Maple Leafs avoid disaster, win draft lottery and will pick first overall

The Toronto Maple Leafs came into tonight on the verge of a disastrous night if their pick fell in the top 5 the Leafs would lose their picks for the 2027 and 2028 drafts going to Boston and Philadelphia.

With little surrounding Auston Matthews and a playoff failure many fans were worried about getting any of the picks 3-5 and drafting an average prospect but losing future picks.

Instead, the Maple Leafs won the draft lottery and will have a chance to draft a generational player at first overall and change the fortunes of the franchise.

During the lottery draw conducted by commissioner Gary Bettman, the Maple Leafs represented by Mats Sundin got the lucky numbers and will pick first.

The Maple Leafs will now pick first overall for the third time in franchise history.

Now, the Toronto Maple Leafs are set to once again draft a franchise changing player with Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg leading the way as the likely picks.

This will now be the first major decision of the John Chayka and Mats Sundin era in Toronto.

After their rocky opening press conference, the Maple Leafs new front office will need to get this decision correct or risk losing fan support quickly.

As the draft approaches, it will be fascinating to see if the Maple Leafs go pure skill and take McKenna or take a more all-around talent in Stenberg or go off the board entirely.

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