The Maple Leafs currently have the eighth-best odds to land the first-overall pick in this year's draft.
Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO and President Keith Pelley has no interest in the 'T' word.
As it stands, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently have the eighth-best odds to secure the number-one pick in this year's draft at 6 percent, according to Tankathon. They're at 77 points with seven games remaining in the season.
If their pick falls out of the top five, the Boston Bruins get their first-round selection in this year's draft.
That's because former general manager Brad Treliving made it only top-five protected in a trade to acquire defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins at the 2025 trade deadline.
Because of where the Maple Leafs are at, with not many trade assets and a not-so-attractive free agent pool in the summer, it might make sense to a lot of people that Toronto should tank to get the best possible chance at the top pick this summer.
Or even something within the top five.
"Absolutely not," Pelley fiercely stated on Tuesday, after a press conference following the dismissal of Treliving.
Wouldn't the Maple Leafs want a top-five pick in this draft? No doubt, it would drastically change the organization's direction, especially when you look at the loaded draft class featuring a forward like Gavin McKenna or a defender like Keaton Verhoeff.
Pelley isn't interested in even thinking about the word "tank" when it comes to the Maple Leafs, or any of MLSE's teams, for that matter.
"I totally disagree with that. And we won't do that. That's not what I believe sport is all about," Pelley said on Tuesday. "And everyone that knows me, I have a fierce opinion on that. In my opinion, that changes the integrity of sport and changes the integrity of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"We will not do anything to try to get that [first round pick]. And if fans are angry with that, then I respect that, but we will not tank."
Seven games remain in Toronto's season. You might want that top-five pick, but it doesn't sound like anyone within the Maple Leafs organization wants to lose to get to that point.
"There is zero chance, zero chance that the Toronto Maple Leafs will tank," Pelley added. "I don't believe in it. Ownership doesn't believe in it. I grew up in an environment, when you played sports, you tried to win every single game.
"And so, there will be absolutely no [tanking] in the last, how many do we have, seven or eight games? We'll try to win every single game."
I guess it's all up to luck now.