{"id":498377,"date":"2026-03-11T16:55:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/498377\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T16:55:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T16:55:46","slug":"the-maple-leafs-draft-pick-situation-is-a-ticking-time-bomb-that-most-fans-dont-fully-understand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/498377\/","title":{"rendered":"The Maple Leafs’ draft pick situation is a ticking time bomb that most fans don’t fully understand"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Toronto <\/p>\n

Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Scott Laughton was acquired to help the Maple Leafs for last year’s playoff push and less than a year later he was traded for a conditional third-round pick and ending his very brief stint with his hometown team.<\/p>\n

The Top-5 pick is protected, and every game decides if Toronto keeps it<\/p>\n

Right now, Toronto sits last in the Atlantic and currently 25th in the NHL which would put them in line for the 7th pick if odds were 100%. If they want to save the pick they traded to Boston in the Brandon Carlo deal, they need to make sure they finish within the bottom-five.<\/p>\n

If they get unlucky and get 6th or 7th, that pick is Boston’s for the taking and Toronto is left empty-handed. It’s the price you pay for trying to improve ahead of a playoff push and there’s always a risk of losing your ability to draft.<\/p>\n

Speaking of, they might not be able to draft in 2027 either.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia pick most fans don’t know about yet<\/p>\n

The team sent a 2027 first to Philadelphia in the Laughton deal, and that’s Top-10 protected, so if Toronto somehow becomes competitive but not enough to reach the postseason — another pick gone.<\/p>\n

But there’s a lot of math to go on so let’s break it down.<\/p>\n

– If Toronto’s pick is Top-5 protected in 2026: Toronto keeps 2026 pick, gives Boston 2027.
– If Toronto is outside Top-10 in 2027: Philadelphia receives 2027 pick, Boston receives unprotected 2028 pick.
– If Toronto is Top-10 in drafting in 2027, they can choose to give Boston the 2027 pick to complete the Carlo deal and give Philadelphia the 2028 pick or
– Choose to give Philadelphia the 2027 pick, and Boston the 2028 pick.<\/p>\n

As complicated as it is, there looks to be an incredible amount of luck involved and a lot of it depends on how this season ends up.<\/p>\n

Colorado’s pick is the only thing keeping this from a complete disaster<\/p>\n

Best case scenario: Toronto finishes Top-5, drafts Gavin McKenna, Boston drafts in 2028, all parties happy with the result.<\/p>\n

Worst-case scenario: Toronto finishes outside the Top-5, loses their pick to Boston, compete just enough to finish outside the Top-10 in 2027 and lose the pick to Philadelphia or Boston, and pay the other team the 2028 pick.<\/p>\n

Boston also ends up with a potential franchise-changing player meanwhile Toronto gets two seasons of mid-level play from Carlo.<\/p>\n

Toronto is going to be praying for the former, because it’s a chance for them to seriously accelerate a retool, but if they fall short in the luck department it could be a long time before they win, and draft in the first round.<\/p>\n

Previously on Hockey Patrol<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

3 HOURS AGO|75 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs’ draft pick situation is a ticking time bomb that most fans don’t fully understand<\/p>\n

Do you think Toronto’s going to end up with a Top-5 pick in this year’s draft?<\/p>\n

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