Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Maple Leafs win 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, will pick first overall in upcoming draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and will pick first overall in the upcoming draft. This year’s draft lottery had eyes on it from Maple Leafs fans for the first time in exactly a decade, since they selected Auston Matthews in 2016.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

The Toronto Maple Leafs Win the 2026 Draft Lottery

Toronto has won the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft lottery. The winning combination: 7-2-11-12. It’s an amazing turn of events, given that the Maple Leafs were really only hoping to stay in the top five and not drop a spot, which would have meant the pick would move to the Boston Bruins.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / May 5

Maple Leafs’ Draft Lottery Odds: The fate of the first-round pick hangs in the balance

It’s been 10 years since the draft lottery has been relevant in Toronto, and the organization was certainly in a much different place then than it is now.

John Tavares News / Professor Press Box / May 5

Simple Change Could Improve John Tavares’ Game

John Tavares is one of those players who still matters more than people realize. Even if the game around him has changed, even if the Maple Leafs have shifted toward a faster, younger, more transition-heavy group, there’s still a very real place for what he brings.

Anze Kopitar News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Points leaders by NHL team' quiz

Can you name every NHL franchise's all-time leader in points in five minutes?

The 'NHL 1,200-points Club' quiz

The 'Playoff goal-leaders by NHL team' quiz

The 'Stanley Cup Playoff hat-tricks' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / May 5

Simmons Didn't Throw Anyone a Softball Yesterday

If you’ve been around the Toronto Maple Leafs long enough, you’ve seen this before. New faces at the podium, fresh suits, careful optimism. A few nods to the past not being good enough, a promise that things will be different this time.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in NHL history

There have been successful rookie seasons in NHL history, and there have been superior efforts worth celebrating time and time again. Here's our list of the 25 notable seasons from those with official rookie status, as deemed by the NHL, in reverse chronological order.

Auston Matthews News / Trade Talk Sports / May 5

Auston Matthews Not Yet Committed to Maple Leafs for Next Season

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially finalized their front office over the weekend, introducing John Chayka as general manager and Mats Sundin as executive advisor on Monday.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / May 5

How winning the NHL Draft Lottery would afford Maple Leafs flexibility in pursuing new direction

The pursuit of a championship in professional sports often comes down to timelines. Executives routinely have to answer the question if their team is genuinely ready to contend for a championship, and if they’ve built a roster with players in their prime years to secure the trophy.

Nick Robertson News / NHL Trade Talk / May 5

Something Has to Give with Nick Robertson in Toronto

For those fans who follow the Toronto Maple Leafs, the clock is ticking on a decision about Nick Robertson. If the Maple Leafs don’t change coaches, for Robertson’s own sake, it’s probably time to let him move on to another team.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / May 5

Here are the exact combinations Maple Leafs need to win 2026 NHL Draft Lottery

Ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold 8.5 percent odds of securing the first overall pick. Toronto sports the fifth-best odds of gaining the first overall selection, with the lottery taking place on Tuesday evening.

Mats Sundin News / NHL Trade Talk / May 5

Sundin’s message to Leafs fans should have everyone paying attention

The Toronto Maple Leafs held a press conference on Monday, introducing Mats Sundin and John Chayka as their next senior executive advisor and general manager.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / May 5

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Chayka and Sundin Questions, Matthews & Marlies

Well, this has been one of those interesting weeks where something is definitely up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This isn’t just a tweak around the edges or a depth signing you forget about in a week.

Auston Matthews News / The Hockey Writers / May 5

Insider: Matthews Could Leave Maple Leafs Sooner Than Expected

Despite saying it’s a priority to sell their captain on the team’s direction and that management still believes they can build a winner, the future of Auston Matthews in Toronto is anything but clear.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / May 5

New Leafs GM John Chayka offers fans vision for team that can ‘win in a lot of different ways’

Toronto Maple Leafs fans, meet your new general manager. On Sunday, John Chayka was named the 19th GM in Leafs franchise history. In a video posted by the Maple Leafs on Monday morning, Toronto’s new GM spoke directly to fans for the first time.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '20-point, 15-rebound Game 7's' quiz

The 'Active 30-point playoff games' quiz

The '5 3's on 50% shooting playoff games' quiz

The 'Playoff scoring record by team' quiz

Auston Matthews News / NHL Trade Talk / May 5

Matthews Unwilling to Commit to Maple Leafs Return

“According to my sources, Auston Matthews is not yet sure what the future holds for him and if he is going to be in a position to return next season. I

Auston Matthews News / Daily Faceoff / May 5

Report: Leafs’ Matthews unsure if he’ll be back with team in 2026-27

All options are on the table when it comes to Auston Matthews’ future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. When players spoke with media following the 2025-26 regular season, Matthews told reporters he “can’t predict the future” when it came to his status with the club.