The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery for the primary time in a decade in 2026 despite holding just an 8.5 percent probability at the highest selection.
It is a franchise-altering opportunity for brand spanking new general manager John Chayka, who now controls the rights to the No. 1 overall pick and the prospect to draft projected superstar Gavin McKenna out of Penn State.
That is still the likeliest final result. But in line with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Toronto is not completely shutting down the likelihood of a blockbuster trade ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo.
“Will any of the highest five picks within the draft be on the move? Not that the Maple Leafs are intent on moving the No. 1 pick, but recent general manager John Chayka also isn’t hanging up the phone if and when teams call,” the hockey insider wrote on Wednesday.
“Why would he? If a team steps up in a meaningful way with the sort of package that helps the Leafs get back in contention, Chayka will not less than listen, in line with league sources.”
The catch, in LeBrun’s eyes, is that he believes Chayka remains to be unlikely to maneuver the choice.
The last time the Maple Leafs picked first overall, they landed franchise cornerstone Auston Matthews, who has since developed into one among the best goal scorers of his generation.
While this 12 months’s class doesn’t feature a prospect viewed quite at Matthews’ level, McKenna remains to be considered an elite talent with superstar upside. Projected No. 2 pick Ivar Stenberg can be viewed as a possible franchise-altering player.
LeBrun also reported that the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks might be open to discussing their very own top-five picks.
“The San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, are far enough along of their rebuild that GM Mike Grier is completely open to moving the No. 2 pick, depending on the offers, per league sources,” he wrote.
“Same goes with Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson and the No. 4 pick. Chicago views the pick as a heck of an asset, given the talent available in the highest five, so it could must be a darn good NHL player to maneuver it, however the Blackhawks are open to it, per league sources.”
With the salary cap jumping significantly this summer and several other teams aggressively trying to find immediate help, the 2026 NHL Draft could find yourself becoming one among the busiest in recent memory.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery for the primary time in a decade in 2026 despite holding just an 8. 5 percent probability at the highest selection. It is a franchise-altering opportunity for brand spanking new general manager John Chayka, who now controls the rights to the No. 1 overall pick and the prospect to draft projected superstar Gavin McKenna out of Penn State.