The Toronto Maple Leafs have been here before—though not nearly often enough.

On Tuesday night, the Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. It marks just the third time in franchise history they'll hold the top selection.

If history is any guide, Toronto fans have reason to be excited. Both previous instances worked out spectacularly well.

The first came in 1985, when the Leafs selected winger Wendel Clark from the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. Clark went on to play 13 of his 15 NHL seasons in Toronto, scoring 260 of his 330 career goals and adding 181 assists while wearing the blue and white. His physical, passionate style made him an instant fan favorite and a franchise cornerstone.

Then came 2016, when Toronto hit the jackpot with American center Auston Matthews. Ten seasons into his NHL career, Matthews remains with the Leafs, having amassed 428 goals and 352 assists (780 points) in 689 games. He's been the face of the franchise and one of the league's most dynamic scorers.

This time around, all eyes are on Gavin McKenna, the early favorite to hear his name called first. But as any draft watcher knows, the pre-draft process can shift expectations by the time the Leafs are officially on the clock.

Assuming Matthews stays in Toronto this summer, he'll have the chance to mentor the franchise's next top pick—and help turn around a rough 2025-26 season. For Leafs fans, this feels like a generational moment, the kind that can reshape a team's future overnight.

Whether you're stocking up on new gear to celebrate the lottery win or planning ahead for draft day, one thing is clear: the Maple Leafs are betting big on history repeating itself.