Ten years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the NHL Draft Lottery with the best chance to get the No. 1 pick after finishing with the worst record during the 2015-16 season. The Leafs got lucky that night, which ultimately led to them drafting Auston Matthews, the current captain of the team.

Captain Auston Matthews suffered a season-ending injury in March after a knee-on-knee collision with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. Toronto also struggled after losing Mitch Marner in the offseason, while goalies Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz failed to provide stability.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have found an unexpected answer to their post-Mitch Marner problems after winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and securing the No. 1 overall pick. Toronto entered the lottery with only an 8.

The Toronto Maple Leafs shook up the NHL world by winning the 2026 Draft Lottery. While some NHL fans think it's a bit fishy, the Leafs have earned the right to draft Penn State LW Gavin McKenna (or whoever they choose) regardless.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were the most disappointing team in the NHL last season. After winning the Atlantic Division a year ago and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, the Maple Leafs were supposed to be a prime contender for the Stanley Cup this season.