Maple Leafs rise, Canucks fall
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL draft lottery, securing the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 2016, giving them the opportunity to select either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, both promising talents expected to make an immediate impact.
- The San Jose Sharks won the second pick, adding to their young core that includes Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa, after showing significant improvement in the previous season.
- The Vancouver Canucks, finishing as the NHL's worst team in 2025-26, dropped to the third pick, missing out on the top prospects McKenna or Stenberg.
- The Chicago Blackhawks fell to the fourth pick, missing the chance to add a top prospect to complement stars Connor Bedard and Anton Frondell.
- The Boston Bruins will not receive the Maple Leafs' 2026 first-round pick due to top-five protection, with the pick transferring to a future unprotected year following the Brandon Carlo trade.
