Toronto took the 6-foot-7 Swedish monster with the 122nd overall pick in 2022 as a triple coverage. That almost never happens, but the Leafs clearly saw something in him. Hildeby put himself on the map after putting up some great numbers in limited pro action with Farjestad in the SHL. He had a .931 save percentage in seven games, matching the same numbers in 12 U-20 league games. Given he had so little pro experience at 21 years old, when most other top European goalie prospects have at least 2-3 years under their belt, it was still a surprising pick.

Goalies often develop at different rates than regular skaters, and so many variables go into scouting the position. That’s why it’s often smart to take one almost every year to give you the best odds at finding just one that sticks. Many liked the Timofei Obvintsev pick at No. 157 in June. He hasn’t played a ton the past few years, but he’s got size and stole a handful of games this year in the MHL after getting passed over in 2023. At that point, why not take a chance on a big European goaltender who can stick at home for a few years before making the move over? And that’s why the Hildeby selection made sense. He was already older and had more experience than most others in the 2022 class, which helped speed up his timeline.

“Give Hildeby some time, because he needs it. But many seem confident that he’s an NHL-caliber goalie,” a scout previously told The Leafs Nation. “But in what way? We’ll see. There’s some intriguing qualities there that could make him a starter.”