The Toronto Maple Leafs stunned the hockey world on Tuesday night, winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery despite entering with only an 8.5% chance at the top pick.
The Maple Leafs finished 28th overall with a 32-36-14 record, a sharp drop for the franchise, which had made the playoffs nine seasons in a row. They jumped four spots to secure the No. 1 selection, and fans quickly flooded social media with accusations that the lottery was “fixed.”
The San Jose Sharks secured the No. 2 pick despite having the ninth-best odds, while the Vancouver Canucks fell to third despite entering with the best odds.
One fan wrote: “Fixed. NHL is so desperate for Canadian teams to be competitive and relevant.”
Another added: “This has to be the most rigged lottery in all sports. Of course, Toronto wins. Total BS!”
A third fan claimed: “Leafs make the league the most money, it was obvious they were gonna give them the first pick to avoid another long stretch of being bad. They don’t even try to hide it.”
One fan reacted: "When Toronto's at their lowest, they get bailed out by a draft lottery. Wow, I’m sure it’s totally not rigged!"
Another fan claimed: "Rigged. Just when Matthews is about to walk let’s give him number 1 overall to play with at league minimum for 3 years how convenient. Stay cap compliant with those terrible contracts on the books. Sick league"
One user pointed: "Good one 🤣 Gary [expletive] himself immediately cause his lackeys executed project Mickey Mouse flawlessly."
A fan bluntly said: "That’s ok, won’t make a difference. This franchise is cursed and no matter who they get, they will never win a cup !"
Maple Leafs' Struggles in NHL 2025-26 Season
The reaction came after a brutal season for Toronto. Injuries, defensive struggles, poor goaltending and roster issues pushed the franchise into chaos.
The organization fired general manager Brad Treliving following a seven-game losing streak to end the season. It hired GM John Chayka and senior adviser Mats Sundin.
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Still, the disastrous campaign turned into a major opportunity. Toronto’s first-round pick was top-five protected in the Brandon Carlo trade with the Boston Bruins. By staying inside the top five and winning the lottery, the Leafs kept the pick.
Toronto is expected to target Penn State star Gavin McKenna with the top selection.
