The Maple Leafs' prospect cupboard has been restocked. To a degree. The organization has a long way to go before it can confidently say that the pool of prospects is overflowing. With 10 picks in the 2026 NHL draft and a group of Toronto Marlies who now know what it takes to win a championship, it's also true that the Leafs are in a better spot than they were, say, a year ago. And of course, the presence of Gavin McKenna is a significant part of that.
“It's exciting for the development team to get to dig in and work with these players in various places that they're going to play,” said Leafs assistant general manager, player development, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser. “I think it gives us a nice range of different types of players and skill sets that we can try to build into NHL players down the road.”
Easton Cowan does not appear here. After spending almost the entire season with the Leafs, recording 29 points in 66 games, he has moved into regular-Leaf category. Now that the development camp is done, we break down the Leafs' pool of prospects by various categories.
Top-Level Prospects
Gavin McKenna, LW
This one couldn't be more obvious. The Leafs got it right when they picked the 18-year-old first overall and signed him to an entry-level contract within the week. The Leafs have no one else close to McKenna in their prospect pool, not that many teams do. Not only will the 18-year-old get a long look on captain Auston Matthews' line in camp, we expect McKenna to be in that spot once the puck drops for the season opener.
Wickenheiser: “You can see the skill set is evident, his thinking, his ability to process some of the small plays that he makes. Overall, he has done a great job at handling himself. Now he has to go and get some rest, and then train and be ready for main camp.”
Artur Akhtyamov, G
The 24-year-old not only took over as the Marlies' starting goalie in the Calder Cup playoffs, he played so well that the Leafs found Dennis Hildeby expendable and traded him to Tampa Bay. Akhtyamov's overall performance as the Marlies won the Calder Cup — a .923 save percentage while going 15-7 in 22 games — has placed him squarely in third spot on the Leafs' goaltending depth chart. What remains to be determined: Can Akhtyamov, whose spirit in the crease matches his talent, be relied upon to hold the fort for the Leafs if Sergei Bobrovsky or Anthony Stolarz gets hurt?
Marlies coach John Gruden: “He's a special human being. (His play in the post-season) is going to … springboard him forward into a heck of a goaltender in the NHL.”
Ben Danford, D
After his Brantford Bulldogs were eliminated in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, the Leafs' first-round pick in 2024 stepped right into the Marlies lineup and made an immediate impact, playing in 16 playoff games and doing so seamlessly. Crucially for Danford, his foundation is on the defensive side, so he's ahead of the curve. The 20-year-old is on track to be a mainstay on the Leafs blue line, though our thinking is that he will require at least one full year in the American Hockey League before he takes that step.
Leafs GM John Chayka: “High-character kid who is doing everything he can to maximize his abilities. Understands his role, understands what he brings to the table, and is committed to it.”
Almost Ready
Jacob Quillan, C
The 24-year-old held his own in 23 games with the Leafs in 2025-26, with the majority of those appearances coming in the final month. Quillan missed some time with an injury during the Marlies' playoff run but was able to contribute nine points in 29 games. Though plenty of forward depth has been added by Chayka, Quillan should continue to put himself in the group of first recalls.
William Villeneuve, D
We won't go so far as to say next season is make-or-break for the 24-year-old, but he's going to have an uphill battle considering the Leafs' blue-line depth. Villeneuve was a driving force for the Marlies in the playoffs on the offensive side, posting 23 points in 24 games after recording 30 in 61 regular-season matches. Gaining defensive-zone strength, and making better decisions, remain goals.
Ryan Tverberg, RW
Few have taken a longer road to their first NHL game than Tverberg, who made his Leafs debut last April 13 at home against Dallas. Chosen 213th overall by Toronto in 2020 — only four players were picked after him — Tverberg has a good shot, of which we saw glimpses in the playoffs as he had six goals and eight assists in 24 games. He will require a strong camp, and a good start with the Marlies, to keep himself in the conversation.
