Winners and losers of 2026 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs on top, Lightning class looks weak

The 2026 NHL Draft took place with 32 teams selecting a total of 223 players across all rounds. The Toronto Maple Leafs were identified as the clear top winners of the draft, having selected Gavin McKenna with the overall No. 1 pick. In contrast, the Tampa Bay Lightning's draft class was assessed as notably weak relative to their selection positions.