Maple Leafs Jump to No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft Lottery

The Toronto Maple Leafs jumped from fifth to the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday, beating 8.5 percent odds in a franchise-changing result unseen since 2016.

The team vaulted past several clubs to secure the top selection. That outcome hands Toronto a chance to draft a top prospect without trading current players.

Toronto endured a poor regular season, finishing 32-36-14 for eighth place in the Atlantic Division. The record marked a 30-point drop from the year before and the club's first missed playoffs since 2016.

Turmoil defined the campaign. Captain Auston Matthews suffered a season-ending injury, and the team allowed 299 goals, among the league's worst defensive totals.

Attention now shifts to projected top pick Gavin McKenna. The Penn State left wing ranked second in the NCAA in points per game. For a squad short on scoring depth and facing cap limits, McKenna offers a way to build the roster for years ahead.

The lottery win also protected a prior trade asset. Toronto sent a first-round pick to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal, with top-five protection. The No. 1 slot keeps that pick out of rival hands.