Canada Announces World Juniors Coaching Staff
Hockey Canada has announced their bench bosses for the 2027 World Junior Championships. The Canadian side will be led by head coach Misha Donskov, earning a promotion after serving as associate head coach and vice president of hockey operations at the 2026 World Juniors. Donskov also served as head coach at the 2026 World Championship and an assistant coach at the 2026 Winter Olympics, while also carrying his VP title through those tournaments. Alongside Donskov will be assistant coaches Drew Bannister, Jim Hulton, Brad Lauer, and Ryan Getzlaf. The staff will be rounded out by Dan De Palma serving as the goalie coach.
Per usual, Canada’s coaching staff will bring a wealth of experience from across the hockey world. Donskov served as Director of Hockey Operations for the Vegas Golden Knights beginning in their inaugural 2016-17 season. He continued in that role until the 2019-20 season, when he was moved to an assistant coach role that he held through Vegas’ Stanley Cup-winning season in 2022-23. After lifting the Cup, Donskov moved to the Dallas Stars bench for two seasons, before taking on an exclusive role with Hockey Canada. His trophy cabinet is filled to the brim. Donskov has won a Gold Medal at the Men’s (2016) and Women’s (2011) World Championship. He also won Gold at the 2012 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the 2015 World Juniors, the 2017 World Cup, and the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off. He also has an OHL Championship (2012), Spengler Cup championship (2020), World Juniors Bronze medal (2026), and Olympic Silver medal (2026) to his name.
Bannister will reappear across the hockey world after only coaching at the Spengler Cup and World U18 Championship in the 2025-26 season. The former St. Louis Blues head coach has taken over the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds for the 2026-27 season. He last coached for Soo from 2015 to 2018, a run marked by two quarterfinal losses and one loss in the OHL Championship. This will be Bannister’s first time coaching at the World Juniors, though he has supported the World U17 Hockey Challenge, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and World U18 tournament previously. Bannister played with Team Canada at the 1994 World Junior Championship, where he chipped in four points and 10 penalty minutes in seven games en route to a Gold Medal. That championship predated a playing career that spanned 164 NHL games, 149 IHL games, and 204 AHL games.
Hulton represents the journeyman on Canada’s bench, having coached in the OHL, NHL, USHL, and QMJHL. He most recently manned the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs bench after 11 seasons overseeing the Charlottetown Islanders. Hulton has won league recognition as a general manager and head coach, taking home the USHL ‘GM of the Year’ award in 2014-15, both ‘GM of the Year’ and ‘Coach of the Year’ in the QMJHL’s 2020-21 season, and QMJHL and CHL ‘Coach of the Year’ honors in 2021-22. He has also won Silver and Gold at the World Juniors, in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Perhaps the heaviest hitter on the bench – literally and figuratively – will be former Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf. The 17-year NHL veteran has climbed the ranks of Canada’s international presence over the last two seasons. He was a senior advisor at the 2025 World Championship and 2026 Olympic Games – and now takes another step forward overseeing Canada’s next crop of top prospects. Getzlaf is also well-decorated, having won Gold at nearly every level of international competition. That includes the World U18 Championship, World Junior Championship, World Cup, and twice at the Olympic Games. Those accolades were interwoven with an NHL career marked by 1,019 points in 1,157 games – and a Stanley Cup win in 2007.
Lauer marks another veteran of the coaching world. He served as assistant coach to the Anaheim Ducks from 2012 to 2015, then the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2015 to 2018. Lauer then stepped back to a head coach role with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. He held that role until 2022, then returned to the NHL for a pair of seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, before stepping back into a head coach role with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in the last two seasons. Lauer has a thin trophy cabinet despite 25 years of experience – currently filled by a 2022 WHL championship and 2026 World Junior Bronze medal.
The coaching staff closes with longtime goaltending coach De Palma, who has served on WHL benches since the 2006-07 season. He has taken the mantle with the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers, overseeing parts or all of the junior careers of Taylor Gauthier, Connor Ingram, Dylan Garand, Dylan Ferguson, and Kurtis Mucha. De Palma has served as the goalie coach for Canada’s U18 team since 2023, and also joined the national team at the 2025 and 2026 World Juniors.
