TORONTO - The Maple Leafs are going to aggressively pursue a top NHL entry draft spot, perhaps even the No. 1 pick owned by the New York Islanders, says GM Brian Burke.

Going into the draft lottery Tuesday night, Toronto was seventh in the selection order and could have moved up a maximum of four spots if it won the weighted draw.

The Islanders finished last in the league this season and had the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick.

That's exactly what happened when deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced the results of the draw, giving the Isles the top pick for the first time since 2000. Toronto remained in seventh spot.

Earlier Tuesday, Burke said he intends to be wheeling and dealing before the top teen talent is dispersed in Montreal with an eye on landing highly touted forward John Tavares.

"We'll immediately attempt to move up," Burke said during a morning news conference. "We're going to talk to everyone between us and the first pick and see what the landscape is.

"We're going to see what it costs and we're going to try and move up."

Anybody on his roster, with the exception of standout rookie defenceman Luke Schenn, might go in a package that would be required to get a higher position.

"No player is untradeable," said Burke. "Wayne Gretzky got traded."

Burke has a history of draft coups, most notably the ones that landed him Chris Pronger when he managed the Hartford Whalers and maneuverings that procured the services of the Sedin twins for the Vancouver Canucks. So, teams will be ready for his spiel this time.

"I don't think we're going to sneak up on anyone," he said. "They've seen that movie."

He wouldn't necessarily need the No. 1 spot to draft Tavares, he said.

"I'm not confident every team has John Tavares as No. 1," said Burke.

In a season filled with bad news, the New York Islanders finally received some positive information Tuesday night when they won the Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery, meaning they will have the first shot at London Knights phenom John Tavares or Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly unveiled the top five live on TSN. Much to the delight of Islanders fans, no team beat the odds to displace New York atop the lottery standings. The Islanders finished last in the NHL this season and had a 48% chance of landing the first overall pick.

"I'm thrilled for our fans. Thrilled for our organization, (owner) Charles Wang and (GM) Garth Snow. This is a great moment." Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow told NHL on TSN's James Duthie after the Isles won the lottery. "No offence to you guys, but I don't want to be back here next year."

The remainder of the lottery remained true to the odds with the Tampa Bay Lightning getting the second overall pick, followed by the Colorado Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers and Los Angeles Kings.

The Islanders, who also won the NHL Draft Drawing in 2000, have selected first overall three times in franchise history. With those picks, the team selected Bill Harris (1972), Denis Potvin (1973) and Rick DiPietro (2000).

The top two prospects according to both TSN and Central Scouting, John Tavares and Sweden's Victor Hedman were both on hand, via satellite, for the unveiling. Both expressed how much of an honour it would be to go first overall.

"Only a select few get to be in that class," Tavares told the NHL on TSN's James Duthie. "I'm not looking to be the number one overall pick, but it is a great achievement. I just want to play in the NHL."

Hedman could be the first Swedish born player to be selected first overall since the Quebec Nordiques picked Mats Sundin at number one in the 1989 NHL Entry draft. A fact that was not lost on the towering blue liner.

"It would mean a lot to me to go first," Hedman told Duthie live from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. "Mats was the last one, and it would be a great honour to me to follow him"

As for which way the Isles will go with their pick, Morrow wasn't saying.

"No announcement from me tonight," Morrow stated. "Whoever we end up with we know we're getting a very good player who can hopefully be a cornerstone for us to go along with our other young players."

TSN's top-five rated prospects are Tavares, Hedman, forward Matt Duchene of the OHL's Brampton Battalion, forward Evander Kane of the WHL's Vancouver Giants, and forward Brayden Schenn of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

The 2009 NHL Entry Draft will take place June 26 and 27 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec with the first round broadcast live on TSN.

The order of selection for the first 14 drafting positions in the first round, only, of the 2009 Entry Draft is as follows:

1. New York Islanders
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Colorado Avalanche
4. Atlanta Thrashers
5. Los Angeles Kings
6. Phoenix Coyotes
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
8. Dallas Stars
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Edmonton Oilers
11. Nashville Predators
12. Minnesota Wild
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Florida Panthers

The remaining drafting positions will be determined at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

EA states: "Boston reached the Stanley Cup Finals with 4-2 series wins over Montreal and Carolina, and a thrilling seven-game series victory over the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago, making its first playoff appearance since 2001-02, upset President's Trophy winner and top seed San Jose in seven games in the Western Conference Finals after series wins over Calgary (4-2) and Vancouver (4-2)."

"Boston, led by shutdown defenseman Zdeno Chara, outmuscled the Blackhawks and received timely scoring from Conn Smythe Trophy winner Phil Kessel to capture its sixth Stanley Cup, and first since 1972. Kessel, playing on the Bruins top line with playoff leading scorer Marc Savard, delivered two overtime game-winners during the Finals. He finished with 14 goals in the playoffs, including five in the Finals."