2026 NHL Draft Lottery Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs' Quest for a Top Pick
The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is set to take place, and the Vancouver Canucks are the frontrunners with the best odds to secure the first-overall pick in this year's draft. Vancouver holds an 18.5 per cent chance of winning the top pick, making them the favorites on FanDuel with odds of +270 to win the lottery. Joining them in the top five for betting odds are the Calgary Flames (+850) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (+950), both vying for a chance to land the coveted first pick. On the other hand, the Winnipeg Jets have the lowest odds among the Canadian teams, with a 6.5 per cent chance of securing the first pick, reflected in their odds of +1200 on FanDuel.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a precarious position with an 8.5 per cent chance of winning the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft lottery. However, the real question lies in whether they will remain within the top five picks. Toronto finished with the fifth-worst record in the NHL, putting them in a position where they must either move up to the first or second spot by winning the lottery or hope that the two winning teams are already ahead of them in the draft order. Falling outside the top five would result in the Boston Bruins receiving their pick as part of a trade deal from the 2025 trade deadline involving Brendon Carlo and Fraser Minten.
FanDuel has set the odds for Toronto being awarded a top-five pick at +135, with the opposing side at -140. Considering Toronto's 8.5 per cent chance and the combined probabilities of the four teams ahead of them, the Maple Leafs have a 41.9 per cent chance of retaining a top-five pick and a 58.1 per cent chance of slipping back to the sixth or seventh spot in the draft order.
In conclusion, the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery presents an exciting opportunity for teams to secure top picks, with the Vancouver Canucks leading the pack with the best odds to land the first-overall pick. The Toronto Maple Leafs face a crucial moment as they aim to secure a top-five pick and avoid falling back in the draft order. Fans and analysts alike eagerly await the outcome of the draft lottery, which will shape the future of these teams and the league as a whole.