Sabres elimination officially locks in the Maple Leafs' 2026 draft position

The Toronto Maple Leafs will pick 59th overall in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26 in Buffalo. The pick comes from a trade involving Scott Laughton sent to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional third-round pick. The condition converts that pick into the Buffalo Sabres’ second-round selection if the Kings reach the postseason. After the Sabres were eliminated following an overtime Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the draft order for the eliminated teams was finalized, confirming Toronto’s slot. The additional second-round selection strengthens Toronto’s prospect pool as the team enters a high-pressure offseason after missing the postseason for the first time in a decade.

"The Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to be able to shape where they will be selecting in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26th in Buffalo. With the Buffalo Sabres' round-two exit after a heartbreaking overtime Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, the draft order for the team eliminated from the postseason has been finalized. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, this means they will be selecting 59th overall in the second round due to the Scott Laughton trade they made at the trade deadline."

"The Maple Leafs acquired the pick from the deal they made with the Los Angeles Kings, when they sent Scott Laughton to the Kings in exchange for a conditional third-round pick; the condition included that if the Kings made the postseason, it would turn into the Buffalo Sabres ' second-round pick, hence the reason why they are picking in the second round. With the Sabres now eliminated from the postseason, it has been determined where the Maple Leafs will slot in."

"Being able to pick in the second round can help out the Maple Leafs tremendously, for a team that has little to no draft capital. This has become huge for their future. While there is no guarantee that whoever they select in the second round will turn out to become a solid NHL player for them, it certainly helps out their prospect pool, giving the Maple Leafs more players to develop."

"The Maple Leafs are heading into one of their most crucial offseasons, as they just missed the postseason for the first time in a decade, with general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin facing a lot of pressure."

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