Team Canada will be an early favorite under the guide of decades of NHL experience and two former Stanley Cup champions. They should pull together an incredibly strong roster – headlined by Boston University duo Caleb Malhotra and Tynan Lawrence and potentially bolstered by reigning first-overall pick Gavin McKenna. Canada will also bring 2027 first-overall favorite Landon DuPont and may even roster 2028 star prospects Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. The litany of top-end talent will champion a roster that could feature NHL prospects at every position.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota-Duluth Extends Scott Sandelin Through 2029-30
The University of Minnesota-Duluth have no plans to change coaches any time soon. Scott Sandelin has signed an extension with the school through the 2029-30 season. Sandelin’s contract was originally set to expire after the 2026-27 season. The former NHL pro has presided over the Bulldogs bench since the 2000-01 season. He has led the club to highs and lows in 26 seasons since, including national championships in 2011, 2018, and 2019.
Sandelin has coached four Hobey Baker Award winners in his quarter-century on the Bulldogs’ bench. That includes Detroit Red Wings prospect and 2026 winner Max Plante, who sealed college hockey’s MVP title after forming an explosive duo with brother Zam Plante. Plante breaks the mold of Sandelin’s past Hobey Baker-winners. Scott Perunovich (2020), Jack Connolly (2012), and Junior Lessard (2004) all won in their senior seasons and moved to the pros immediately after. Plante became the first sophomore to win since Cole Caufield in 2021 – and he will become the first Hobey-winner to return to school since North Dakota’s Ryan Duncan in 2007.
Plante’s return will equip Sandelin with college hockey’s sharpest duo for a second season. The brothers will be joined by their youngest sibling – recent Red Wings draft pick Victor Plante – after he completed two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Bulldogs will also add Seattle Kraken center prospect Barrett Hall and Utah Mammoth goalie prospect Carl Axelsson for the 2026-27 season. They are two members of a small-but-mighty recruiting class set to bolster a roster with multiple returnees.
The split between lofty experience and fresh-faced NHL prospects could help Minnesota-Duluth find another gear in the 2026-27 season. They will face serious competition from Sandelin’s alma mater, the University of North Dakota, and 2026 national champions, the University of Denver – but could best both with experience and hard work. Ensuring that will be the task ahead of Sandelin as he enters his 27th season overseeing the Minnesota-Duluth bench.
Photo courtesy of Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images.
Top 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Luca Santala Signs With OHL’s London Knights
The OHL’s London Knights have landed another big-time prospect, forward Luca Santala, who signed on an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
The 16-year-old was London’s first pick during the 2026 CHL Import Draft. Still with the dust settling from last month’s NHL draft, soon when the analysis picks up on 2027, expect Santala’s name to stand out. Ranked 12th overall among 2027 prospects by Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, the 6’2” forward has potential to play down the middle or the wing, scoring four goals in five games at the U18 World Championships. Holding top-six upside with a robust, straightforward game, Santala is one of the premium players out of Finland’s upcoming 2027 class although he’s technically a native of Zurich, Switzerland.
Coming along as a product of Kiekko-Espoo, Santala recorded 12 points in 25 games playing alongside skaters three years his senior, good for 12th best on the team. Teammates of his included Noel Pakarinen (Vegas, 2026 7th round) and Max Laatikainen (Philadelphia, 2026 7th round), speaking to the quality of play the youngster was a part of before even entering the Ontario Hockey League.
A Finn with a strong pedigree, Santala’s father Tommi had a long and successful professional career as a center across the NHL, Finland, Switzerland, and even a stint in the KHL. He played in 63 games between the Atlanta Thrashers and Vancouver Canucks, leaving North America after the 2006-07 season. Already familiar with the game on this side of the pond, his son joins one of the most prestigious junior teams known for developing NHL star power including Patrick Kane, Mitch Marner, and Matthew Tkachuk.
Rather than stay home and vie for games in the Liiga, Luca should immediately be a top OHL scorer in London, linking up with Kings 2025 first rounder Henry Brzustewicz and forward Jaxon Cover, Ottawa’s 32nd overall pick this summer. Led by legendary coach Dale Hunter, the Knights went 40-23-4 in 2025-26, last winning the Memorial Cup in 2025.
Wild Sign Filip Ruzicka To Entry-Level Contract
According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Minnesota Wild have put ink to paper with a draft pick.
No, it is not their first-round pick or even second from the 2026 NHL Draft, because they didn’t have those picks. Minnesota signed its 137th overall selection, Filip Ruzicka, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the Wild later confirmed. This will pay him $987.5K annually through the 2028-29 season. He’ll finish that contract as an RFA at age 21.
The 18-year-old finished his 2025-26 campaign in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings, posting a .906 save percentage and a 3.19 goals against average in 42 games for a 26-14-1 record in the regular season. He also represented Czechia in U18 international play for a game.
Russo reports that the fifth-rounder is set to return to Brandon for a second season, contrary to his Elite Prospects profile saying he’ll play in Mountfield HK in Czechia.
The Trinec native stands at a towering 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 229 pounds. The intrigue behind him is not just the size but also his promise and progression from this past season. Ruzicka was considered to be very good with his tracking and could make saves in high-danger areas. The frame helps with making routine stops, but concerns present themselves within that same topic.
He provides great ability to stop second chances, but speed and control will make him a long-term project for Minnesota. According to the Elite Prospects scouting report, he can get caught and overadjust, and that lack of control can lead to open areas to shoot at. Sometimes he’ll be off balance as a result of this. Concern also comes from the speed to drop to the butterfly, and while he’s standing, there’s a good amount of room to shoot under the arms.
As seen before in many cases, size is something young players will have to take time to grow into. Minnesota is willing to be patient with the player in his development.
Washington Capitals Acquire Tyler Kopff
The Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals have swapped minor-league forward prospects. In a trade earlier today, the Capitals acquired 23-year-old Tyler Kopff, who can play both center and left wing, and sent winger Zac Funk to Buffalo.
Both players are entering the final year of their respective entry-level contracts. Kopff, who stands 6’4″, 205 pounds went undrafted as as point-per-game player in the BCHL, leading him to spend two seasons at Brown before earning attention from professional franchises. Kopff had a stellar second season at Brown, scoring 28 points in 32 games and earning ECAC Third-Team All-Star honors. That caught the eye of pro teams and Kopff signed a two-year ELC to kick in for the 2025-26 season, and an ATO for what remained of 2024-25.
After a six-game trial with Rochester at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, Kopff began his professional career in earnest last fall. In total, he played in 30 games for Rochester, registering just five points. Kopff lost his role in Rochester in March, just after the team suffered its seventh consecutive loss. He was sent down to the ECHL, and he would finish the year in that league with the Jacksonville Icemen. He scored six points in 10 ECHL games.
Seeing as Kopff struggled to make an impact in his debut professional campaign, and couldn’t hold down even a regular fourth-line role with the Americans, it’s no surprise to see the Sabres swap him out for another prospect. That’s especially true seeing as Kopff was a signing of former GM Kevyn Adams, who has since been replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen.
In exchange for Kopff, the Sabres received Funk, another undrafted prospect albeit one of a dramatically different profile. The 22-year-old, who stands 6’0″ 210 pounds, is a former WHL star who has not been able to stick in the AHL across his two full seasons of pro experience.
In his final campaign of junior hockey, Funk led the WHL with 67 goals and finished with 123 points in just 68 games. That made him one of the more coveted undrafted free agents coming out of the CHL that season. The team at Elite Prospects rated Funk the No. 4 CHL free agent at the time, while also calling him the most likely of the free agent class to play NHL games.
It should be noted, though, that the opinion on Funk’s upside was divided among public-facing scouts. While Elite Prospects expressed some optimism Funk would find his way to the NHL, Corey Pronman of The Athletic made a notably more pessimistic projection. He specifically questioned whether Funk’s stellar overage season – the core reason he had been receiving pro attention – would translate to the pro game. He wrote at the time “There’s always a concern about translatability when a guy’s offense spikes as a 20-year-old in junior.”
