The Toronto Maple Leafs' final home game of the season was a wild one, ending in a 6-5 regulation loss to the Dallas Stars. While the defeat stings, it actually solidified a crucial piece of the team's offseason puzzle: their draft lottery position.

Despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead and later holding a 5-3 advantage in the third period, a late collapse—including an unfortunate own-goal—sealed their fate. The result, however, ensures the Leafs will enter the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5th no lower than the 6th overall pick. Their current standing as the league's fifth-worst team by points gives them the 5th-best lottery odds.

The highest they can now climb before the lottery is to the 4th spot, a scenario dependent on other teams' final results. This positioning is critical due to a past trade. In March 2025, Toronto sent their 2026 first-round pick to Boston for defenseman Brandon Carlo, but with a key condition: the pick is top-five protected.

This means the Maple Leafs must land a selection in the top five after the lottery to retain the pick this year. If they fall to 6th or 7th, the pick goes to the Bruins. So, while Monday's loss was chaotic, it kept their hopes of keeping that valuable asset alive. All eyes will now be on the lottery draw to see if their final standing pays off.