Leafs Select Homegrown Talent and Rabid Leafs Fan With Former 86th Pick in the Draft

With the 64th pick, the Leafs added a hulking 6'4" center out of Norway in Tinus Luc Koblar, fitting the mold of the type of player that Brad Treliving and Craig Berube prefer.

Hopkins was very open about his love for the Maple Leafs, the team he grew up idolizing, just like 2023 1st round pick Easton Cowan and 2024 1st round pick Ben Danford.

Weak down the middle, the Leafs were forced to trade for Scott Laughton at the deadline and their only internal option, Fraser Minten, was dealt in a separate trade to fill a void on the blueline.

Needing centers, not only did they add Koblar in the 2nd round, but the Leafs selected Tyler Hopkins in the 3rd round with the 86th overall selection in the Entry Draft.

The Campbellville, Ontario native already has NHL size at 6'1 and 184 pounds, and brings more than just speed to the table. Hopkins can put the puck in the net and tallied 20 goals and 51 points in 67 games for the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL last season.

Ranked by NHL Central Scouting at number 52 among North American skaters, Luke Sweeney from Dobber Prospects called Hopkins a 'straightforward' player, noting that he while very fast, he also brings a powerful stride and the combination of the two makes it difficult to knock him off the puck.