Leafs prospect forcing organization into a contract; reveals timing for jump to Marlies
A surprising pick in the second round, one Leafs prospect is bullying the team into a contract, anticipating a move to North America sooner than anyone predicted.
Over the last decade, the Leafs have taken a handful of "reaches" when it came to the NHL Entry Draft, including both of Easton Cowan and Ben Danford, who were selected much higher than they were projected to go.
That was no different in the 2025 draft when they faced plenty of scrutiny for drafting Tinus-Luc Koblar at the end of the second round.
Drafting Koblar was met with lots of questions
Koblar was the was the 56th ranked European skater, excluding North American Skaters, meaning the Leafs and GM Brad Treliving selected the 18-year-old well ahead of where he was projected to go with the 64th overall pick.
The Norwegian pivot was seen as a long-term project, but offered size, at 6-foot-2 and a raw set of skills.
Koblar's development ahead of schedule
Koblar began the season with Leksands junior team, but quickly made his way to the men's club, leaving head coach and former NHLer Johan Hedberg impressed with the teenager through 21 games.
"I had no idea how good Tinus was," Hedberg said. "If he keeps going like he's been going, he's going to be our best player by the end of the year."
Although he has registered just 5 points in those 21 games, his development has surged.
Speaking with The Athletic, Koblar admitted that the biggest thing he has learned in his short time in the Swedish league is how fast the game is.
"Everything needs to be done more, at, like, 10 percent more," Koblar said of playing men's hockey. "Every player is really good, it's a lot faster, you need to be a lot more (precise) and with your physicality, you need to be a lot more stronger on the puck."
Koblar has high hopes to join Leafs organization
The Leafs were scrutinized for going far 'off the board' when they selected Koblar in the second round, but the 18-year-old isn't fazed by the Toronto market. In fact, he is ready for it.
"I like the attention that I get," Koblar said to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.
As he continues to work with the Leafs' player development staff that is based in Europe, Koblar expects himself to make the trip over to North America sooner than many predicted.
"Maybe next year or the year after."
Without an entry-level contract currently, Koblar's play in the SHL has caught the attention of many, and should he continue to develop at the rate that he is, it may force the Leafs to hand him an ELC this season.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 8 | 420 ANSWERS Leafs prospect forcing organization into a contract; reveals timing for jump to Marlies When do you think Tinus-Luc Koblar will join the Marlies? | ||
| End of the season | 156 | 37.1 % |
| Next season | 191 | 45.5 % |
| Two years | 43 | 10.2 % |
| He has high hopes, but no less than 3 years | 30 | 7.1 % |
| List of polls | ||