Maple Leafs Win 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, Secure First Overall Pick
The Toronto Maple Leafs struck gold on Tuesday, winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery and securing the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.
"We needed some luck and we got it tonight," said Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Chayka. "When you get a first overall pick, it's a monumental type of opportunity."
Entering the lottery with the fifth-best odds (8.5%), the Maple Leafs defied the probabilities to claim the top spot. The victory was made all the more significant by the terms of a previous trade.
The pick was top-5 protected. Had another team jumped the Maple Leafs, pushing their selection out of the top five, the pick would have been forfeited to the Boston Bruins. That protection was part of the deal that sent defenseman Brandon Carlo to Toronto on March 7, 2025.
Chayka described his immediate reaction to the outcome as "just, yeah, elated," underscoring the high stakes and the relief of retaining such a valuable asset.