Rachel Kryshak May 8, 2026, 07:30 AM ET Close Rachel Kryshak is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She's worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective. The NHL draft lottery balls have been drawn, and perhaps the funniest result imaginable has come to pass. Many fanbases were ready to clown on the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans for dropping to No. 6 and giving that pick to their division rival Boston Bruins . Instead, the 12 ball flew up the chute and the Leafs, after missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, will pick first overall, as their first-rounder is top-five protected. The San Jose Sharks , who have some of the best young talent in the NHL, moved up to pick second, leaving the Vancouver Canucks -- who finished last in the league by a fair margin -- to pick third.…