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Alexander Bilecki believed Leafs would select him in NHL Draft: ‘I knew they didn’t think too badly of me’
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Photo credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Michael Coyle
Jun 30, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 29, 2026, 23:36 EDT
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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization walked away from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft with a talented group of 10 prospects that can hopefully make an impact in the NHL one day. 
One of those selections was Alexander Bilecki, whom the Maple Leafs took in the second round with the 60th pick in the draft. The 18-year-old defenceman is coming off a Memorial Cup victory with the Kitchener Rangers and is going to join the organization he grew up rooting for. 
On Monday, Bilecki joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss whether he felt he was going to be an option for the Maple Leafs heading into the draft, the areas of his game that he needs to focus on to allow him to continue to get better as a player, and a current NHL  defenceman whom he models his game after. 
“I think I did for sure,” Bilecki said. “I knew there were a couple teams pretty interested in me, and I knew the Leafs didn’t think too badly of me. I talked to them throughout the year a couple times, and then went to their own little combine after the NHL one in Buffalo. I spent the day in Toronto and created a better relationship with them there. I guess it all worked out.”
During his second season in the OHL with the Rangers, Bilecki appeared in 66 games and recorded nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points, 15 more than his first season in the league. Bilecki raised his game during the playoffs, picking up two goals and nine assists over 18 games before adding three more assists during the Rangers’ four games in the Memorial Cup. 
Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Bilecki knows he has to fill out more as the competition he plays against gets bigger and stronger, but the offensive and skating ability that he possesses make him such an intriguing prospect for the Maple Leafs. 
“I pride myself on being a dynamic defenceman that can impact play in all three zones using my skating, size, and offensive ability,” Bilecki said. “Whether it’s slip plays or backdoor passes in the offensive zone, and then breakout passes in my own end, that’s where I excel. I think I just need to keep developing and maturing my frame. Obviously, I’m still a little bit of a lanky guy, so I’m going to have to work on that by eating and working out.”
As seen across the NHL, having a defenceman who can ignite the offence while still providing strong play in the defensive zone is so valuable. Many of the top teams possess a player of this caliber, and Bilecki hopes his career path follows a trajectory similar to that of a player who has been to three Stanley Cup finals and represented Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 
“I’ve watched a lot of Shea Theodore. He’s a rangy defenceman who moves well, can chip in offensively but is also responsible in his own end,” Bilecki said. “That’s someone I watch a lot and want to mold myself into. I want to be out there if you need a goal but also be able to shut down games and transition pucks.” 
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