A slow-motion video shows how devastatingly close Maple Leafs came to winning the NHL draft lottery

I’m so sorry in advance, Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

But since I see many of you talking about what happened on Monday night when the New York Rangers won the second phase of the 2020 NHL draft lottery, so let’s dive in.

As you saw, the Rangers’ ping-pong ball came up to deliver the No. 1 pick in the draft to New York, giving them the chance to draft the uber-talented Alex Lafreniere. But as Maple Leafs fans — who just watched the team lose its qualifying round series to the Columbus Blue Jackets — are bemoaning afterwards, their ball was THISCLOSE to getting into the top of the lottery machine … but it looks like it hit the sides and was bumped out. Check this out:

John Tavares Leafs' lottery ball
🤝
Hitting the post on an open net pic.twitter.com/TvyTTXidW6

— Corwin (@corwinmc) August 10, 2020

Wanna see how close the leafs were to picking Lafrenier. This is thier ball rings under the vacuum tube while the vacuum is on and it got bumped out by the rangers ball that game in from the top. #LeafsForever #NYR @MapleLeafs @nhl @Steve_Dangle @Sid_Seixeiro pic.twitter.com/St91HNSKMF

— jon Sedani (@JSedanii) August 10, 2020

There was trolling as well:

Thank you for your ball hitting the post @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/msfo65dwFt

— James (@metrangerfan711) August 11, 2020

OMG THE LEAFS BALL HIT THE EDGE AND THE RANGERS BALL JUMPED OVER IT https://t.co/cYehuuvHQI pic.twitter.com/42okgY0gtc

— Greg (@RealistSpeaking) August 10, 2020

Even at the lottery, Leafs just choked!! Play the moment in slow motion on your PVR and you'll remark Toronto's ball spinning and choking before NYR's goes up! Impossible to fake! #nhldraftlottery #leafschoke pic.twitter.com/y8F99E1dwl

— Hugo Talbot (@HugoTalbot2) August 10, 2020

Sorry, Toronto.