Need More Seasoning
Noah Chadwick, D
Chadwick started to serve notice as an AHL rookie in 2025-26 that he might have been a steal for the Leafs in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. He's big, mobile, thinks the game well and was able to make adjustments in his first pro season as it progressed. He played in 68 of the Marlies' 72 regular-season games and though he got caught up in numbers in the playoffs, performed admirably in 16 games. Another AHL season will do him more good.
Miroslav Holinka, C
A fifth-round pick by the Leafs in 2024, Holinka is coming off a couple of productive seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He had 80 points in 59 games as an overager in 2025-26, but played in only one game for the Marlies before heading home to Czechia to continue training. There is potential for the 20-year-old to have a fine season with the Marlies.
Wickenheiser: “We've been working with Miro on pace, skating and getting physically ready to play with the Marlies. He's a smart hockey player. We really like him.”
Alexander Bilecki, D
There's no shortage of confidence in the 18-year-old native of Mississauga after he helped the Kitchener Rangers win the Memorial Cup in May, and that's fine. Frankly, it's good to see in some of the organization's youth, and that championship pedigree can't be taught. He's going to be the major cog on the Rangers blue line in 2026-27.
Wickenheiser: “Excellent mobile defenceman. We're excited to see what he can do on his upside. He has a long way to go in terms of his physical development.”
Tinus-Luc Koblar, C
The Leafs rewarded their 2025 second-round pick with an entry-level contract in June, for good reason. He led Norway in scoring at the world championship as the Norwegians upset Canada for bronze, and was named the top forward at the U20 world championship Division 1 Group A tournament in December. A full season in the Swedish Hockey League with Rogle BK should provide another pivotal step in his development.
Wickenheiser: “He was great throughout this whole camp. You can see the separation him and Gavin have, the way they think. He's a bit of a man out here.”
Tyler Hopkins, C
The 19-year-old is eagerly anticipating the 2026-27 season, as he is going to be a key piece for the Guelph Storm as the OHL club plays host to the Memorial Cup next spring. He has taken physical steps since the Leafs drafted him in the third round in 2025. One aim in the coming year will be to contribute more offensively, as he had 50 points in 56 games last season while dealing with an upper-body injury.
Wickenheiser: “Tyler continues to improve. He's a really cerebral player. We expect him to have a good season next year with Guelph and hosting the Memorial Cup.”
Victor Johansson, D
We don't want to say that 2026-27 is a pivotal season for the 20-year-old Johansson, as defencemen generally take longer to develop. A consistent year with Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League, however, should be expected from the Leafs' fourth-round pick in 2024. Raw aspects remain in Johansson's game and, like the majority of young D-men, will have to get physically stronger. Because of a minor injury, he did not take part fully in the on-ice portion of development camp.
Harry Nansi, F
A fifth-round pick by the Leafs in 2025, Nansi had a terrific start last season, recording 34 points in his first 23 games for the Owen Sound Attack. In his final 44 games, however, he totalled only 22 points and made no impact as the Attack was swept in the first round by Flint. Nansi has potential, but will have to be more consistent in what will be his fourth OHL season.
Wickenheiser: “Harry has been our most improved prospect. He's very gifted physically. I don't know if he has realized how strong he can be. There's a couple plays down low where I was thinking 'Just take it to the net' and he deferred to a pass. We are really excited about the player that he can be. His skating still has a ways to go, but it has come a long way.”
Big Question Marks
Luke Haymes, C
The 22-year-old Haymes got into four games with the Leafs at the end of the season and had an assist. In his first full season with the Marlies after signing a two-year pact in March 2025, Haymes had 33 points in 66 games, followed by 12 points in 24 games. Can the Ottawa native continue to keep himself in the Leafs conversation?
Landon Sim, LW
The 21-year-old endeared himself to Marlies fans during the playoffs when he hit anything that moved, more or less, in an opponent's uniform and had three points in 12 games. That made it impossible for Gruden to take him off the fourth line, and it was fitting that Sim scored in the Marlies' Cup-clinching game against Chicago. Sim spent some time with Cincinnati of the ECHL in 2025-26; anything less than a regular role for the Marlies throughout the coming season would be a surprise.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
