Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 draft pick profile #1: Tyler Hopkins

The NHL Draft has come and gone. Every team is excited about their draft and eager to see what the future holds for their franchise. This season, the Anaheim Ducks stole the headlines after selecting Roger McQueen of the Brandon Wheat Kings 10th overall. McQueen was immediately flown to Disneyland in a helicopter for a photoshoot with his Pixar counterpart, Lightning McQueen. The Ducks even gave him the same number 95 as Lightning McQueen.

Contrary to social media’s belief, there were 32 teams that think they’ve picked good players who will help their respective teams be successful in the future. One of those players is Toronto Maple Leafs third-round selection Tyler Hopkins of the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League.

Who is Tyler Hopkins?

Hopkins was a highly touted prospect in the OHL, being drafted fourth overall in the 2023 OHL Draft by Kingston. He’s made tremendous strides from his underage year in 2023–24, scoring 20 goals and 51 points in 67 games for the Frontenacs this past season.

Scouts say he had a lot more confidence in himself this season. In his underage season in the OHL, Hopkins put up 13 points in 59 games. As a result of the Frontenacs having an older team, Hopkins didn’t get much playing time. He was lucky if he got on the second penalty kill unit that season.

This year was different, under coach Troy Mann, who took over mid-season in 2023–24. Mann saw promise in Hopkins going into his draft-eligible season, and Hopkins earned himself more playing time and more point production. Early in the season, it was evident that Hopkins would have a bigger role.

He even had a hat trick against the defending Memorial Cup champs, the Saginaw Spirit. Hopkins is definitely trending in the right direction and is always willing to put in the work in order to improve his game. Everybody knows that playing in Toronto comes with extra pressure, but the type of person Hopkins is, he’ll be up for the challenge.

Who knows? Hopkins and Easton Cowan could be the Leafs’ next young stars. But, that’s difficult to say because an entry-level contract in the NHL is worth around $950K, and it’s impossible to know how an 18-year-old kid will react to something like that.

What happens next?

Hopkins isn’t going to be able to play in the NHL right away; it’ll likely be four years before he’s consistently in the Leafs’ lineup. The future is a little bit uncertain for the CHL because of the new deal with the NCAA. As of the 2025–26 season, players in the CHL will no longer lose their NCAA eligibility if they choose to play in the CHL.

Hopkins will likely return to Kingston for next season. He’ll be on the first line, and scouts predict he will score anywhere from 35 to 40 goals next season, and will likely receive an invite to Canada’s World Junior camp. Some of the elite CHL players will be migrating to the NCAA for the upcoming season, so it will be interesting to see if Hopkins has increased success with the new NCAA eligibility rules.

It’s unknown how good Kingston will be next season, but if they’re successful, Hopkins will be a big part of it. Alongside Vancouver Canucks pick Kieren Dervin, and Calgary Flames pick Jacob Battaglia.

A third-round steal?

Hopkins’ player comparison is Anthony Cirelli, and his ceiling will likely be a middle-six centre. It’s bold to compare Hopkins to a two-time Stanley Cup champion, but expectations are high, especially for a third-round pick. However, like anyone else, Hopkins has a couple of things he could improve on. He needs to work on his face-off ability, overall strength, and getting shots on net in traffic.

However, with the new NCAA rules, some players may leave to attend school and vice versa. Hopkins could potentially do some serious damage on the scoresheet. He won’t be a major scorer in the NHL, but he will be an all-around solid player. Hopkins is the kind of guy who will probably start on the wing early in his career, but he has the hockey IQ and skating ability to play centre.

Scouts are predicting what an 18-year-old kid will be like when they’re 25 years old. Specifically, with the Canadian teams, players are given fame in addition to the money, and it’s surprising that more players don’t lose control. It’ll be interesting to follow Hopkins as he continues to pursue an NHL career, and hopefully, we’ll see him in the Leafs lineup soon.