The Toronto Maple Leafs' rising prospect just hit a major career milestone on the international stage, lighting the lamp for Norway at the World Championship.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about who will go No. 1 overall at next month’s 2026 NHL Draft, and maybe not enough talk about the prospects the Toronto Maple Leafs currently have.
Toronto’s top pick from last year’s draft, Tinus Luc Koblar, appears to be developing well. On Saturday, the 18-year-old scored his first goal on the Worlds stage, scoring for Norway. Koblar scored on a shot from distance that went through a maze of legs before beating Slovakian goaltender Samuel Hlavaj.
Although the goal tied the game 1-1 late in the second period, Slovakia went on to win the game 2-1 in regulation time, with former Toronto Marlies forward Kristian Pospisil scoring one of the Slovaks’ goals.
Koblar took a significant step in his development last season, scoring eight goals and adding six assists in 47 games with Leksands IF in his first year in the SHL. The numbers were pretty good for an 18-year-old playing in a league with men of varying skill levels.
At 6-foot-3, Koblar was noted for making significant strides in the speed of his skating. It’s been described by those watching him as “deceptive”. He’s also used his size to effectively win puck battles along the wall and has been showing improvement in his puck protection thanks to an improving hockey IQ.
Playing for Norway, Koblar was named the best forward of the Division 1A World Junior tournament (one step lower than the main tournament) after scoring five goals and five assists in five games. His play was credited for Norway earning promotion back to the main tournament for 2027.
It’s likely Koblar will continue to hone his craft in Europe as his development continues. From there, it’ll be interesting to see if the player can make the jump to North American hockey in the future. If his development stays on this trajectory, he projects as a sturdy, bottom-six center with serious wheels.