...
By Tyler Erzberger
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Tuesday morning, it seemed as if the Toronto Maple Leafs might be on the verge of imploding.
Auston Matthews was reportedly not fully invested in the franchise's future and would be taking the offseason to see what Toronto did to build a roster around him before committing his future to the only NHL team he's ever known.
Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs leaped several spots in the NHL Draft Lottery and landed the pivotal No. 1 spot, ensuring them almost assuredly Gavin McKenna, the electric winger from Penn State who has been coveted by franchises for years as an amateur player.
Read More on Sports
More news: Hockey Team Auction Flops With Zero Bids After Ridiculous Price Tag
...
More news: Auston Matthews Urged to Demand Trade From Maple Leafs After Being Booed
It's a roll of the dice that might have changed Toronto's future for the next decade, as McKenna and everything around his arrival could possibly lock down Matthews for the long term and bring hope back to a franchise that was on the verge of having none.
Fans online, seeing the Maple Leafs franchise's revival in real time, didn't keep their thoughts to themselves after the fortuitous lottery.
Here is the full order of the non-playoff teams and where they will pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
- 1. Toronto Maple Leafs
- 2. San Jose Sharks
- 3. Vancouver Canucks
- 4. Chicago Blackhawks
- 5. New York Rangers
- 6. Calgary Flames
- 7. Seattle Kraken
- 8. Winnipeg Jets
- 9. Florida Panthers
- 10. Nashville Predators
- 11. St. Louis Blues
- 12. New Jersey Devils
- 13. New York Islanders
- 14. Columbus Blue Jackets
- 15. St. Louis Blues (from Detroit)
- 16. Washington Capitals
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines