Maple Leafs announce 2025 Prospect Showdown roster

Easton Cowan will headline the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025 Prospects Showdown roster, as the team gets ready to square off against the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

Toronto’s prospects will square off against Ottawa on September 13, before taking on Montreal on September 14. Montreal is hosting the tournament.

Cowan is the headliner of the roster after winning Memorial Cup MVP with the London Knights. Toronto’s top-ranked prospect will be afforded a real chance of making the NHL roster during this year’s training camp due to his scoring touch, tenacity and hockey intelligence. Ben Danford headlines the defensive corps and Toronto’s 2024 first-round pick continues to make a strong impression on the organization, while Noah Chadwick could be a potential standout as well.

The prospect camp will be an opportunity for Toronto’s draft picks to make a strong impression on the team’s scouting staff, and 2025 draft picks Tyler Hopkins, Matthew Hlacar, Harry Nansi and Rylan Fellinger are expected to get extended looks. The roster consists of 15 forwards, nine defencemen and two goaltenders.

“We want guys who competed, we want players who battled, with great work ethic and if you have those elements in your game, you have a chance to get better at certain things,” Maple Leafs scouting director Mark Leach said of the Leafs’ 2025 draft class.

Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden will be overseeing this year’s prospects group. The prospects team will practice Thursday and Friday before heading to Montreal for the tournament. Toronto is expected to hold its formal training camp the following week.