TORONTO — Dimension. Toughness. And competitiveness.

The Toronto Maple Leafs definitely prioritized playoff traits of their first draft led by new director of beginner scouting Mark Leach.

This yr’s crop of prospects isn’t massive in numbers however is formidable in body.

“We simply felt dimension was a giant issue concerned, as a result of there wasn’t a lot distinction of their talent set. And that is one of many components that I like,” Leach defined Saturday on the membership’s east finish headquarters. “Sure, I’ve drafted smaller gamers, however these smaller guys must be so extremely expert, so very smart, and possibly have a knack for scoring. 

“That is what I defer to dimension. It is simply, the sport of hockey is difficult. Two months of playoff grind — it’s a battle.”

The well-respected Leach — who was plucked from the Dallas Stars and three-time GM of the 12 months Jim Nill after the 2024 draft — estimated a major drop within the 2025 draft crop following the Fifteenth-overall choose.

The target, then, is to seek out diamonds within the tough.

Particularly if you don’t make your first choice till the ultimate choose of Day 2, Spherical 2.

“You are taking the perfect out there participant talent-wise at that choose. Once you get right down to No. 64 and that space, these gamers take just a little longer to develop. Or it’s perhaps not a straight line to get the place they need to go from A to B,” Leach explains. 

“You simply be affected person with them. Be affected person with the event and see the place they find yourself in a number of years. These youngsters, most of them, are three to 5 years away.”

Subsequently, it’s with each endurance and promise that we introduce the six members of the Toronto Maple Leafs ’25 draft class…

Tinus Luc Koblar, C, Sweden Junior League, No. 64 general

When Tinus Luc Koblar came upon he’d been drafted to his favorite NHL workforce, his mom received excited and he FaceTimed his father, who was busy teaching. 

“He simply began screaming to the digital camera and have become tremendous completely happy for me,” the 17-year-old defined Saturday, by way of Zoom.

“It was an unreal expertise. I turned so completely happy. Simply true pleasure.”

The six-foot-four, 189-pound Koblar indicators the primary prospect of the Leach period, and Toronto’s new draft czar is preaching endurance with the lanky centre, a uncooked expertise who wants years of improvement.

Koblar was born in Slovenia to Olympic athletes. Mother was a biathlete, Dad an alpine skier. The household moved to Norway when Koblar’s father received a gig teaching for the nationwide alpine workforce, and Koblar now skates for Leksand of the Swedish Junior League.

He posted eight targets, 13 assists, and a plus-7 ranking in 43 video games this previous season and has set a aim of graduating to the SHL in 2025-26.

“I’ve been born with competitiveness as a result of each my mother and pop have performed at a excessive stage,” Koblar stated. “There’s nothing I prefer to lose.”

As s Slovenian, naturally Koblar seemed as much as L.A. famous person Anze Kopitar rising up. 

And whereas Elite Prospects describes the child as “deceivingly quick” and expert, Koblar himself is making an attempt to develop the bodily facet of his recreation.

Leach loves his “knack for the online” and deft wall play.

Koblar is teammates with fellow Leafs prospect Victor Johansson, the Leafs’ 2024 fourth-rounder, and he’s heard nothing however good opinions of Toronto from his pal.

Tyler Hopkins, C, Ontario Hockey League, No. 86

Rising up in close by Campbellville, Ont., Hopkins is a Leafs diehard who has attended many a recreation at Scotiabank Area and appears as much as fellow centremen Auston Matthews and John Tavares.

No surprise he was counting down the third-round picks and crossing his fingers he wouldn’t get 86’d earlier than No. 86.

“To get drafted is each child’s dream, and to be drafted by your hometown workforce is one stage even higher than that,” stated Hopkins, who attended the draft in L.A. 

“So, I kinda hit the jackpot.”

The six-foot-one, 179-pound Kingston Frontenacs pivot broke out with 20 targets and 51 factors as an OHL sophomore this previous season however vows to enhance his stat line.

“I’ve the flexibility to contribute just a little extra offensively to my workforce,” he stated. “Entering into the center of the ice just a little bit extra, creating extra scoring probabilities, after which simply engaged on ending these alternatives extra constantly.”

