Sharks leap ahead; Canucks fall despite lottery odds
Sharks claim second pick; Canucks fall to third despite best odds.
Event / Sports
2026 NHL Draft Lottery
Toronto Maple Leafs win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery with an 8.5% chance, securing the first overall pick to select Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna. San Jose Sharks secure the second overall pick.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 May, 06:06 UTC
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What happened
Vancouver Canucks drop to third overall pick despite highest lottery odds
The Vancouver Canucks, who entered the lottery with the highest odds at 18.5 percent to win the top pick, fell to the third overall selection. The team has never had the first overall pick in NHL history.
Toronto Maple Leafs win No. 1 overall pick in 2026 NHL Draft Lottery
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the lottery for the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Tuesday night. The Maple Leafs had an 8.5 percent chance of winning but defied the odds by jumping from fifth position to secure the top selection. This is the first time the franchise has won the lottery since 2016, when they selected Auston Matthews first overall.
Gavin McKenna projected as top pick for Toronto Maple Leafs
Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna, a dynamic prospect who finished second in NCAA points per game with 36 assists and 51 points in 35 games, is the expected first overall selection for the Toronto Maple Leafs. McKenna has been widely coveted by NHL franchises and is considered an elite-level playmaker with superior hockey sense, puck skills, and vision. Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg, who posted 33 points in 43 games with Frölunda HC in the SHL, is also considered a top prospect capable of going first overall.
San Jose Sharks win second overall pick in 2026 NHL Draft Lottery
The San Jose Sharks won the lottery for the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This marks the Sharks' second consecutive year with a top-two selection, as they also had the second overall pick in the 2025 draft when they selected Michael Misa.
Maple Leafs allowed 299 goals in 2025-26 regular season
The Toronto Maple Leafs had one of the league's worst defensive performances during the 2025-26 regular season, allowing 299 goals. This poor defensive play contributed significantly to the team's disappointing finish and playoff miss.
Toronto Maple Leafs missed playoffs for first time since 2016
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished their 2025-26 regular season with a record of 32-36-14, placing eighth in the Atlantic Division. This marked a 30-point drop from the previous season and resulted in their first missed playoff appearance since 2016, coinciding with the first season where captain Auston Matthews did not make the playoffs in his NHL career.
2026 NHL Draft lottery conducted live at NHL Network studio
The 2026 NHL Draft lottery was conducted live at the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey, marking the second consecutive year the draw was held live rather than sequestered in a conference room. The lottery sequence that determined Toronto as the top pick was 7-2-11-12.
John Chayka hired as Toronto Maple Leafs general manager
The Toronto Maple Leafs hired John Chayka as general manager and brought back franchise legend Mats Sundin to serve as a hockey operations adviser. The announcements came approximately 48 hours before the team won the No. 1 draft pick.
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2 alternative perspectives
Maple Leafs Land No. 1 Pick to Rebuild After Playoff Miss
Maple Leafs win No. 1 draft pick after missing playoffs for first time since 2016.