Could the Maple Leafs get Gavin McKenna? NHL Draft lottery leaves door open for Toronto
TL;DR
The Toronto Maple Leafs have an 8.5% chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which could allow them to draft Penn State star Gavin McKenna. The draft lottery presents an opportunity despite their current odds.
Key points
- Toronto Maple Leafs have 8.5% chance for No. 1 pick
- Maple Leafs enter 2026 NHL Draft with fifth-best odds
- Gavin McKenna could be a target if they win the lottery
Could the Maple Leafs get Gavin McKenna? NHL Draft lottery leaves door open for Toronto originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There's a reason they call it the lottery.
The odds may not be in favor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that was true last year, too. The New York Islanders only had the 10th-best chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick in last year's NHL Draft, but they won it and got Matthew Schaefer.
This time around, the Maple Leafs enter the 2026 NHL Draft with the fifth-best odds on the board.
That gives them an 8.5% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick -- which could then mean Penn State star Gavin McKenna.
"The odds obviously aren’t in their favor, but we saw the New York Islanders one year ago leapfrog nine teams to snag Matthew Schaefer first overall despite just a 3.5% chance entering the night," writes Jackson Weber of NHL Trade Talk. "Because of that, Leafs Nation is still holding out hope that the lottery balls fall in their favor on May 5. A first-overall pick has the potential to change everything in Toronto, and if it’s Gavin McKenna, some believe he could jumpstart a turnaround and possibly be the skilled, playmaking winger Auston Matthews needs moving forward."
McKenna isn't an absolute lock as the No. 1 pick, but he spent most of this season as the favorite for that spot.
He played a lone season collegiately at Penn State and had 15 goals and 36 assists (51 points) in 35 games.
He hasn't officially entered the draft, but you've got to assume that's coming. So then at that point, the Maple Leafs would simply be hoping for some good fortune in the lottery.
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Q&A
What are the Toronto Maple Leafs' odds for the 2026 NHL Draft lottery?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the fifth-best odds, giving them an 8.5% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick.
Who is Gavin McKenna and why is he significant for the Maple Leafs?
Gavin McKenna is a star player from Penn State, and the Maple Leafs could potentially draft him if they secure the No. 1 overall pick.
How did the New York Islanders win the No. 1 pick last year?
The New York Islanders won the No. 1 overall pick last year despite having only the 10th-best odds, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the draft lottery.
