Maple Leafs Get Good 2026 NHL Draft News on Tuesday

Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs Get Good 2026 NHL Draft News on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 14, 2026 11:29 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finishing a regular season in which they are no longer playing for more than good draft positioning.

Missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the Leafs have turned their attention to the lower-end side of the standings, the upcoming NHL Draft lottery, and the draft assets in their power.

Toronto was eliminated from postseason contention in early April, ending its playoff streak, and with a not-so-great draft outlook, as their first-round pick is set to go to the Boston Bruins.

That outlook took a turn for the better on Monday night heading into Tuesday's wee hours, thanks to the Los Angeles Kings and their clinching of the playoffs.

View of a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team.David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Kings entered their game against the Seattle Kraken needing a win to secure their playoff position and fulfill a condition tied to the Scott Laughton trade completed at this season's deadline.

And Los Angeles delivered. The Kings defeated Seattle 5-3 to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that result triggered a condition in Laughton's trade between the two teams.

Toronto acquired a conditional 2026 third-round pick as part of the deal, with the stipulation that it would be upgraded to a second-rounder if the Kings reached the postseason.

The Leafs will receive a second rounder in the 2026 NHL Draft instead of a third as a result of the playoff condition being satisfied in the Scott Laughton deal. https://t.co/F3eJ5mYmZr
— David Alter (@davidalter) April 14, 2026

With the Kings clinching, that pick now becomes a second-round selection and gives Toronto their second second-round pick for the upcoming draft, the other one originally belonging to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Maple Leafs will close the season on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and entering the game with a 32-35-13 record and the no. 15 seed in the Eastern Conference.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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