Toronto retained its 2026 first-round pick, which had been traded to the Boston Bruins with top-five protection.
Event
On Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, securing the first overall pick. As a result, Toronto retained its 2026 first-round pick, which had been traded to the Boston Bruins with top-five protection. The Bruins had a 58.1% chance of acquiring the pick if it fell outside the top five.
Background
In March 2025, the Bruins traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs in exchange for:
- A conditional 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected)
- Forward Fraser Minten
- A 2025 fourth-round pick
Minten recorded 17 goals in 82 games with Boston during the 2025-26 season.
Implications
Per the trade conditions, because Toronto retained its 2026 first-round pick, the Bruins will likely receive an unprotected 2028 first-round pick from Toronto. This is contingent on further conditions involving Toronto's 2027 first-round pick (also top-10 protected and traded to the Philadelphia Flyers). If Toronto's 2027 pick is a top-10 selection, the Maple Leafs may choose to send the unprotected 2028 pick to Boston and the 2027 pick to Philadelphia.
Statements
The article includes unverified speculation about Toronto's future performance and Boston's timeline, which is not factual reporting.