New Maple Leafs draftee Matthew Hlacar talks relief of getting picked

Through the long, hot days of summer, the absence of hockey is really beginning to set in for fans of the game. But for this year’s crop of draftees, it’s been a July of celebration, hard work, and reflection. That’s where Kitchener Rangers winger Matthew Hlacar finds himself right now after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft at the beginning of the month.

In a video posted Monday by the Ontario Hockey League, Hlacar shared he was watching the draft at home in Binbrook, Ontario with his parents when he was selected by the Leafs. Having previously gone undrafted in the OHL, the 19-year-old shared what a special moment it was for him.

“It’s relief, right?” Hlacar said. “It’s relieving to get picked, so it feels really good. Especially coming from the person that’s never been drafted to the OHL, so it was pretty cool for me and my family.”

https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1949900749342728300

Hlacar is coming off his first year with the Rangers, where the 6-foot-3, 201 lb. attacker had seven goals and an assist in 43 games played. Having made it one step closer to playing in the big leagues, he gave credit to the support he received over the past year in Kitchener.

“I think the Rangers have helped me a lot,” Hlacar said. “The coaching staff and the trainers and everyone all involved, it’s a top notch organization.”

He went on to shout out the “great coaching staff,” specifically naming Head Coach Jussi Ahokas, Assistant Coach Brad Flynn, Associate Coach/Assistant General Manager Jeff Kyrazakos, and General Manager Mike McKenzie.

“I don’t think it could get better than that,” Hlacar commented. “I think that’s the top notch to the Toronto Maple Leafs, right? It was incredible experience.”

Taken late in the draft, there’s still a long road for the teenage prospect to find his way to the Maple Leafs roster. But for now, he’s soaking it all in, including participating in development camp with the team he grew up watching in Southwestern Ontario.

“It’s crazy to think when you go back, because obviously growing up you watch all the games and all the players, and then you see some of them at the development camp, even the guys you watched as a kid. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

It’s already been a summer of hard work for Hlacar, and now with some extra confidence in his game, he’s sure to take that swagger with him into the start of another season this Fall.