Toronto Maple Leafs just barely missed out on getting Alexis Lafrenière

The Toronto Maple Leafs were a split second away from winning NHL Draft Lottery and getting the first overall pick.

The pain just keeps piling on for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last 24 hours.

The New York Rangers won the bizarre 2020 NHL Draft Lottery to get the first overall pick and the right to draft Alexis Lafreniere, but if the button that chose the lottery ball was pressed a split second earlier, the pick would’ve gone to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A slow-mo replay reveals just how close the Maple Leafs came to getting that first overall pick. It’s in the suction tube just a split second too soon, it even got a push from the Minnesota Wild lottery ball but in typical Maple Leafs fashion, not good enough.

https://twitter.com/corwinmc/status/1292965620712198145?s=20

The jokes just write themselves for the Maple Leafs and their poor fans at this point.

The Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Columbus Blue Jackets not even 24 hours ago in a heartbreaking 3-0 loss, and were looking for some consolation by getting the first overall pick. Instead, they lose their first round pick entirely to the Carolina Hurricanes due to the conditions on the Patrick Marleau trade from last offseason. Just endless pain.

It’s going to be a long offseason for the Maple Leafs as they try to solve the defensive issues plaguing the team while also dealing with salary cap, and it could’ve made much easier if that lottery ball just bounced in a slightly different way. It’s hard to imagine a more painful 24 hours for a hockey fan, but surely Toronto will find a new low to hit before too long.