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Oilers rivals in Canucks, Flames fall in Draft Lottery in stunning Leafs victory
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Photo credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
May 5, 2026, 19:30 EDTUpdated: May 5, 2026, 19:52 EDT
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In another stunning NHL Draft Lottery result, the Toronto Maple Leafs will select first overall.
That’s a benefit for the Edmonton Oilers that the best overall player is headed to the Eastern Conference, as four Pacific Division teams had a five per cent chance or greater at drafting first overall.
Toronto had the fifth best odds entering the lottery after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Viewers got to watch the lottery balls get selected live on television, as fans were hoping for the right four number combination to signify their team winning the lottery.
The Leafs reversal of fortune comes just 24 hours after the team’s surprising hire of John Chayka as general manager, and the massive friction at the introductory press conference, where Chayka was called a “con man” and “liar” by columnist Steve Simmons.
A report by The Athletic’s Chris Johnson said that former first overall pick Auston Matthews needed to see the team make major improvements before he’d commit to staying in Toronto for the long-term.
New senior advisor and former Mats Sundin must’ve been a lucky charm at the lottery, as they had a 8.5 per cent chance heading into the night. The team will be able to draft Gavin McKenna first overall if they so choose.
There was a greater chance that the Leafs were going to fall in the draft, meaning they wouldn’t have had their first-round pick this year anyways due to multiple previous trades.

Sharks rise, Pacific fall

The big loser was the Oilers’ Pacific Division rival in the Vancouver Canucks, who fell two spots and will select third overall. They had a 25.5 per cent chance at finishing first heading into the lottery.
The Calgary Flames also fell two spots to the sixth overall choice.
The Pacific Division did have a high-riser as the San Jose Sharks won the second overall pick in the lottery. San Jose selected second overall last year, first overall a season prior to choose Macklin Celebrini, and fourth overall the year before that.
The most a team could rise in the lottery was ten positions.
  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
  16. Washington Capitals
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4. 

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