The Leafs not ranking No. 1 comes as a mild surprise. They remain arguably the most reviled franchise and fan base in the NHL among other fan bases. And if they finish a nine-season playoff streak by winning the lottery and landing a superstar building block after just one year out of the playoffs, it’ll be a “head straight to Twitter for the comments” kind of night. Tears will flow. Keyboard warriors will mash their fingers bloody. Conspiracy theorists will feel vindicated. The fallout would epitomize post-lottery chaos, and it could change the Leafs’ trajectory – specifically, what their incoming GM will do about Auston Matthews’ future.
We can’t argue against Larkin’s thesis. Although some may take umbrage with the characterization of being reviled, it’s simply a fact, and one that Leafs Nation ought to lean into, as the crown jewel of the league. The rest of the league would be outraged with the outcome, and it would surely provide a lifeline to a Leafs team that doesn’t necessarily deserve it. Gavin McKenna would provide the Leafs with an instant top-six forward that can augment the core, and the Maple Leafs would have flexibility in any path it chooses.
If the team elects to build around McKenna, Knies and Cowan, they can leverage Matthews and Nylander for a warchest of picks and prospects, a proposition that was previously thought to be unthinkable. If the Leafs elect for a rebuild, it can sell the idea that Matthews, Nylander, McKenna and Knies form a strong enough quartet for a deep playoff run, aided by necessary upgrades on the blue line. We’ll surely be celebrating if the Maple Leafs win the lottery on May 5. Tears may flow, and we’ll bask in them.
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