Ranked #109 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #145 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #124 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
With their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Maple Leafs selected 6’2, 182-pound winger Brody Pepoy of the Saginaw Spirit.
Hard-working forward who isn’t afraid of anyone. He plays with a ton of skill, even if the execution isn’t great.
I was surprised to see him fall this far – feels like a guy teams would take a chance on earlier in hopes of being an energy role dude.
via McKeen’s Draft Book
Consistency was the biggest issue for Pepoy this year, as the entire secondary scoring group in Saginaw had a tough time finding rhythm behind the team’s dominant first line.
The draw is that he’s both skilled and physically aggressive. He also projects as an above-average skater for someone with his frame. Pepoy is most dangerous attacking the offensive zone with speed, as he has the creativity and confidence to beat defenders one-on-one to create scoring chances.
The biggest thing for Pepoy is making more sound decisions with the puck. Turnovers were a bit of an issue for him this year; it’s that classic hero puck mentality. However, more often than not, even after committing a turnover, he’d work to regain possession. Continuing to upgrade his strength and conditioning should also prevent him from disappearing for stretches.
While the offensive production certainly isn’t typically indicative of a player selected in the mid rounds, Pepoy passed the eye test enough times to feel confident ranking him where we have. He has significant boom potential as he gains more ice time and responsibility in Saginaw.
