NHL Draft Lottery reveals No. 1 pick goes to Maple Leafs

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery has revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs will have the No. 1 selection in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

The draft lottery took place on the evening of May 5, with it being broadcast live on ESPN from the NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio. The Maple Leafs earned the coveted first selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, as all teams that did not qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams) were able to participate.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Commissioner Gary Bettman were on site throughout the drawing and were also on site during the loading of the lottery balls.

Maple Leafs Senior Executive Advisor Mats Sundin was introduced in a press conference on May 4, following the announcement of his hiring on May 3. 

"It's great to get the first pick, great night [and a] great lottery," Sundin said while smiling wide live following winning the first overall selection in the lottery. "We're just starting ... first day yesterday and certainly this is really going to help me look into the future."

Entering into the lottery, the Toronto organization had 8.5% odds to win the first pick.

Maple Leafs win first overall selection for 2026 NHL Draft via lottery

Transitioning to who the Toronto franchise will likely select with the No.1 overall selection — Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna tops the list. Fellow-LW Ivar Stenberg leads the list of all international-based skaters per NHL Central Scouting.

THANK YOU @ HOCKEY GODS!! pic.twitter.com/Oh1vOVnKhV

McKenna finished tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) and was second with 1.46 points per game in 35 games this season. 

"I definitely learned a lot, I think, in terms of my character. I think I grew. Obviously, learned that there's a big spotlight on me and [that I] don't have to be perfect, but I got to be on top of things, and make sure I'm dialed in, habits on and off the ice. And I think this year is big for me. And I'm very grateful for my time there," McKenna said on the broadcast in relation to his most recent year playing at Penn State.

McKenna is a Canada native, and is from Whitehorse, Yukon.

Matthew Schaefer was the 2025 No. 1 overall selection, going to the New York Islanders. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks had the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, with Connor Bedard being taken at No. 1 by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023.

The 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26-27.

This now marks the third time in Toronto history that the Maple Leafs will have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Sharks were later revealed to win the No. 2 overall selection for the 2026 NHL Draft.

MORE: NHL reveals draft lottery details