Standouts From The 2026 Development Camp

On Saturday, Toronto wrapped up it's development camp with a scrimmage. They divided the roster into two, and if you want a refresher for all of the many names on the list you can catch up from Cathy's article on the entire roster announcement, and my scouting report on the undrafted free agents invited to attend:

Maple Leafs Development Camp Roster is Here

And it is huge. That is a lot of players

PPP LeafsCathy Squires

Scouting Toronto’s 2026 Development Camp Roster

Toronto invited 26 undrafted prospects to their July 2026 development camp this year. I’m looking at them all to see who could be interesting as potential future signing or draft targets.

PPP LeafsBrian S

The dev camp consisted of a bunch of on-ice drills and the prospects working with Toronto's various development coaches, a couple of off-ice excursions together (pickleball tournament, batting practice in the Sky Dome), and then finally the scrimmage to finish it all off.

After not having a scrimmage last year, perhaps the allure of having so many fun new toys to watch made them change their minds on that decision this year. Better than that, for the first time they decided to not just stream it through their own damn app, and streamed it through YouTube. The quality may have been jank as hell at times but at least it was actually working at all times.

The final of the game was 6-4 for Team Blue. It was back and forth to start, being 1-1 and then 2-2, before Blue scored three quick unanswered goals in the second period to open a 5-2 lead. White chipped away at the lead in the third period to make it 5-4, but Blue got an empty net goal to seal the win.

And a quick note: if I didn't mention a player, that doesn't mean I think they were bad. It just means they weren't as noticeable for me when watching and re-watching it.

Goals

1. Team White - Hopkins (1) from Pepoy (1) and Hewitt (1)
2. Team Blue - Moldenhauer (1) from Caron (1) and Holinka (1)
3. Team Blue - McCue (1) from Malinoski (1) and Plesovskikh (1)
4. Team White - Thompson (1) from Hopkins (1) and Pepoy (2)
5. Team Blue - McCue (2) from Man (1) and Cebrian (1)
6. Team Blue - Cebrian (1) from Hart (1) and Man (2)
7. Team Blue - Cebrian (2) from Galanek (1) and Hanson (1)
8. Team White - Nansi (1) from Koblar (1) and Blessing (1)
9. Team White - Thompson (2) from Koblar (2) and McKenna (1)
10. Team Blue - Malinoski (1) from Belle (1)

Multi-point games for:

• Kieran Cebrian (2 goals, 1 assist)
• Mick Thompson (2 goals)
• Sam McCue (2 goals)
• Tyler Hopkins (1 goal, 1 assist)
• Hudson Malinoski (1 goal, 1 assist)
• Tinus Luc Koblar (2 assists)
• Brody Pepoy (2 assists)
• Matyas Man (2 assists)

DRAFTED PROSPECTS

Gavin McKenna

McKenna was two things... he was both not really trying very hard, but was also just an incredible joy to watch. At some point in the second period, while I was taking notes, I just wrote down "holy fuck McKenna is just so fast at everything he does". Fast hands, fast skating, fast pivots, fast decisions and mental processing, and feints and everything else. What was encouraging was how he was using that quickness and used his elite speed and hands without the puck. On the forecheck and defensively, he would disrupt plays, steal pucks, and launch a counter attack. He generated high-danger chances, creating a partial breakaway and picking a defender's pocket in front of the net.

Harry Nansi

Nansi looked much improved from this time last year, especially with his skating. He looks faster and much sturdier on his feet – no more looking like Bambi out there. He was still pushed off his skates a few times, but only by bigger opponents. Otherwise he was everything he has been but with the dials turned up a bit. He used his strength and positioning to win loose puck battles off faceoffs and along the boards. He showed great composure by making accurate passes into the slot while falling and while being physically checked. His improved skating balance allowed him to carry the puck cleanly on transition and score a goal from the slot. He's just so smart and creative with and without the puck and finds ways to impact the play all over the ice.

Warning: this highlight is very jank.

Tinus Luc Koblar

Koblar was a bit like McKenna in that he was also not necessarily trying his hardest, though that's not to say he was taking it very easy either. He was a heavy force on the cycle, using his size to protect the puck and generate space for his teammates. He sped around defenders high in the zone to register a hard shot, beat pressure on the rush, and consistently distributed pucks from the boards back to the point. The funny thing I noticed was counting at least four times McKenna made a pretty absurd pass to him for pretty good scoring chances only for Koblar to very obviously not be mentally prepared for any pass to come to him, so he bobbled or whiffed on the reception. He very clearly showed he's never played with a playmaker of McKenna's level in his life.

Yaroslav Fedoseyev

Seeing this scrimmage with Fedoseyev on a pairing with Bilecki was incredible timing, since I'm in the middle of writing the full profile on him. Of all the defensemen on either team in this game, I fell in love with him the most. He and Bilecki were just such a joy to watch, with Fedoseyev being more consistent defensively. What captured my attention, though, was his decisions with the puck. He was just automatic on breakouts, showing excellent mobility and elusiveness with the puck, and vision to find the best teammate to make his pass to and then nail it tape to tape. He made quick decisions under pressure and pinched effectively along the blueline to keep offensive possessions alive. Defensively, he stopped a one-on-one chance by Pepoy and broke up a dangerous two-on-one rush.

