The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery delivered one of the most jaw-dropping nights in recent memory, with dramatic jumps, heartbreaking slides, and a few teams quietly celebrating behind the scenes. Now that the ping-pong balls have settled, let's break down the three biggest winners and losers from this year's lottery.
Winner: Toronto Maple Leafs
There's no debate here—the Maple Leafs walked away as the night's biggest victors. Despite entering the lottery with just the fifth-best odds, Toronto jumped all the way to the No. 1 overall pick. This marks the first time since 2016 that the Leafs missed the playoffs, and they're now poised to add generational talent Gavin McKenna to their roster. On paper, a future duo of McKenna and Auston Matthews looks like a dream come true for a franchise hungry to take the next step.
Winner: San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are another clear winner, moving up to the second overall pick despite having only a 5.2% chance of doing so. San Jose's rebuild took a nice step forward this season, and now they get to add another elite prospect to the pipeline. With needs on the blue line, they could target a potential No. 1 defenseman at No. 2, or they might trade down to stockpile assets. Alternatively, forward Ivar Stenberg could be an option to further bolster an already promising forward group.
Winner: Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers weren't even in the lottery, but they still came out as winners. Thanks to the Scott Laughton trade, Philadelphia owns Toronto's unprotected 2027 first-round pick. With the Leafs winning the lottery this year—and potentially facing another tough season—that future pick could become extremely valuable. If Toronto struggles again, the Flyers could be sitting on a lottery ticket of their own next year.
Loser: Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks were the biggest losers of the night. After finishing as the NHL's worst team by a significant margin, they had the best odds to land the No. 1 pick. Instead, they dropped to third overall—a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that endured a grueling season. While third overall is still a strong pick, the difference between selecting first and third in a draft headlined by a talent like McKenna is massive.
As the draft approaches, these lottery results will shape the future of several franchises. For the Leafs and Sharks, the future looks brighter than ever. For the Canucks, it's back to the drawing board.