Morning Sports Update
The 2025 trade between Boston and Toronto includes several interesting scenarios.
A view of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. Via Kevin Paul Dupont
May 5, 2026 | 12:38 PM
3 minutes to read
The Bruins and the NHL Draft Lottery: Tonight at 7 p.m., the NHL will hold its annual draft lottery. As was the case in 2025, the lottery will be drawn live (as opposed to simply revealing the results as other leagues do).
Despite making the playoffs — and therefore not finishing among the lottery-eligible non-playoff teams — the Bruins have plenty of reason to keep an eye on the proceedings, thanks to a 2025 trade. Last March, Boston dealt defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs, with a “conditional” 2026 first-round pick being part of the return (along with Fraser Minton and a 2025 fourth-round pick).
Thanks to the Maple Leafs’ miserable season (Toronto finished bottom of the Atlantic Division), the Bruins have a chance to end up with a top-10 pick.
Toronto’s pick conveys to the Bruins in 2026 if it does not end up in the top five. With that in mind:
- Toronto’s odds of keeping the pick in 2026: 41.9 percent chance it’s a top-five pick
- Bruins odds of getting the pick: 58.1 percent chance the pick falls outside the top five, meaning it goes to the Bruins
If the Maple Leafs end up in the top five, Toronto’s pick is protected in ’26. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Bruins would then get the pick in 2027 due to a second deadline deal that Toronto made in 2025. Along with acquiring Carlo from the Bruins, the Maple Leafs also acquired Scott Laughton from the Flyers in a trade that sent the team’s 2027 first-round pick to Philadelphia.
Because the ’27 pick is already committed to the Flyers, the Bruins would then get Toronto’s 2028 unprotected first-rounder.
One additional twist is that, per the terms of the trade, the 2027 pick that the Maple Leafs owe the Flyers is top-10 protected. So in the scenario where Toronto gets into the top five in 2026 (and keeps its pick) and then gets a top-10 pick in 2027, the Maple Leafs would be in a truly unusual position of getting to choose which team gets a particular pick.
Should those exact circumstances play out, Toronto would have the option to convey its top-10 pick to the Bruins and send the unprotected ’28 first-rounder to the Flyers, or the opposite scenario (with Philadelphia getting the ’27 pick and Boston being given the latter one).
Exactly what the Bruins would do if they end up with a top-10 pick in 2026 remains to be seen, though a defenseman could be in order.
Trivia: James Hagens, selected seventh overall by the Bruins a year ago, was the team’s highest draft pick since which player (picked second overall)?
(Answer at the bottom.)
Hint: 2010.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox defeated the Tigers 5-4 on Monday. The two teams play again this evening in Detroit at 6:40 p.m.
On Thursday, the Fleet face the Charge in Ottawa in Game 3 of the PWHL semi-final series at 7 p.m. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1.
Legacy FC face Gotham FC on the road Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
The Revolution also play on Saturday, facing the Philadelphia Union at home at 7:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Jarren Duran’s big hit: The Red Sox got a win on Monday, powered by Jarren Duran’s three-run home run.
On this day: In 1904, Cy Young pitched a perfect game for the Boston Americans in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. The pitching matchup was a pair of Hall of Famers, with Rube Waddell scattering 10 hits and three runs over his own complete game start for the Athletics.
Daily highlight: It came in a loss, but this bicycle kick from Chelsea forward Joao Pedro was special.
Joao Pedro’s WONDERFUL consolation bicycle kick was Chelsea’s first goal since March 4th. pic.twitter.com/3O0sbRbnHE
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 4, 2026
Trivia answer: Tyler Seguin
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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