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A year ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a 2-0 series lead, the Leafs were looking to take full control over the series in Game 3. They led 2-0 and 3-1 in the game but the Florida Panthers kept clawing back, and found a way to win in overtime. So close, yet so far from a 3-0 series lead, they couldn’t get it done. They would ultimately lose in seven to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.

Since that series defining Game 3, it seems like everything has gone wrong for Toronto. Mainly, their leading scorer Mitch Marner left in free agency to join the Vegas Golden Knights. 

While I was a fan of some of their offseason moves, and believed they might be better equipped for playoff hockey this season, I underestimated one thing. Even for a team that had been as good in the regular season as the Leafs, the playoffs were no guarantee.

A disastrous season caused the Leafs to trade away a good chunk of their roster at the trade deadline, shut down Auston Matthews, and commit to the tank.

They finished the season with the fifth best odds at landing the number one pick, but there was a catch, if their pick fell back from number five, it went to one of their biggest rivals, the Boston Bruins.

With all the Keith Pelley, Auston Matthews, and John Chayka drama swirling around, many fans were reaching a breaking point with the organization. Tuesday night, that all changed.

Toronto entered the night with an 8.5% chance at getting the number one pick. Fans watched anxiously as they were most fearful of losing the pick altogether, and had not thought far ahead enough to actually winning the lottery.

As the final ball was waiting to be pulled, all of Leafs Nation was hoping to see the number 12 come up. A special number, linked to many Leafs Legends such as Stéphane Robidas, Zach Aston-Reese, and Alex Galchenyuk (yikes).

The countdown was finished, and the hockey world was seconds away from seeing who would come away with the top pick. A ball shot up. Twelve. 12. The lucky number Toronto was hoping for. Fans cheered for the first time in months, as they had forgotten what it felt like to celebrate something.

Ten years after winning the lottery and selecting Auston Matthews, they had done it again. Not only was the pick not going to the Boston Bruins, it was first overall. If there’s one thing Brad Treliving did right in his time in Toronto, it was putting a Top 5 protection on that pick, because could you imagine if the Leafs had to give another top selection to the Bruins.

Since it’s the Leafs, you better believe this pick is going to be one of the most discussed picks of all time, especially at such a crucial point for their organization. Who will they take? Should they trade the pick? Does this pick open the door for a Matthews trade? They need something to talk about while the playoffs are going on.

Nothing to do with the Leafs, but just Draft Lottery related. If I’m a fan of another team in the league, I might be more scared of San Jose jumping up to second overall than I am Toronto. The Sharks were four points out of a playoff spot this year (albeit in a weak Western Conference), and now they are about to add another top prospect. 

Maple Leafs versus Sharks in the 2030 Stanley Cup Finals?