Steve Simmons calls Leafs lottery win “Fantastic” + addresses viral presser moment: Leafs Morning Take
It’s official: The Leafs won the Brandon Carlo trade.
Jokes aside, the team and its fan base desperately needed a win on Tuesday night at the NHL Draft Lottery—and they got it in a big way.
With just an 8.5% chance of landing the top pick—and more than a 40% chance of not even keeping a top-five selection—luck was finally on Toronto’s side. Ten years after drafting Auston Matthews first overall in Buffalo, they will once again hold the No. 1 pick at next month’s draft—also in Buffalo.
Vibes were high on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take as we broke down everything from a massive night for the Maple Leafs. We started with the magnitude of it all—another rollercoaster week in this market, capped off by a major win for the franchise. Naturally, even though it’s very early, we got into a debate about what the Leafs should do with the No. 1 pick. Gavin McKenna is the consensus top prospect, but there’s going to be plenty of discussion around that decision in the weeks ahead. We also reacted to the comments from John Chayka and Mats Sundin, and what comes next for the organization. One thing we both agreed on: clarity around Craig Berube’s future will be an important next step. All things considered, this is a huge moment for Toronto—especially coming on the heels of the report regarding Auston Matthews’ uncertainty about his future. This kind of win certainly helps stabilize things and could even be an opportunity for optimism around the captain, potentially even the idea of him playing alongside a player like McKenna down the road.
After that, Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons stopped by the show to break down a pivotal few days for the Maple Leafs. He called the lottery win a much-needed boost for both the team and its fan base, emphasizing the significance of adding a potential franchise-changing piece with the No. 1 overall pick—something he believes is “manna from heaven” for the new leadership duo of John Chayka and Mats Sundin. Simmons also addressed the viral moment from the Chayka-Sundin introductory press conference, explaining the intent behind his pointed question while admitting he might approach it differently in hindsight. He offered insight into the tense atmosphere surrounding the presser, shared his perspective on Sundin’s role moving forward, and discussed the behind-the-scenes dynamic involving MLSE CEO Keith Pelley. The conversation wrapped with his thoughts on Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto.
David Pagnotta will be in for Jay Rosehill on the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We will continue to follow up on the draft lottery and everything surrounding the Leafs’ big win. Plus, University of Denver head coach David Carle is expected to join us.