Mark Leach on the emphasis on size in the Leafs' 2025 draft class: "Apples to apples, we felt size was a big factor because there wasn't much difference in their skill sets"

Mark Leach, the Director of Amateur Scouting for the Maple Leafs, spoke after the 2025 NHL Draft about the team's focus on selecting larger players with a competitive edge. Notable picks included Tinus Luc Koblar, a 6'4 player with Olympian parents and a talent for puck handling, and Tyler Hopkins, a 200-foot player praised for his intelligence on the ice. Leach also highlighted the potential of Harry Nansi and Rylan Fellinger, both noted for their size and competitive nature. Overall, the selections suggest a strategic commitment to enhancing the team's physical presence.

He is a big, strong, 6'4 player who has a unique background. His parents are both Olympians. They did not play the game or were involved in the game of hockey. He took to it.

Nansi is big, raw, rangy. His skating has to get quicker. His feet have to get better. But he is a kid who really works and competes.

Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove