The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects got a firsthand look at current NHL players as they filed into the rink during development camp.
John Tavares, Scott Laughton, and Chris Tanev are only a few of the current Maple Leafs remaining at the team's practice facility in Etobicoke to train throughout the offseason. They've learned a bunch from guest speakers throughout the week, such as Mark Giordano, who shared his story of being an undrafted defenseman who eventually won the Norris Trophy.
However, it was a real eye-opener for the prospects to watch players like Tavares train on the ice before their on-ice sessions began.
"When Mark Giordano spoke to the players yesterday (Friday), one of the players asked, who are some of the best pros you've ever been around, and his first answer was John Tavares," Maple Leafs assistant GM, player development, Hayley Wickenheiser said.
"I've trained with John myself over the years, and he's just the ultimate pro. He doesn't leave any details unturned and he has a plan for himself.
"And so one of the cool things about doing development camp is, we have these guys that are skating before some of the pros that are in town, so we give the players a chance to watch them, ask them questions, and opportunity to just see, 'Oh, that's what it takes to get to that level,' and John is the epitome of that."
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The prospects raved about watching the current Maple Leafs workout, applauding their work ethic and detail, which will be positive aspects to remember when the younger players return to training next week.
"They're incredible. You watch them on TV as a kid growing up for my whole life, and then you see them in real life, and you're like, 'Wow, it's kind of crazy,'" 2025 seventh-round pick Matthew Hlacar said.
John Prokop, who's entering his one-year contract with Toronto, watched Tavares and Tanev train on the ice. He played a handful of games with the Toronto Marlies this past season after leaving Union College, but this was the first time catching a glimpse of these NHLers up close.
"They're how old, played how many years in the league, and still they look like they're 24, 25, and that's really impressive," he said. "And their work ethic in the gym, on the ice, it's been awesome."
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Giordano's speech at development camp also resonated with Prokop since he, too, is an undrafted defenseman.
"It was really cool to see his journey, his ups and downs, and how he persevered, ended up being the captain, jumped to different places even in the expansion draft with Seattle," the 24-year-old said.
"Then compete. He got to play with some pretty talented players, like (Jarome) Iginla, and just hearing how they worked and how he worked, and his career ended up what it was."
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Toronto 2022 third-round pick Nick Moldenhauer, who spends his offseasons in the Greater Toronto Area, actually got on the ice with Scott Laughton since returning home from the University of Michigan.
"He's a great guy. Came up and introduced himself to me as soon as I got on the ice," Moldenhauer smiled.
"I think the biggest thing when we were skating the first time was just how patient he is with the slot shots he takes. We were doing little shave-ice drills with releasing pucks in the slot and just watching him make it look so effortless was really cool...
"There was one rep where he went three in a row just exact same slide and shot, top right, and I was just like, this guy makes it look so easy. Just taking away those little things that he does well, I think is going to be beneficial for me and just continue to pick his brain over the offseason."
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Moldenhauer hopes to skate with Laughton for a lot of the offseason before returning for his junior year at Michigan. The 21-year-old had a down season, scoring three goals and seven assists in 29 games, compared to his eight goals and 13 assists in 41 games the year prior.
"Being able to skate with (Laughton), ask him questions, even though it's been real quick so far, I'm looking to continue to do that" Moldenhauer said, "and just build little things he does well into my game and just continue to benefit from all these great players who train here over the summer as much as I can."
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One of the most unique reactions to seeing current Maple Leafs on the ice was from Toronto 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins. The 18-year-old grew up a Maple Leafs fan, and when he entered the rink on Friday and saw Tavares skating, he witnessed what was needed to reach the next level.
"It looks like he could play in a World Championship game right now. The biggest game, you put him in, he looks like he's in great shape," Hopkins smiled.
"A lot of people here have touched on how hard he works, and it's pretty clear to see that when you see him on the ice, he's going as hard as he can every rep and sticking to those little details."
(Top photo of Tanev and Tavares: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)