The Toronto Maple Leafs have made the playoffs nine straight seasons, but that kind of consistency comes at a cost-namely, draft capital. With picks often shipped out at the deadline and most selections coming in the later rounds, Toronto’s prospect pool has been thinner than they'd like. But in 2025, the Leafs used a third-round pick to add some depth down the middle, selecting Tyler Hopkins-a name that’s starting to gain traction among fans tracking the next wave of talent.
Hopkins is now in his third OHL season and currently skating with the Guelph Storm after a midseason trade from the Kingston Frontenacs. That deal saw Guelph send forward Alex McLean and four draft picks the other way-an aggressive move for a player they clearly see as a key piece for the present and the playoff push ahead.
The 19-year-old center has logged 170 games in the OHL so far, tallying 42 goals and 57 assists. While his minus-26 career rating doesn’t jump off the page, the broader context matters-he’s been tasked with tough minutes, and his game is built on reliability, not flash.
That said, there’s been clear growth. Hopkins wore an “A” as one of Kingston’s alternate captains to start the 2025-26 season, and he’s kept the letter on his jersey since arriving in Guelph.
Leadership, maturity, and a steady presence down the middle-those are traits that NHL clubs value, especially in support players.
Last season, Hopkins posted a career-best 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists), and he’s on pace to match or slightly exceed that mark this year. Through 44 games split between Kingston and Guelph, he’s notched 16 goals and 19 assists.
Since joining the Storm, he’s put up 10 points in 15 games-four goals and six helpers-as Guelph fights to secure its playoff spot in the OHL’s Western Conference. They currently sit sixth, holding an eight-point cushion over the Sarnia Sting with 19 games to go.
Hopkins currently ranks second in team scoring with 35 points, trailing only Ethan Miedema, who’s played five more games and sits at 39 points. That kind of production, especially in a new system and under playoff pressure, is exactly what the Leafs were hoping to see when they picked him.
And while Hopkins isn’t projected to be a top-six NHL forward, his game has value. He’s a smart, defensively responsible center who can be trusted in his own zone and on the penalty kill.
Think of him as a future bottom-six contributor-someone who won’t light up the scoreboard but can be leaned on in tight-checking situations. That kind of player doesn’t always grab headlines, but every contending team needs a few of them.
With the Leafs having moved Fraser Minten at the deadline, Hopkins now becomes one of the more intriguing center prospects in the system. He’s not as dynamic as Minten, but he brings a well-rounded skill set that could translate nicely to the pro level.
At 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds, Hopkins still has room to grow physically, and that’s going to be key as he transitions to the next stage. A return to the OHL as an overager next season would give him more time to refine his offensive game and add strength before making the jump to the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. That timeline would likely put him in line for pro action toward the end of next season-an important step in his development.
Hopkins isn’t knocking on the NHL door just yet, but he’s moving in the right direction. If he continues to round out his game and adds a bit more offensive pop, there’s a real path for him to eventually earn a role in the Leafs’ bottom six. For a team that’s often had to look outside the organization for depth forwards, developing someone like Hopkins internally would be a win.
He’s not flashy. He’s not headlining highlight reels.
But he plays the kind of honest, two-way hockey that coaches trust. And in a few years, that might just be enough to earn him a spot in the blue and white.