What you need to know about the Leafs entering 2025 Prospect Showdown

Cowan said he’s renting a home purchased by Fraser Minten. Minten was traded at the deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Brandon Carlo, where he’ll have a greater opportunity to play regularly. It’s clear that Cowan is the marquee player among this year’s group, but he’s not altogether concerned about external noise, as he will be afforded a genuine shot at making the Maple Leafs roster once again.

“At the end of the day, I’m playing hockey,” Cowan said. “I get paid to play hockey, that’s my goal in life and I’m here and I want to stick here. So you just got to have a free mindset, you know, and just try to enjoy it and live life day by day.”

Nathan Mayes’ 1-on-1 defending stands out at Friday’s practice session

Nathan Mayes is a towering presence on the ice, and he was arguably the most impressive player during Friday’s practice session. Mayes was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft and while it’s too early for a declarative statement, he could be a candidate to return some value for the Maple Leafs. The 19-year-old defenceman recorded six goals and 27 points in 56 games with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League during the 2024-25 campaign, before adding two goals and 12 points in 20 playoff contests.

Mayes went unranked during The Leafs Nation’s Top 20 prospects series this summer. This may have been an oversight, or may not have accounted for Mayes’ continued development over the summer. He was constantly forcing opponents to the outside and was able to dislodge the puck with relative ease, using his excellent reach to his advantage in controlled sessions.

After Friday’s practice session, Mayes could emerge as an under-the-radar, ascending candidate for the Maple Leafs, still a few years away from genuinely competing for an NHL spot.

John Gruden outlines expectations, 1st impressions, Tyler Hopkins expands on his role models

John Gruden will be overseeing this year’s 26-man group and he outlined his expectations for his team entering the weekend, following Friday’s practice at the Ford Performance Centre. There will be varied expectations for players throughout the weekend, and Gruden spoke about the importance of acclimating to professional hockey, citing Maple Leafs’ 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins as an example.

“There’s a lot of good players in the American Hockey League, and they’re big and they’re strong, and they realize how much little time and space you have,” Gruden said. “So just by them coming in last year, it makes a big difference, just like Hopkins. For him to see it for the first time, it’s a little overwhelming, but he also seems like he’s a really smart player who understands what he’s going to have to work on as he moves forward with his strength. And it’s just he’s young. He’s an 18-year-old young man, so he’s got room to grow, but he definitely has something. As you can see, he’s got some high hockey IQ.”

Hopkins is a promising player for the Maple Leafs and was drafted one round lower than the consensus. He was an outstanding scorer in the minor hockey circuit but has worked fastidiously to become a defensive-minded player. Hopkins cited Anthony Cirelli as a player he looks up to, following the draft, and expanded on what he admires about the Selke Trophy finalist.

“Anthony Cirelli is the big one, the guy that I’ve looked at over the last couple of years, I’d say,” Hopkins said. “And even Patrice Bergeron, obviously, he was a pretty good player. But those little qualities that he had on the defensive side of the park, why he was so reliable, that’s why he was going to be a Hall of Famer. I think just trying to take little pieces of that and try to implement them into my game from two players, high-end players.”

Hopkins is clearly relishing the opportunity, while his family, who are Leafs fans, are thrilled by the idea of participating in the long-standing Leafs-Canadiens rivalry.

“I’ve heard a little bit from the guys that played last year, (Ben) Danford was telling me that it was a pretty loud crowd,” Hopkins said. “Expecting a fast, hard, competitive game. Everybody is trying to push their name, trying to make the team. Expecting a pretty spirited game tomorrow.”

Noah Chadwick, Ben Danford continue to build chemistry as pro-ready defencemen

Noah Chadwick will be paired with Ben Danford over the weekend, as Toronto’s two premier defensive prospects look to create chemistry with each other.

Danford was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2024 and he’s emerged as one of the best shutdown defenders at the major junior level, with a real opportunity to make Canada’s World Juniors roster this winter.

“Obviously last year, I didn’t get the whole experience getting injured pretty early,” Danford said Thursday. “This year I’m coming in with a open mindset. Just put my best foot forward, and have a really good showing this weekend in those games. Build that confidence and stuff into training camp, and hopefully get into some preseason games, and I’ll just see what happens.”

It’s clear that Danford’s hockey intelligence is on full display against his peers and during Friday’s practice session, he moved the puck with a sense of calm and fluidity. Danford skated with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly over the summer and the growth in his game is evident.

“Ben’s smart. He has a good stick, he showed that today,” Chadwick said of Danford on Friday. “He has good body position, all things you look for in a defenceman. He thinks the game really well, smart kid, so that compliments as well.”

Chadwick plays an offensive-minded game, coming off a season where he recorded 13 goals and 53 points in 66 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, but he’s looking to work on his defensive game.

“Starting right now, I’m more focused on the defensive side right now and getting that established against bigger, stronger guys. That’s the priority right now, but I think adapting to new systems offensively, trying to find spots where I can jump in and contribute, similar to junior.”

Chadwick was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft and like Mayes, could return some excellent value for the Maple Leafs relative to draft position. With one AHL game under his belt, it’s now incumbent upon Chadwick to display his well-rounded skill set against professionals.

“Just for two years, how much bigger and stronger he is. And he’s got great feet. And the quicker he learns how to close on pucks quick, move pucks quick out of the zone. I mean, he’s got the skill set and size to be an effective player as a pro. So it’s exciting for him to continue to build his game,” Gruden said of Chadwick.