NHL draft news: Maple Leafs 2025 NHL mock draft sees Peyton Kettles lead Toronto's six-pick rebuild push
NHL-Peyton Kettles of Team Canada (Credit: Getty Images)
The 2025 NHL Draft is shaping up to be crucial for the Toronto Maple Leafs. As the team holds six draft picks and looks to retool key areas of the roster. And the recent mock draft highlights the team's projected interest in Peyton Kettles.
He is a defenseman known for his size, poise, and skating ability. Peyton Kettles is currently playing for the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. Peyton Kettles is viewed as a long-term blue-chip project with top-four potential. Toronto's need for physically and defensively responsible blueliners makes Kettles a logical choice.
2025 NHL Draft : Peyton Kettles - 24-25 Highlights
Toronto Maple Leafs predicted to add size and skill with mid-round picks
After Kettles, the focus shifts to the middle rounds, where Toronto is expected to target a mix of size and puck-moving ability.
Names like Andrew Basha and Will Zellers have appeared in projections. And both bring a high hockey IQ and solid offensive upside.
Even though most of these players won't see NHL ice for at least two to three years, the organization seems to be stacking its AHL pipeline in hopes of uncovering future assets without overpaying in free agency.
Late-round projections focus on long-term upside and raw potential
In the later rounds, mock drafts suggest that the Maple Leafs may consider players.
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Such as Gabriel Eliasson or Marko Bumbulovic, both of whom offer unique potential but require further development, these are not polished prospects but fit the mold of high-upside gambles Toronto might be willing to take.
As salary cap pressures loom large and key contracts begin to expire. The Leafs will need inexpensive contributors; late-round hits like these could become crucial. Even if one or two of these picks develop into reliable NHLers, they would be seen as a win under current cap structures.
Given how the Leafs struggled defensively in recent playoff appearances, going for someone with Kettles' profile signals a shift. Rather than chasing NHL-ready firepower, Toronto appears committed to building from the back end, targeting long-term development over short-term fixes.
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