So far, Funk’s professional career has been more in line with Pronman’s projection. The 22-year-old was limited to just 10 AHL games last season, compared to 23 in the ECHL. In 25 career AHL games across two seasons of professional hockey, Funk has just six points.
In trading out Funk for Kopff, the Capitals have swapped scoring pedigree for athletic tools. While Kopff has never been a dominant scorer, he brings a level of size and bulk Funk simply doesn’t have. But from Buffalo’s perspective, the team has had success developing more undersized, hard-working wingers, and may hope whatever offensive upside Funk does possess can be unlocked by their development staff.
Regardless of whatever motivations the involved teams may have had, it’s clear the importance of this deal is far greater for the players involved rather than their teams. In all likelihood, this pair of players will occupy a spot on the bubble of their respective team’s AHL roster. They are both expected to be marginal players for those AHL affiliates. The key for each player will be reversing some of the downward momentum that was built in 2025-26 in order to beat the odds and earn another NHL contract next summer.
Canadiens Sign Jakub Dobes To Three-Year Extension
Despite having one of the best goaltending prospects in the game, the Montreal Canadiens will continue to ride the hot hand. According to a team announcement, the Canadiens have signed netminder Jakub Dobes to a three-year, $16.07MM ($5.357MM AAV) contract.
Montreal selected Dobes with the 136th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. He wasn’t believed to be a high-level goaltending prospect, but after a pair of quality years at The Ohio State University, Dobes started to turn some heads in Montreal. Throughout his two years with the Buckeyes, Dobes managed a 42-28-5 record in 75 games with a .926 SV% and 2.29 GAA.
Inspired by his performance, the Canadiens brought Dobes to the professional ranks ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He spent the entire season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. Although the Rocket gave him a heavy workload in his rookie season, Dobes handled it with grace, finishing with a 24-18-6 record in 51 games with a .906 SV% and 2.93 GAA.
Getting off to another solid start with the Rocket in 2024-25, Montreal finally gave Dobes his shot. Although he would ultimately finish the season with a .909 SV%, Dobes got off to a ridiculous start in the NHL. Through his first five games, Dobes won all of them, managing a .941 SV%. These weren’t easy wins, either. Dobes backstopped the Canadiens to mid-season wins against the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, and Dallas Stars.
Coupled with some disappointing play from Sam Montembeault, Dobes took over the starter’s crease last season. The Ostrava, Czechia native again handled it well, managing a 29-10-4 record in 43 games with a .901 SV% and 2.78 GAA. Not only did he help Montreal reach the postseason, but he was selected to the All-Rookie Team and nearly became a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year, finishing fourth in voting.
Now, Dobes is the only goaltender in the organization signed beyond the 2027-28 campaign. Youngster Jacob Fowler, the top prospect alluded to earlier, will need another contract at that point once his entry-level contract expires. Still, Montreal’s commitment to Dobes likely means that Montembeault won’t last much longer with the organization.
Hurricanes’ Noel Gunler Signs Two-Year Deal With Djugarden
The Carolina Hurricanes have lost grip on one of their developing winger prospects. Chicago Wolves forward Noel Gunler has signed a two-year deal with Djugardens IF of Sweden’s SHL per Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey. The deal was confirmed by Djugardens. Gunler will return to his home country after spending four of the last five seasons in Chicago, split by a one-year stint with Karpat in Finland’s Liiga.
Gunler is no stranger to the SHL. The Lulea-native grew through his city’s youth hockey program and debuted with the pro club in the 2018-19 season, at the age of 17. He scored five points in 15 games to kick off his SHL career, enough to cement a full-time spot on Lulea HF for the 2019-20 season.
The reliability of a full-time, pro role earned Gunler high praise headed into the 2020 NHL Draft. He was seen as a dangerous shooter with strong athleticism and finesse. That earned him first-round glimmer on some boards, though he would ultimately fall to Carolina with 41st-overall pick. Gunler spent the two seasons after his draft in the SHL and grew to a stout 23 points in 52 games of the 2021-22 season, spent with Brynas IF. On the heels of that career-high mark, he moved over to the AHL in the Spring of 2022, just in time to join the Wolves for their run to the Calder Cup Championship. Gunler contributed seven points in 21 games at the end of the season.
