MAPLE LEAFS NOTES: Camp instructors consider draft pick TLK an 'A' student

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As Hayley Wickenheiser wrapped up the 2025 Maple Leafs development camp for media, she eyed Tinus Luc Koblar milking every last second on the ice, stalling the Zamboni as the last skater to exit the Ford Centre pad.

“A very serious kid,” said Toronto’s assistant general manager, as this year’s top draft pick flew around, putting on a bar-down shooting show, with a Michigan move or two. “I think it comes from having the Olympic history with his parents (dad an alpine skier, mom a biathlete) and knowing what training and work ethic are all about.

“It seems he doesn’t give up much on the ice. He gets pushed around, he pushes right back. I liked what I saw there and his good offensive instincts. He’s been a bright spot at camp.”

The 6-foot-3 forward was asked by the Leafs to stay around Toronto’s NHL summer workouts for a few days beyond this week. Chosen 64th overall, he’ll return to the Leksands juniors in Sweden.

A MAYES-ZING CLIMB

A year ago, Nathan Mayes was more curiosity than confirmed prospect as the last player chosen in the NHL draft, 225th overall.

But the 6-foot-4 defenceman from the Spokane Chiefs improved from 16 points to 27 in fewer appearances this past season in the WHL, turning a minus-16 into a plus-15.  He added 12 points in 20 playoff games in reaching the league final.

“I’ve said since last year, it’s irrelevant where I was picked,” Mayes said. “It just fuels me to get better every day.”

Wickenheiser likes the numbers Mayes posted, opining that he now must decide his own direction.

“He scored some really nice goals,” she noted. “It’s finding the sweet spot of who he is going to be. He’s a big body. Is he more a defensive defenceman, even though he skates well with good hands?”

FAMILY AFFAIR

Watching 6-foot-2 NCAA forward Nick Rheaume was a delight for Wickenheiser. He’s the nephew of her national team mentor, Manon Rheaume, and son of former NHL defender Pascal. Manon was the first female goaltender to appear in an NHL exhibition game for Tampa Bay, while  Wickenheiser broke ground on a men’s club team in Finland.

“I admired how Manon navigated the NHL situation and she was a great teammate, too,” Wickenheiser said. “When I see Nick, I see Manon. They’re similar in many ways. He’s just a really nice kid who wants to play pro hockey so badly.”

The 23-year-old Nick went undrafted and just wrapped up his third college season at Northeastern.

“The older you get, you come to these camps to get a job,” Nick said. “I focused on this camp to learn as much as I can and apply it to my game.

“Having my dad at home (Pascal is a coach most recently with the Islanders’ farm team) is a good resource. It’s just motivation for me to see my dad and his sister make it. Whatever she went through is definitely harder than what we do.”

STAR POWER

Common ground for the 48 prospects was the impression that the former Leafs made as on-ice instructors and motivational speakers. With the majority of participants snubbed by other teams, the tales from recently retired defenceman Mark Giordano had the room riveted.

“I thought his story was incredible,” new Marlies defenceman John Prokop said of the Norris Trophy winner. “He’s undrafted like myself. His journey, the ups and downs, how he ended up being the captain (in Calgary), went in the expansion draft with Seattle and got to play with talented players such as Jarome Iginla.”

Wendel Clark also addressed the recruits, defenceman Jake Muzzin worked with them on boxing out and other defensive tips and campers got to watch John Tavares practice.

“It looks like John could play in a world championship game right now, he’s in great shape,” said 2025 pick Tyler Hopkins.

LOOSE LEAFS

Marlies defenceman Blake Smith plays without a front tooth, knocked out from a high stick two years ago with the OHL Flint Firebirds. “I have a flipper (replacement), but don’t wear it much. I like this (tougher) look” … Smith’s left arm also bears a large tattoo with a winged angel, dog paw and the name Daisy for his beloved French bulldog. Daisy passed at 13 last year. “I grew up with her,” he said. “She lived a great life.”… Koblar was asked how curious he was as a kid about his mom’s biathlon equipment, specifically the rifle and cartridges. He says it was stored at her parents’ house in Slovenia for safe-keeping … Hopkins, a forward with the Kingston Frontenacs, said Oshawa rearguard and 2024 first-rounder Ben Danford was one of the most frustrating defencemen to play against in the OHL. The Leafs roomed the two rivals at camp … Wickenheiser said a big theme in camp was ‘details matter’, stressing there’s a fine line that keeps many similar sized, similarly talented players from having what it takes to make the NHL jump.

Lhornby@postmedia.com
X: @sunhornby

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