Newly-Drafted Maple Leafs Prospect Elevated to One of the Two Main Training Camp Groups

Day one of training camp saw the Leafs' main two groups feature many of the players that fans and media would have expected, including William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly and other top names.

Within the two main groups, the more surprising revelations were who Easton Cowan skated with and where Nick Robertson found himself in the lineup.

On day two, however, there was one name that made a surprising appearance in Group 2 for the Leafs.

Drafted 86th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Tyler Hopkins impressed the Leafs' brass at development camp in July and has clearly continued to build on a stand-out performance, landing in Group Two on Friday.

Taking to the ice with Group 2 o Friday morning, Hopkins was acting as the thirteenth forward, cycling through line rushes. Although he wasn't placed on a line directly, the fact he is merely participating in the main group months after being drafted indicates that the Leafs have liked what he has done so far and head coach Craig Berube wants to get a closer look.

Given his elevation to Group 2, it is highly possible that Hopkins will find himself in the lineup for the Leafs' first pre-season game on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.

The 18-year-old center tallied 20 goals and 51 points for the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League last season and is surely going to be sent back to junior at some point during training camp, but for now, he will look to make a good impression on the Leafs' coaching staff and set himself up for another productive OHL season.