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Leafs development camp notebook: McKenna steals the show, Nansi’s improved skating, Bilecki’s full circle moment
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis
Arun Srinivasan
Jul 2, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 2, 2026, 15:56 EDT
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After a whirlwind opening day of NHL free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs conducted their first on-ice sessions of the 2026 Development Camp. Gavin McKenna headlines the 53-man roster, and the 2026 first overall pick more than met the hype. Toronto conducted two separate on-ice sessions, while holding media availabilities with Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime, all of whom signed on Wednesday.
Here is our development camp notebook from the Ford Performance Centre, with interviews, observations from the two on-ice sessions, scrimmage notes, two players who have shown improvement and one player who stagnated.

McKenna’s incredible first step, shot, skating, steals the show on and off the ice

All eyes were on Gavin McKenna, and he exceeded preposterous expectations. Although we didn’t get to watch McKenna in a scrimmage scenario, he was the best player on the ice by a country mile. McKenna’s explosive first step, all-world puckhandling and release were self-evident. He scored on virtually every shot he took, or hit the cross-bar with velocity, against a series of goaltenders who were clearly fooled by his velocity and deception. McKenna’s resting speed is miles ahead of the rest of the camp invites, and he looks every bit worthy of the Nikita Kucherov and Patrick Kane comparisons, in large part due to his hockey intelligence.
McKenna met with reporters following the on-ice sessions, where his quiet confidence and passion for the game reverberated through the ground floor of the facility.
“Super excited. I think you can tell the mindset (John) Chayka and the staff’s got,” McKenna said. “They want to make a statement next year. For me to come in as the first overall pick, to be in that environment to have these veteran guys around me, kind of not have to be that driver and learn from those guys, I’m very lucky and fortunate and I can’t wait to get going and meet all these new guys.”
Maple Leafs assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser raved about McKenna’s character, competitiveness and skill set, following the conclusion of the second on-ice session.
“First impressions, he’s an excellent processor,” Wickenheiser said. “I think he’s got a quiet confidence about him that exudes he can elevate his game. Excellent agility, IQ off the charts. The thing I like about Gavin, he’s very grounded.”
“I would say he’s an exceptionally bright kid. I spent several hours with him and he asked a lot of really great questions. He’s a deep thinker and he takes in information really well, and you can tell that he’s very aware of his surroundings.”
It’s incumbent upon all parties to temper expectations about McKenna. That’s not necessarily our responsibility, though. He certainly looks like the second coming of Nikita Kucherov on the ice, with the charisma to command the world’s largest and most attentive hockey market.

Harry Nansi is camp’s most improved player due to better skating

Harry Nansi was the most improved player that I noticed on Wednesday. Nansi has certainly improved his first step and accelerations, clear weaknesses in his game, as articulated last summer by Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach. Nansi is coming off a season where he posted 13 goals and 56 points in 67 games with the Owen Sound Attack. The 6-foot-3 forward is adept at getting to the net and jamming in pucks at the net-front. If Nansi continues to improve as a skater, it certainly bodes well for his professional development, after earning an amateur tryout with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, following the end of the OHL season. Nansi was named the OHL’s Western Conference’s most improved player, and he earns this designation as the most improved player at development camp.
William Belle was also a quarter-step quicker than he was last summer, although he needs to be more consistent with his effort level when it comes to his straight-line skating. Belle registered one goal and four points in 34 games with Notre Dame last season. He simply has to produce more often at the NCAA level for him to have a legitimate chance of developing into a real professional option, but it’s worth noting that two members of Toronto’s 2025 class showed some improvements in their skating, when it’s an imperative quality for the new regime.

Nick Moldenhauer appears to be stagnating on poor 1st day

Nick Moldenhauer is the lone invitee from Toronto’s 2022 NHL Draft class and naturally, you would think he’d be ahead of the some other invitees at this week’s event. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. We do not enjoy being harsh on prospects but the simple fact of the matter is that Moldenhauer’s development appears to have stagnated entirely. During the first development camp I ever covered, Moldenhauer and Ty Voit were the standout performers, after Fraser Minten was arguably the week’s MVP. So much has changed in four years. Moldenhauer plays at on the loaded Michigan squad at the NCAA level, a team that boasts umpteenth NHL prospects.
McKenna aside (as the franchise’s most important player) this week is meant to acclimate younger players into the Maple Leafs’ system. Moldenhauer does not fit that description and struggled badly through during an extended 3-on-3 scrimmage. He habitually flubbed passes and didn’t create any space as an outlet for his defencemen trying to head-man the puck. Moldenhauer is coming off a season where he recorded 15 goals and 31 points in 40 games with Michigan. Perhaps it’s an off-day, but he was the biggest disappointment on Thursday.

Alexander Bilecki’s full-circle moment begins at Development Camp

Alexander Bilecki was playing for the Mississauga Rebels of the Greater Toronto Hockey League just two summers ago. A lot has changed since then, as Bilecki led the Kitchener Rangers to a Memorial Cup championship. Bilecki was universally lauded as a stellar pick for the Maple Leafs due to his pace, power play skills, while boasting a frame where he could certainly add 10-15 pounds of muscle before graduating to the NHL.
Bilecki met reporters and glowed about his homecoming with the Maple Leafs.
“Yeah, it’s cool. It’s like a full circle moment. I remember 2 years ago we were practicing on this rink, and I was in a Rebels sweater playing in the GTHL. So it’s really cool now to be out here, you know, in a Leafs sweater, hometown team, and I’ve got something to prove and I’m just gonna keep working.”
Bilecki previously spoke about his winning mentality, joining Leafs Morning Take after Toronto selected him with the 60th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Wickenheiser seconded the notion of Bilecki’s full-circle moment, while speaking to his pace, competitiveness and what lies ahead in the next stage of his career path.
“I think he’s probably said it’s a dream come true to be a Mississauga kid playing for the Maple Leafs,” Wickenheiser said. “You know, I met his parents the other day and I think they’re beside themselves, thrilled! It’s fun to watch the families go through all of this. He’s an excellent mobile defenceman. That was a big part of the Kitchener Rangers’ win this year and he was tremendous on their power play and really is providing great offense for them. So we’re excited to see what he can do and his upside, and he has a long way to go in terms of his physical development.”

Quick hits

  • Toronto is expected to host media availability for Sergei Bobrovsky on Thursday. Bobrovsky signed a three-year deal worth $7 million per season to join the Maple Leafs, and will operate as the No. 1 goaltender.
  • McKenna isn’t expected to speak to media for the duration of the week. Toronto’s rookie has effectively wrapped up his introductory media tour, and laughed off his skyward first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game on Saturday.
  • The Passion is a real thing. Nick Paul will quickly become a fan favourite, an unfathomable proposition following the 2022 playoffs, after speaking about how much he loved being a Leafs fan. Paul told reporters he had Mats Sundin and Darcy Tucker’s jerseys, while building a friendship with Max Domi, stemming from their time competing against each other in the GTHL. Darren Raddysh has returned home as well.

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