Alexander Bilecki

Bilecki came as advertised. He didn't stand out to me as many times as Fedoseyev did, but the quality of when he stood out was always so high. His skating, puck handling and passing were top notch. He used simple, quick movements to escape forecheck pressure and jumpstart the rush. He stayed calm while handling pucks in his own end, once recovering quickly from a bobbled pass in front of his net to clear the zone. From that highlight I shared above, watching him and Fedoseyev work that magic against the top pairing and top line of the other team, I just laughed.

Ethan MacKenzie

MacKenzie was easily the best defenseman for Team White. He used his physical presence to step up for hits, protect the puck, and force turnovers behind the net and in the corners. He walked the line in the offensive zone well and led multiple rushes up the ice to distribute the puck to his forwards. He also contributed to keeping possession on clearing attempts at the point, and had a couple of good scoring chances of his own.

Mans Gudmundsson

Gudmundsson was MacKenzie's partner and while he was generally more quiet, he really finished the game strong in the third period. His retrievals and breakout passes weren't as dynamic or flashy as the other three defensemen mentioned above him, but they were effective. He used his body and stick effectively to disrupt opponents and win battles below the goal line. He set up multiple scoring chances, including a stretch pass for a partial breakaway when he caught the other team on a bad change. He was a quietly solid two-way defensemen in this game.

Nick Moldenhauer

For a guy that I had all but written off two years ago, both for his poor season in NCAA and just looking bland at most development camps and rookie tournaments, Moldenhauer has been doing a lot to resurrect his stock. He was one of the most noticeable forwards on either team, but especially on Team Blue. He was highly effective on the cycle, using a low base and constant shifting to protect the puck even as larger defenders were trying to pin him against the boards and shut down his movements. He forced turnovers on the forecheck, and drove the net for a goal. He generated high-volume offense, registering three quality scoring chances in the third period alone.

Miroslav Holinka

Holinka was a dangerous transition player, completing solo end-to-end rushes and successfully entering the offensive zone effortlessly several times. He routinely drew multiple defenders toward him before passing to open teammates for high-quality scoring chances. He also worked the cycle effectively and forced neutral zone turnovers. He was the top center for Team Blue with Moldenhauer and Caron, and together they were a handful for Team White to deal with most of the times they were on the ice. Holinka provided a lot of the heavy lifting to get them into the offensive zone.

Brody Pepoy

Pepoy was a pleasant surprise to watch, being one of the newest prospects who is both among the younger players to play but also the latest one drafted. He showed some nifty hands and feet to protect the puck on the cycle, avoid being squared up by any body check, and buy time in the offensive zone. He manipulated defenders to open up space, once drawing four opponents to him on a zone entry before slipping a pass to Hopkins for a scoring chance. He worked hard to chase down rebounds and transition the puck cleanly. His line with Hopkins and the undrafted invite Mick Thompson had two of the goals for Team White, with Pepoy having an assist on both. He was an effective part of that line all game, on the forecheck, on defense, playing with a mix of skill and physical edge.

Rylan Fellinger

In the first half of the game I thought he was the best overall defenseman on the ice for either team. His skating is very good, and he was both suffocating on defense and also a machine pushing the puck up the ice on transitions. He jumped into the rush a couple of times, and pulled off a pretty slick dangle at the blueline and carried the puck right to the net. He used his recovery speed and long reach to break up breakaway attempts and win physical battles on dumped pucks. He stepped up in the neutral zone to disrupt plays and executed strong breakouts under pressure. He was a bit more quiet later in the game but wasn't bad. I have some high hopes this may be signs of a bigger breakout for him this coming season.

Sam McCue

Unlike Moldenhauer, who I had all but written off, I have fully written off McCue. He just never improved in very important ways, but in the scrimmage he showed off the one skill he's always had – scoring around the net. He had two goals and was robbed of a third by a great glove save by Obvintsev. His line with Malinoski and Plesovskikh was Blue's most dangerous for the first half of the game. McCue was the beneficiary of the work the other two put in to create scoring chances.

Hudson Malinoski

Malinoski was solid in this game. He and Plesovskikh did a lot of the grunt work with strong two-way play and then to help set up McCue where he's most dangerous – around the net. He would work a clean cycle in the corner before whipping a sharp pass out front to find McCue open for his first goal. He later scored after being part of a 2 on 0 rush with the net empty to seal the game, with Belle nicely gifting him the easy empty netter. Not a spectacular outing, but the kind of thing I've come to expect from him as a more defensive center.

Alexander Plesovskikh

Plesovskikh was the other piece of that line with McCue and Malinoski. He was a bit more quietly effective and not as noticeable, but he did a lot of little things well. He'd box out opponents driving the net on the rush, and helped with the heavy work along the boards to set up McCue's first goal. His offensive skill hasn't really come along very much since being drafted, but his off puck game has improved.