The young winger seemed to be in the right setting to develop. He grew to 18 points in 31 games of the 2022-23 season – a modest step forward – but rather than climb small steps in the AHL, he sought a bigger role in Finland. That move didn’t go as planned when Gunler finished his sole Liiga season with just eight points in 24 games. He returned to the AHL in 2024 and scored 61 points in 129 games over the last two seasons. He also contributed seven points to the 21 games that Chicago played in their race to a Calder Cup runner-up finish this season.
Four years of AHL experience hasn’t been enough to prop Gunler into Chicago’s top-six. He has struggled with finding his scoring in any one spot and will now seek another spark in his move to Djugardens. He joins a strong contingent of pro talent, including top draft prospects Viggo Bjorck and Marcus Nordmark, and fellow NHL prospects in Boston’s Liam Pettersson and San Jose’s Lucas Carlsson. Djugardens is a young club but that inexperience should push Gunler into a feature, scoring role. He will have two years to earn his keep before facing the tough question of if he can crack the Hurricanes roster once again.
Morning Notes: Byram, Arvidsson, Reid
The Chicago Blackhawks like Bowen Byram.
According to a recent article published by Scott Powers of The Athletic, Byram is a defenseman who fits the mold of what Chicago is looking for this offseason. The 25-year-old is set to enter the second season of a two-year contract at $6.25MM AAV, coming off a career year with the Buffalo Sabres, scoring 11 goals for 42 points, both career-high totals. The former fourth-overall pick served as a key piece who rounded out the Sabres’ top-4 defensive core on the left side en route to the team’s first playoff appearance since 2010-11.
The sense is that Chicago has future capital that they could offer in a deal with Buffalo, but in speaking to Powers’ colleague Matthew Fairburn, he tells that Buffalo would ideally be looking for a forward to replace the potential loss of Alex Tuch to the market, and that draft picks and prospects are a doubtful return Sabres would want. The Blackhawks have above $40MM in cap space this summer, and the acquisition of Byram would make him their highest-paid blueliner for next season and beyond, pending an extension for the former Stanley Cup Champion.
Additional Notes:
- Viktor Arvidsson was one of seven unrestricted free agents who scored more than 20 goals in the 2025-26 season. According to Pierre LeBrun’s rumblings, Arvidsson, who totaled 54 points in 69 games, and the Bruins have remained in talks regarding an extension to keep him in Boston. He senses that Bruins GM Don Sweeney is keen on returning the 33-year-old forward in black and gold, but wonders if the sides can get comfortable on term. AFP Analytics has his next contract projection at a two-year deal, around $4.9MM AAV, which would be his highest career cap hit, beating a former $4.25MM cap hit inked on a seven-year deal between his playing days in Los Angeles and before that, the Nashville Predators.
- Speaking of the Predators, one of the organization’s top prospects, Cameron Reid, committed to the University of Michigan, as he announced on his Instagram. The 21st overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft ended his third season in the OHL, scoring 56 points in 57 games and adding 14 points in 18 playoff games. He captained his Kitchener Rangers squad to an OHL championship and a CHL Memorial Cup victory. Head Coach Brandon Naurato adds a key piece to the Wolverines’ back end next season, as Reid joins fellow Predators goalie prospect Jack Ivankovic, also a former OHLer, along with forwards Malcolm Spence and Henry Mews from the Ontario League. Michigan will look to defend its Big 10 postseason title and push for an NCAA title game after losing to Denver in the Frozen Four.
Sabres Acquire 20th Overall Pick From Sharks
According to a team press release, the Buffalo Sabres have acquired the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 27th overall pick and defenseman Michael Kesselring.
Buffalo moves up seven spots in the first round in this year’s draft, where they have just four selections as the host city. The Sabres now hold the 20th, 124th, 156th, and 188th overall picks in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, respectively. This selection from San Jose was previously acquired from Edmonton in exchange for defenseman Jake Walman in March of 2025.
