2025 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #6 Tyler Hopkins

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.

In the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft, Kingston Frontenacs centre Tyler Hopkins was widely projected as a prospect who would hear his name called towards the back end of the second round. Given his makeup as a well-rounded pivot and the fact that he was a native of Campbellville, Ontario, who grew up cheering for the blue and white, he appeared to be a good fit when the Leafs were on the clock for their first pick at 64th overall. General manager Brad Treliving and his scouting staff opted to go in another direction, however, selecting Swedish for ward Tinus Luc Koblar with the final pick of the second round.

Somewhat surprisingly, Hopkins was still on the board when it came time for the Leafs to pick again in the third round, and they didn’t let him fall any further, taking him with the 86th overall pick. Landing a player like Hopkins at that stage, who was regarded as one of the safer bets in the draft class, was a nice complement to the upside swing on the promising but raw talent of Koblar with their first pick.

Even at this early stage of his career, Hopkins has proven to be an intelligent player who can identify and make the necessary adjustments to his game. An offensive star in minor hockey and a top-five pick in the OHL draft, he struggled to make an impact in his rookie season with Kingston, finishing with just six goals and seven assists while looking consistently overmatched through 59 games. Hopkins had to adapt, and he came back for the 2024-25 season as a different player – one who understood that he needed to be better on the defensive side of the puck – and that led to a larger role, increased offensive output, and ultimately, a reputation as a p rospect with one of the highest floors in the 2025 draft class.

The attention to detail that Hopkins showed in defensive zone coverage, supporting the puck, and effectively utilizing his teammates helped him quickly earn the trust of the Frontenacs’ coaching staff, propelling him to more prominent minutes for the rest of the 2024-25 season. He became a reliable and sneakily dangerous penalty killer, took a regular shift on Kingston’s second power play unit, and finished his draft year with 20 goals and 31 assists in 67 games.