OHL In The System: Toronto Maple Leafs

This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.

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The leaves may fall in autumn, but in Toronto, the future is just starting to bloom. Today, let’s take a look at the next generation growing in the Maple Leafs’ pipeline.

 

Tyler Hopkins (C) – Kingston Frontenacs (2023-25)
Selected: 3rd Round, 86th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 126 GP, 26 G, 38 A, 64 PTS, -21
Age: 18

Kingston Frontenacs forward Tyler Hopkins was selected 74th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2025 NHL Draft. He has taken significant strides offensively, tripling his rookie point total with 51 (20-31-51) and capturing gold this year with Team Canada at the U18 Worlds.

 

Harry Nansi (RW) – Owen Sound Attack (2023-25)
Selected: 5th Round, 153rd Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 108 GP, 7 G, 25 A, 32 PTS, -20
Age: 18

Harry Nansi of the Owen Sound Attack was selected 153rd overall this year. The 6-foot-3 winger recorded 23 points (7-16-23) across 67 regular-season games this season.

 

Rylan Fellinger (D) – Flint Firebirds (2023-25)
Selected: 6th Round, 186th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 122 GP, 3 G, 8 A, 11 PTS, -19
Age: 18

Continuing their trend with drafting size, Rylan Fellinger was selected 186th overall. Standing at 6-foot-4, the right-shot defenceman from Wawa, Ont., recorded seven points on the blueline this season with the Flint Firebirds.

 

Matthew Hlacar (LW) – Kitchener Rangers (2024-25)
Selected: 7th Round, 217th Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 43 GP, 7 G, 1 A, 8 PTS, +2
Age: 19

Concluding the most OHL selections by any NHL team in this year’s draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs took forward Matthew Hlacar of the Kitchener Rangers 217th overall. Staying true to their size-focused strategy, the 6-foot-3 winger tallied seven goals in 2024-25.

 

Ben Danford (D) – Oshawa Generals (2022-25)
Selected: 1st Round, 31st Overall (2024)
OHL Career Stats: 188 GP, 10 G, 69 A, 79 PTS, +28
Age: 19

Captaining the Oshawa Generals to a second straight OHL championship series, Ben Danford posted 25 points (5-20–25) in 61 regular-season games, before adding two goals and five points in 21 postseason games. 

 

Sam McCue (LW) – Peterborough Petes (2022-24), Owen Sound Attack (2023-25), Flint Firebirds (2024-25)
Selected: 7th Round, 216th Overall (2024)
OHL Career Stats: 156 GP, 59 G, 34 A, 93 PTS, -9
Age: 19

Sam McCue split the 2024-2025 season between the Owen Sound Attack and the Flint Firebirds of the OHL, combining for 36 goals and 19 assists for 55 points in 55 games. Recently, McCue was traded to the Brantford Bulldogs, where he will start his overage season. 

 

Easton Cowan (RW) – London Knights (2021-24)
Selected: 1st Round, 28th Overall (2023)
OHL Career Stats: 175 GP, 84 G, 136 A, 220 PTS, +71
Age: 20

One of the most highly anticipated prospects for the organization, Easton Cowan, was instrumental in helping the Knights capture the Memorial Cup this past season. His performance earned him the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup most valuable player. He recorded 69 points (29-40–69) in 46 regular-season games and obtained the longest point streak in the league. 

 

Blake Smith (D) – Oshawa Generals (2021-23), Flint Firebirds (2022-25)
Signed: April 11, 2025
OHL Career Stats: 244 GP, 13 G, 41 A, 54 PTS, +5
Age: 20

Recently signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs, Blake Smith posted a career-high 32 points (10-22–32) and 54 penalty minutes and a team-leading plus/minus of +15 in 64 regular-season games with the Flint Firebirds during the 2024-25 season while adding one assist in five playoff games. 

 

Chas Sharpe (D) – Mississauga Steelheads (2019-24)
Signed: April 14, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 222 GP, 31 G, 85 A, 116 PTS, +10
Age: 21

After signing a two-year AHL deal with the Marlies, Chas Sharpe had a standout year in the ECHL with Cincinnati, notching 46 points (25-21–46) in 63 games. He was named Inglasco Player of the Week in mid-January after a four-goal, one-assist performance over three games.

 

Marko Sikic (RW) – Guelph Storm (2019-22), Sarnia Sting (2022-24)
Signed: July 8, 2025 
OHL Career Stats: 252 GP, 47 G, 100 A, 147 PTS, -22
Age: 22

Marko Sikic suited up for 64 games with the Cyclones in 2024-25, tallying 18 points (9-9–18) and 20 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-3 forward also appeared in four games with the Marlies and recently signed a one-year, one-way contract extension.

 

Braeden Kressler (C) – Flint Firebirds (2019-24), Ottawa 67’s (2023-24)
Signed: October 1, 2021 
OHL Career Stats: 186 GP, 67 G, 93 A, 160 PTS, +37
Age: 22

Braeden Kressler, signed by Toronto as a free agent in 2021, spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Cyclones, where he registered 22 points (9-13–22) and 20 penalty minutes across 25 regular-season games.

 

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C) – Peterborough Petes (2016-20)
Selected: 3rd Round, 76th Overall (2018)
OHL Career Stats: 248 GP, 38 G, 163 A, 201 PTS, -33
Age: 25

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev returned to Russia for the 2023-24 season and continues to play for Traktor Chelyabinsk. He produced 30 points (13-17–30) in 59 games last year and is committed to rejoining the team for 2025-26.

 

Tomorrow on In The System, we’ll take a look at the OHL Talent inside the Vegas Golden Knights organization!