Training camp always gives young players a window, but for the Maple Leafs this year, that window is narrower than usual.
With the NHL heading into an expanded 84-game schedule for 2026-27 and only four preseason games on the calendar, Toronto won’t have much time to sort through its prospects. That makes every shift matter a little more, especially for players trying to climb the depth chart or force their way into bigger roles. A few names stand out as possible camp surprises.
Artur Akhtyamov is the most obvious one.
Before the 2026 offseason, the 24-year-old goaltender was buried on Toronto’s depth chart behind Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby. Now that both Woll and Hildeby are gone, the path has opened up. Akhtyamov could be next in line for the Maple Leafs behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Stolarz.
He’s coming off a strong 2025-26 season with the Toronto Marlies, finishing 21-12-4 with a 2.88 GAA and .904 save percentage. He also got into three games with the Maple Leafs.
Then he took it up a level in the AHL playoffs, helping the Marlies win the Calder Cup by going 15-7-0 with a 2.22 GAA and .923 save percentage. If that carries into camp, Toronto may see a goalie who looks ready if called on this season.
Ben Danford brings a different kind of intrigue.
He’s not the kind of defenseman who’s going to pile up points, but his value comes on the other side of the puck. Danford projects as a shutdown piece, someone who can handle tough defensive work and physical minutes.
In 2025-26 with the OHL Branford Bulldogs, he put up two goals and 14 assists for 16 points in 37 games while helping the club reach the OHL playoffs. He was also part of the Marlies’ championship run.
Danford added another notable stop to his season at the World Juniors Championship, where he played a key role in helping Canada earn a bronze medal. With his gap control and puck-moving ability, he has already shown signs of maturity. Don’t be surprised if he looks comfortable in preseason action and starts pushing toward an NHL debut before long.
Then there’s Gavin McKenna, the name that may raise the most eyebrows in this group.
He’s already carrying massive expectations as the Leafs’ 2026 No. 1 pick, and the numbers explain why. McKenna put together a huge 2024-25 season with the WHL Medicine Hat Tigers, scoring 41 goals and adding 88 assists for 129 points in 56 games.
Last season at Penn State, the 18-year-old winger posted 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games. His calling card is elite vision, and Toronto expects him to make an impact this season.
The surprise with McKenna isn’t whether he can play. It’s how quickly he may show he belongs.
Unlike many young players who need time to settle in, he could make that case right away in camp. He already gave the Leafs offense a lift in preseason action last Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, and if that creative spark keeps showing up, he won’t just be a camp storyline.
He could become one for the whole 2026-27 season.
In Other News...
Leafs Fans Just Got A Reality Check On This Prospect
Tinus-Luc Koblars first taste of preseason action offered a reminder that even promising prospects rarely arrive in Toronto as finished products. The Maple Leafs second-round pick had a modest debut, and it was enough to cool some of the buzz around him after fans had started to imagine a quicker path to the NHL.
Last season in Sweden, Koblar put up 14 points in 47 games with Leksands in the SHL, a solid base but not the kind of production that screams instant readiness. The early read is that he may still need more time before jumping to the NHL, and perhaps even before taking the next step into the AHL, which is why another season in the SHL is being viewed as a sensible part of his development. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Opening Night Blue Line Sends A Clear Early Message
The Maple Leafs have their opening-night blue line in place, and the first look says plenty about how the team wants to start the 2026-27 season. Morgan Rielly is back on the top pair after missing preseason games because of a viral infection, and hell be flanked by newcomer Darren Raddysh in a setup that instantly gives the group a different feel. Behind them, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev form the second pair, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stetcher round out the third.
Theres also a fourth pair in the mix with Emil Andrae and Nick Blankenburg, which gives Toronto a fuller picture of how the defensive rotation may settle in once the games begin. The pairings hint at a staff that wants a mix of stability, mobility and experience, even as it asks Rielly to jump right back into a leading role after the lost time in camp. For a team still shaping its early-season identity, the blue line is already sending a clear message about who the Maple Leafs trust most when the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Hiller Is Pushing Morgan Rielly Back To The Center Of It
Morgan Rielly has started to look like the kind of defenseman the Maple Leafs have always wanted him to be when he is at his best, and Jim Hiller is clearly leaning into that idea. During practice, Hiller pointed to the pairing with Darren Raddysh as a potential offensive defenseman combination, while also highlighting Riellys mindset and physical condition as reasons for optimism about where his game is headed.
The bigger sign for Toronto may be what Hiller said about Riellys renewed passion for the game, because that kind of confidence can change how a player carries himself on the ice. Hiller also gave an update on Dakota Joshua, saying the forward is close to being ready but not yet at full capacity, a reminder that Toronto is still juggling lineup decisions even as a few important pieces begin to settle back into place. [Read more 🡒]