Toronto Maple Leafs Have Lost Their 1st Round Pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs did not expect to be in the running for the 1st overall pick at the beginning of this season. They had a 12.5% chance of winning the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes, which was ultimately won by the New York Rangers. The Maple Leafs were to select 13th overall, but they have lost this draft pick due to a previous trade.

It's all or nothing. The Leafs will draft first overall or hand over their 2020 first-round pick to Carolina after tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery.https://t.co/ay7R8Hnz4V #LeafsForever
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) August 10, 2020

This was an all or nothing play for the Maple Leafs. The 13th overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft has been transferred to the Carolina Hurricanes. This pick was top-10 protected, meaning that the Maple Leafs would have transferred a 2021 draft pick to the Hurricanes if they had won. Instead, they are forced to transfer their 2020 1st round pick because it was not protected. This was a conditional pick in the Patrick Marleau trade to the Hurricanes.