2026 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #13 Harry Nansi

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of six TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. We have tightened up the criteria for said rankings this year, implementing a U23 rule for skaters and a U25 rule for goaltenders. We are also using the NHL’s criteria to determine rookie status, which is a hard cap at 25 games in a single season or six or more games in any two seasons, which make players like Easton Cowan ineligible for this year’s rankings.

Harry Nansi was the most improved player at this summer’s development camp. It’s a testament to his work ethic and his steadfast decision to work on his greatest weakness consistently. Nansi significantly improved his skating over the course of a year, an area of his game that former Maple Leafs scouting director Mark Leach pointed to, following the conclusion of the 2025 NHL Draft. I thought Nansi was the most improved player during the opening days of the camp, and it’s an assessment that Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser shared. Wickenheiser oversaw this summer’s development camp, before the Maple Leafs parted ways with her the following week.

“I thought Harry has been our most improved prospect,” Wickenheiser said, following the development camp scrimmage on July 4. “He’s very gifted physically. I don’t know if he’s realized himself how strong he can be and There’s a couple of plays down low here where I was thinking, just take it to the net and he deferred to a pass. So those are just little areas where I think that that’s the next level for him. But we are really excited about the player that he can be and his skating still has a ways to go, but it’s come a long way.”

Nansi started the 2025-26 campaign on fire, with his renewed pace readily apparent. The 6-foot-3 centre is a gifted playmaker, and this season, Nansi displayed greater confidence with his puck skills, while driving the net. It’s clear that the Maple Leafs want Nansi to use his frame to get to the net more often, as he can naturally get himself into high-danger scoring areas. And it’s worth mentioning, too: Nansi is one of the youngest players from the 2025 NHL Draft class, and is eligible to return to Owen Sound for his fourth OHL season. Toronto may have found a mid-round gem in Nansi.

It’s worth a reminder that these are notes from development camp, and a scrimmage, but Nansi was one of the best prospects I watched in July. Nansi was placed on a line with Gavin McKenna and Tinus Luc Koblar during the scrimmage, an indicator of the Leafs’ confidence in him as a rising prospect. During the scrimmage, Nansi scored from the slot, while teammates and staff encouraged Nansi to use his body to shield off defenders when driving the net. McKenna was primarily working on his off-the-puck game, while Koblar added some structure to the line, but Nansi showed he can more than hold his own on the wing against his peers.

“I think I’ve improved puck battles, you know, like my skating’s helped me be more stable on the ice and getting knocked out less in the corners, so I think that’s helped out,” Nansi said, following the scrimmage.

It’s not as if Nansi came out of nowhere, either. He was a well-regarded prospect as a youth player with the Nepean Raiders and was selected in the fourth round of the OHL Draft. Nansi has progressed throughout his three years with the Owen Sound Attack, and he should be one of the OHL’s best players this fall. He signed an amateur tryout with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to conclude the season, and looks increasingly comfortable against professionals.