2025 NHL Entry Draft – LIVE Maple Leafs Tracker

2025 NHL Draft Recap: Maple Leafs Build Depth with Smart, Long-Term Focus

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is in the books, and while the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make a splash in the first round, they walked away with a respectable group of prospects. General Manager Brad Treliving and his scouting staff used their picks to reinforce the organization’s pipeline with players who fit the team’s vision: high-character, high-IQ talent with developmental upside.

Leafs Draft Strategy: Depth and Patience

Without a first-round selection, Toronto shifted its focus to the middle and late rounds, where strong scouting can yield hidden gems. The Leafs leaned into positional versatility, defensive responsibility, and players with room to grow — especially in their forward and goalie depth charts.

This year’s selections suggest an emphasis on:
– Two-way forwards
– Mobile defensemen
– Developmental goaltending
– Organizational depth

Why These Picks Matter

64th Overall – A Potential Middle-Six Piece

Second-rounders often turn into reliable NHL contributors. Expect the Leafs to target a high-motor winger or a smooth-skating right-shot defenseman, both organizational areas of need.
86th Overall – A Value-Driven Selection

In the third round, the focus likely shifts to players who have slipped due to size or injury concerns but carry upside. Treliving’s Calgary background suggests he’ll lean on risk/reward players with strong work ethic.
Rounds 5–7 – Rebuilding the Pipeline

With four picks in the fifth round or later, Toronto is expected to take swings on under-scouted international talent, NCAA-bound players, or a goaltender with raw tools and future starter potential.

The Bigger Picture

The Leafs’ 2025 draft class won’t solve current roster concerns, but that’s not the point. This was a “stack the cupboards” draft — a necessary process for any cap-strapped contender looking to sustain success long-term. With the potential departure of key players like Mitch Marner, and ongoing uncertainty in the bottom six and on defense, organizational depth is more important than ever.

What’s Next?

With the draft wrapped, the attention now turns to free agency and the development camp, where fans will get a first look at the newest prospects in blue and white. While these players may not hit the NHL ice for a few years, the groundwork is now laid — and Leafs Nation should be encouraged by what’s to come.