Within the meantime, “Hoppy” will proceed to push the tempo and fine-tune a 200-foot recreation he fashions after Selke candidate Anthony Cirelli.

Hopkins, who’s shut pals with No. 1-overall choose Matthew Schaefer, initiatives to be a dependable, coachable middle-six ahead on the professional stage.

Leach desires Hopkins to get stronger and faster, however loves his anticipation.

Finest case? He in the future helps the franchise enhance on his present favorite Leafs reminiscence.

“After they’ve received out of the primary spherical of their current years,” Hopkins stated. “I used to be at one of many (Lightning) playoff video games. The thrill within the sector once they received out of that first spherical… that was most likely the good second that I have been truly been on the rink and see firsthand.”

William Belle, RW, United States Hockey League, No. 137

The six-foot-four, 225-pound U.S. Nationwide Improvement Crew winger was too wired to observe the draft. Belle and his buddies at Notre Dame had been assembling a sofa when his telephone blew up Saturday afternoon.

“After I heard it was the Maple Leafs, I used to be pumped,” stated Belle, who grew up in China. “It’s an important group and may’t wait to get began.”

The way in which Belle describes his recreation must be music to teach Craig Berube’s ears: easy, quick, north-south hockey, forechecking, backchecking, bodily.

Belle desires to develop his recreation from Miles Wooden to Tom Wilson.

“Simply the power-forward hockey that he performs, the simplicity of it, and the physicality and that edge he has to him. The meanness — I really feel like I can convey that,” stated Belle, carrying a black Sopranos T-shirt on his Zoom name.

“You recognize, I am right here to win, and I am right here to assist my workforce. And I do not care who you might be — I’m going to be in your face. That is simply how I am wired. That is simply how I play.”

That thump you simply heard was Leafs Nation falling in love.

Harry Nansi, RW, Ontario Hockey League, No. 153

The Owen Sound Assault ahead is billed as a employee who can drive by checks and stress his opponents into turnovers.

The six-foot-three, 186-pound Brossard, Que., native scored seven targets and 23 factors in 67 video games for the Owen Sound Assault this previous season and struggled to seek out his place within the lineup.

The 17-year-old is likely one of the youngest gamers drafted this weekend. A uncooked expertise. Leach is taking a flyer.

Leach’s take: “Huge, uncooked, rangy. Skating has to get faster. Ft must get higher. However he is a child who actually works and competes.”

Rylan Fellinger, D, Ontario Hockey League, No. 185

Fellinger was unavailable to talk to reporters instantly after he received drafted as a result of the 18-year-old was at promenade.

“You might hear the music happening within the background,” GM Brad Trelving stated of his welcome name to Fellinger. “That’s the perfect a part of it. You discuss to the youngsters after they’re drafted, and so they’re excited.”

One other massive physique, the six-foot-four, 200-pound, right-shot defenceman posted seven factors in 64 video games for the Flint Firebirds in 2024-25.

The Wawa, Ont., native is finest recognized for his bodily presence.

Leach received’t disguise his affinity for dimension on the blueline: “Nicely, take a look at the playoffs. Florida has a giant workforce. You will have two months of grind. Dimension is an element. However, additionally, a giant coronary heart and a whole stage can do one thing. However I do like dimension. No query about it.”

Matthew Hlacar, LW, Ontario Hockey League, No. 217

Rounding out the themes of late-round OHLers and big-framed forwards, Leach went with the six-foot-three, 201-pound Kitchener Rangers winger within the seventh spherical.

The 19-year-old Hlacar hails from Brinbrook, Ont., and tucked seven targets in his first main junior marketing campaign.

A little bit of a late bloomer, Hlacar joined the Rangers as a free agent and is a fighter.

He labored out with former IBF title holder Steve Molitor on off-days this season and received dealt a five-game suspension for a head shot in March.

“A extremely hard-nosed, aggressive massive man,” Leach stated. “Skates properly. Will get in there. Actually a singular ingredient. Likes to play in your face.”