The Toronto Maple Leafs' odds of winning the coveted first overall pick improved Wednesday.
With the team's dismal 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets coupled with the Edmonton Oilers' 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, the Maple Leafs slid into 30th place, giving them a 20 percent chance of landing the first overall pick in this year's draft.
The loss in regulation also means that the Maple Leafs will finish with one of the final two spots in the NHL standings, meaning they are guaranteed no worse than the fifth overall pick in the draft.
Here is how the lottery race stacks up:
| Position | Team | GP | Points | Chance of Winning Lottery (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Toronto | 80 | 67 | 20 |
| 29 | Edmonton | 81 | 69 | 13.5 |
| 28 | Columbus | 80 | 72 | 11.5 |
| 27 | Vancouver | 80 | 73 | 9.5 |
| 26 | Calgary | 80 | 73 | 8.5 |
The Maple Leafs can lock down the 30th spot in the standings with a regulation loss in one of their final two games of the season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The team last owned the first overall pick in 1985 when they used it to draft fan favorite Wendel Clark.