En route to the club’s magical run of 2025-26, which ended at the hands of a Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres dealt away their 2026 second-round pick, notably in a package deal that highlighted Joshua Norris and parted ways with their third-round pick to the Rangers for Sam Carrick. They also acquired Tanner Pearson from the Winnipeg Jets for this year’s seventh-round selection.
As a result, following a stretch where they earned an NHL-best 63 points from a 29-9-5 record since the beginning of 2026, the Sabres ended a drought where they missed the playoffs for 14 years. They won the Atlantic Division for the first time in franchise history, having never finished above fifth in the division before this season. Overall, Buffalo finished with 50 wins and 109 points en route to the postseason.
As for the Sharks, they move back the second of their eight total selections that they’ll make in late June. Earlier at the NHL Draft Lottery, GM Mike Grier was awarded the second-overall pick for the second straight lottery, moving up seven spots this year with a chance to select top prospects like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, or a top-end defenseman, depending on how the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to use their first overall pick.
San Jose in 2026, along with the 2nd and now 27th overall picks, owns the 62nd overall pick after exchanging Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado for Alexandar Georgiev. They hold no third-round picks, having dealt their own to Pittsburgh in the Erik Karlsson blockbuster trade. In the later rounds, the Sharks own two fourths, 104th from Florida, acquiring Nico Sturm, and 127th via Vegas’ from Washington, acquiring Timothy Liljegren, 157th overall via Montreal for taking on Carey Price‘s contract. They also own Columbus’s 174th overall pick and their own 201st overall pick in the seventh round.
As for Kesselring, he spent one season with Buffalo after being acquired from Utah alongside Josh Doan last summer in exchange for JJ Peterka. Injuries limited him to 34 games, during which he tallied two assists and averaged 13:24 of ice time. The 26-year-old recorded two assists in 34 games last season for Buffalo. Despite being limited by injuries during the season, he ranked third among skaters in blocked shots per 60 (5.00). He also saw one game played for the Sabres in the playoffs.
“Michael has a big frame (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) with solid two-way ability,” Grier said in the Sharks press release. “He is a responsible player in the defensive zone with a well-rounded offensive game, and will be a good upgrade for us patrolling the blueline. We’re happy to have him a part of the organization.”
The New Hampshire native is in the final year of a two-year, $2.8MM ($1.4MM AAV) contract he signed back with the Utah Mammoth on June 28, 2024, and is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1. Originally a sixth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kesselring spent his first two NHL seasons with the Arizona Coyotes after being dealt from Edmonton alongside a 2023 third-round pick for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen.
Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Leafs Sign Tinus Luc Koblar To Entry-Level Contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs have come to terms with one of their top prospects. Forward Tinus Luc Koblar has signed a three-year, entry-level contract. This move will move Koblar to North America on the heels of a strong performance with Team Norway at the 2026 World Championship. He finished the tournament with a team-leading nine goals in 10 points as Norway pushed to their first World Championship medal since 2005.
Toronto drafted Koblar with a 2025 second-round pick. He was a gutsy pick after posting just 21 points in 43 games with Leksands IF’s U20 roster and one point in five games at both the World Junior Division-1 Championships and World U18 championship. The Maple Leafs must have seen the same potential that Leksands saw, though, as Koblar was promoted to a full-time pro role this season. He scored 14 points in 47 SHL games this season.
More importantly, the pro move seemed to bring much more confidence to Koblar’s game. He became a force in international tournaments with 10 points in five games at the World Junior Division-1 Championship before his breakout at the World Championship. All year long, the puck-moving center excelled at pushing play down the ice. He plays with a strong stick and hard shot, bringing an impact on both sides of the puck while also posting a solid, 45 percent faceoff success rate.
Koblar will now look to keep his momentum rolling with the Toronto Marlies. He joins the Maple Leafs as the club’s fifth-highest draft pick since 2021. That standing will put some pressure on Koblar’s relative inexperience at the Swedish level. At the same time, his skinny frame and heads-up thinking will present major potential for the Leafs to hone.