Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tinus-Luc Koblar entered preseason with plenty of buzz, but his first look in a Leafs sweater didn’t live up to the hype on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old second-round pick was already coming off a modest SHL season with Leksands, where he posted 14 points in 47 games. That line was enough to suggest promise for a young player, but not enough to justify the outsized expectations that followed him into camp.
Against the Montreal Canadiens, those expectations took a hit. Reporter Jeff Veilette said on social media that Koblar looked like he was chasing the game rather than driving it, and that fans who were expecting a major impression may need to slow down.
"If all I knew about Tinus Luc Koblar was what social media hyped up to me this summer, I'd be unsure if I was watching the same player in this game. Feels a step behind the play. No biggie, he's 19, but those who expected him to make a huge impression may want to roll back a bit."
Veilette also made clear that he still sees a future for Koblar, while cautioning against the kind of leap some fans were already making.
"I have tons of time for Koblar to eventually get there and I'm excited to see his development. But there was a healthy contingent on here not only expecting him to make the opening night roster, but to take Tavares' spot at 2C by the end of next week lol"
For now, the takeaway from this preseason outing is pretty simple: Koblar is not ready for the NHL, and he may not be ready for the AHL either. Another season in the SHL could be the best path, with Leksands able to give him the kind of role that helps him keep developing while still chipping in offensively.
That won’t satisfy everyone who had bigger dreams for him this summer, but setbacks like this are part of the process for young players. If Koblar can keep progressing and put together a strong club season, the door to becoming the center Toronto wants is still open.
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