Maple Leafs win 1st pick, Flames fall in 2026 NHL draft lottery
Posted May 5, 2026 6:32 am.
Last Updated May 5, 2026 7:13 pm.
The Toronto Maple Leafs received a wonderful gift on Tuesday.
The Leafs won the NHL’s Draft Lottery, giving them the first-overall pick June 26 in Buffalo.
Toronto had the fifth-best odds to win. The Calgary Flames entered the night with the fourth-best odds, ultimately falling to sixth.
The Vancouver Canucks will pick third in late June after having the best chance at the top pick.
Penn State winger Gavin McKenna has been the projected top pick in most recent mock drafts. He’s been in a season-long battle with Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg.
McKenna, from Whitehorse, had 15 goals and 36 assists in 35 games in his freshman season at Penn State. He was CHL player of the year the previous season, leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Memorial Cup final.
McKenna has played for Canada’s world junior team the past two years.
