuable position in the draft.

(UPDATED May 6, 2026 01:27 UTC)

In a surprising turn of events, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, despite having only an 8.5% chance of securing the top spot. This victory comes after a challenging regular season for the team, which finished with a record of 32 wins, 36 losses, and 14 overtime losses, marking a significant 30-point drop from the previous year and resulting in their first missed postseason since 2016. The lottery outcome allows Toronto to retain the No. 1 selection, preventing a potential misstep related to previous trades.

(UPDATED May 5, 2026 21:18 UTC)

The Bruins have made a significant move by acquiring a 2025 fourth-round pick, Fraser Minten, and a 2026 conditional first-round pick from the Maple Leafs in March 2025. As it stands, the Bruins currently hold eight selections in the upcoming draft, which includes two first-round picks and a mix of other rounds. Fans can catch the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, set to take place on May 8, 2026, on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

(UPDATED May 5, 2026 19:26 UTC)

In a significant trade agreement, the Boston Bruins have acquired Fraser Minten from the Toronto Maple Leafs, while sending Brandon Carlo in the opposite direction. As part of the deal, the Bruins also received a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 draft, which is protected if it falls within the top five selections. Looking ahead, the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET, and the draft itself will take place on June 26-27, 2026, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.