The embarrassing loss to the Senators triggers a hidden draft lottery catch for Toronto
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
The Ottawa Senators helped out their provincial rivals mightily on Wednesday as they ended up defeating the Maple Leafs 2-1 in the 2025-26 season finale.
It was a Battle of Ontario for the season finale and the Maple Leafs were looking to come out with the loss in order to maximize their draft odds and keeping their first-round pick, though it was not going to be easy.
Head coach Travis Green decided to sit the majority of his core for the finale and while it makes sense given they need as much rest as possible for the upcoming playoff push — it still put Toronto at a severe disadvantage.
And it could have seriously affected their draft chances.
Why taking the embarrassing loss to Ottawa was the only way to shield the asset from Boston
They weren't going to rest their stars clearly, and it felt like they wouldn't be able to come out with the loss. But leave it to them to figure out a way and though Dennis Hildeby put in a solid effort, they still lost 3-1 to the Senators.
That officially put the Maple Leafs in fifth-worst place in the NHL standings, where they will now have a 24.5% chance to keep that pick. They also have an 8.5% chance to snag the first overall pick, which is pretty solid and if they get lucky; are better odds than they expect.
But it's embarrassing because Ottawa was essentially playing their 'B' squad. For all the talk about playing for pride, Craig Berube's team did the opposite. While it's great for the future, it still puts the proverbial cherry on top of the season that was.
Though it was really the only way for the team to make sure their rivals didn't get a better chance at securing the 6th overall pick.
The brutal lottery reality that could still hand a top prospect directly to the Bruins
It might not even matter though in the end.
The draft odds may have the Maple Leafs at a 24.5% chance to get the fifth overall selection, there is also a much better chance they end up choosing sixth and then lose that pick to Boston.
It's a 44% chance they end up sliding to sixth, and a 14.2% chance they drop to seventh. Either situation is the worst possible scenario. While there is always a chance Toronto sneaks it out and gets a favourable pick; it's more likely they are giving Boston a star.
That's just going to make fans even more frustrated and considering the Bruins already have Fraser Minten looking like a future superstar; there's no shot the Carlo deal will ever be anything but an unequivocal bust.
If it weren't for Brad Treliving being rushed into making a deal at the last second for Carlo, we could be looking at a much different situation.
But right now the reality is — May 5th is going to come with a boatload of anxiety. Let's just hope that Toronto manages to find another reason to celebrate other than Cinco de Mayo.
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