John Chayka says Maple Leafs needed ‘monumental’ draft lottery win

The Toronto Maple Leafs had made the playoffs for nine straight seasons, until missing out this year and finishing last in the Atlantic Division. Now, the team has received a little bit of luck in trying to rebound to become a playoff team. The Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.

Now, GM John Chayka is talking about what it means for the team to win the Draft Lottery, per Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com.

“We needed some luck and we got it tonight,” Chayka said. “A long road ahead, of course, and lots of work to do still, but when you get a first overall pick, it’s a monumental type of opportunity. I think it’s a really good draft with a lot of good players. It’s an honor to pick No. 1 overall.”

The Leafs now have a decision to make on what to do with the first overall selection. NHL Mock Drafts have Gavin McKenna from Penn State and Ivar Stenberg out of the SHL as the top two prospects in the draft.

“Exciting player,” Chayka said of McKenna. “I’ve tracked him for a number of years now, and the skill level, the creativity, his puck ability, and then his shot release is all pretty special. It’s a good package, so it will be good to get with the scouts and talk through it all.”

For the praise of Chayka, Mats Sundin knows that Stenberg is also an option.

“I think it’s a strong draft,” Sundin said. “The first round is really strong and Ivar has had a strong season, from the World Junior Championship and … probably in the World Championship this year in a couple weeks. It’s a strong draft, so it’s going to be interesting and a lot of looking at these different players knowing we have the first overall pick. So, it will be a lot of work ahead for us.”

The NHL Draft is set to have the first round on June 26, with the subsequent rounds the next day.

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