Zach Olsen

Olsen consistently won physical board battles down low to support his defense and start clean zone exits. He used his speed to chip and chase pucks, returning possession to his defensemen at the point. He also connected on quick passing sequences in the offensive zone to register shot attempts. He wasn't nearly as noticeable as other players, but for a guy just drafted and playing on a younger line with fellow Saskatoon and fresh draftee Cooper Williams, and the freshly undrafted but born the same year as them Parker Vaughan, I thought they did a good job hanging in there against mostly older competition.

Cooper Williams

Williams was a menace on the forecheck at times, combining with his linemates to pressure defensemen and force turnovers. He moved the puck effectively in the offensive zone, drove hard to the net for a dangerous scoring chance, and handled transition passes well. On the defensive end he struggled a bit, mostly because he was playing against a lot bigger, heavier, and stronger competition. If anything impresses on him the need for him to hit the gym and work with the nutrition coach to help bulk up, this scrimmage should.

Patriks Plumins

There were 9 goals scored in this game with the goalie in the net, so it wasn't exactly a banner day for them. Aside from Obvintsev's highlight reel glove in the first period, the only goalie that stood out was Plumins. He played the third period for Team White and he's who helped keep the score close as they attempted their comeback. He faced a flurry of scoring chances, including three alone from Moldenhauer, and he stopped them all. He looked controlled, in position, had his angles right, read the play well, and was mostly rebound-free.

William Belle

Belle was usually noticeable but not necessarily in an effective manner. He's big enough you can't miss him, and he can skate in a straight line very fast. He beat out defenders to the puck on dump ins a couple of times, and he was also a wrecking ball when it came to throwing hits. Case in point, with his team clinging to a late one goal lead, he leveled Nansi at the blueline secured the puck, and carried it on an easy 2 on 0 with Malinoski, selflessly passing it off for the empty netter. The big, speedy, physical elements of his game are fun, but he still really needs to work on having an impact with the puck in some fashion.

FREE AGENT INVITES

Parker Vaughan

The youngest of the undrafted invites to the development camp, he honestly didn't look out of place to me on the Kid Line he was put with, alongside Olsen and Williams. He has some size, he looked like a very quick and agile skater and knew how to use it on the forecheck. The three of them showed they could be very disruptive to opposing defensemen trying to break the puck out of their own end, and he pulled off a couple of nifty plays and passes after winning board battles. Their line didn't get any points but considering their age relative to their competition, I'd say he was one of the most impressive invites in this scrimmage. Probably not enough to be given an ELC, but I'd stay in touch with his camp and see how he's doing through this season.

Mick Thompson

Thompson scored twice, and they weren't cheap ones either. He had a partial breakaway for a good chance he didn't score on, finished a set up by Hopkins off a rush chance, made a few good passes to spring a rush chance or a back door opportunity, then scored again after intercepting a clearing attempt and carrying it into the slot for a better shot. He could still return to the NCAA for two more years, I believe, so I don't think he'll be desperate for a contract now. But I can see him getting an AHL deal within the next year or two.

Felix Caron

He was the third guy on Blue's top line with Holinka and Moldenhauer, who were both very strong through the whole game. Caron contributed in ways away from the puck. He blocked shots, worked hard on the cycle down low, and assisted on Moldenhauer's goal by working the puck towards the net. He could have gotten another assist when he hit a clean cross-ice pass to spring Moldenhauer on a partial breakaway. He's in the same boat as Thompson as far as contract needs.

Kieran Cebrian

It's funny to have seen Cebrian as leading both teams for points in the one scrimmage game considering he did not have much of an offensive reputation. But aside from one goal that was a pretty weak shot to let in by the goalie, his offense was created by working hard on the forecheck, on the cycle, and on transitions. He's entering his last year in the NCAA for the reigning champions in Denver. If he has a breakout as one of the older players on the team, I could see him getting some kind of deal from an NHL or AHL/ECHL team. I'm not sold I'd want it to be Toronto though, at either level.

One more benefit of the game being streamed on YouTube is you can still watch it! So you can re-watch it if you want to see the kinds of things I was talking about, and if you agree or disagree with my assessments.

Thanks for reading!

I put a lot of work into my prospect articles here, both for the draft and Toronto's prospects. I do it as a fun hobby for me, and I'd probably do it in some capacity even if PPP completely ceased to exist. But if you like reading my work, some support would go a long way! I pay for a few streaming services (CHL, NCAA, USHL, the occasional TSN options for international tournaments that are broadcast) to be able to reliably watch these prospects in good quality streams. I also pay for some prospect-specific resources, such as tracking data and scouting reports from outlets like Elite Prospects, Future Considerations, McKeen's Hockey, The Athletic, and more.

Being able to get paid for this helps me dedicate more time and resources to it, rather than to second/third jobs. And whatever money I make here, a lot of I reinvest back into my prospect work through in those streaming and scouting services. Like I said, I'd be doing whatever I can afford for this anyway, so any financial help I get through this is greatly appreciated!