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Maple Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar set to represent Norway at 2026 IIHF World Championship
Photo credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
May 15, 2026, 10:30 EDTUpdated: May 15, 2026, 10:13 EDT
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar will be suiting up for Norway during the 2026 IIHF World Championships.
Koblar was drafted in the second round by the Maple Leafs, 64th overall, during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and spent the majority of the 2025-26 season playing with Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League.
The SHL, which is Sweden’s top-tier league and regarded as one of the best professional leagues in Europe, is a great spot for young players before they make the jump to North America. Koblar, who won’t turn 19 until July 21, was one of the youngest players on a Leksands IF team that finished 14th in the league with a record of 16-27-2-7. In 47 games this year, Koblar recorded eight goals and six assists, finishing with the eighth most points among all Leksands forwards.
Following Koblar’s first season in the SHL, and following his selection by the Maple Leafs, Daily Faceoff and The Leafs Nation prospect expert Steven Ellis provided insight on the 6-foot-2 forward’s game.
As a 6-foot-3 center, there’s a lot to like from his physical attributes. He’s not a crushing presence, but he’s competitive and strong enough to win out most individual battles. Mix in good skating and good hockey IQ and I think there’s definitely some late-bloomer potential if he can unlock another level in his offensive game.
While Koblar’s offence may not have taken off during his season in the SHL, the 18-year-old was a big factor in Norway earning a promotion from the Division One A World Junior Tournament to the top division when the 2027 tournament commences in Edmonton in December.
In five games, Koblar recorded five goals and five assists, finishing in a tie for third among all players during the tournament. Koblar helped lead Norway to a 4-0-1-0 record, ensuring that they would return to the top group for the first time since 2024 when the tournament was held in Gothenburg, Sweden.
This will be Koblar’s first time representing Norway at the senior level and will give Maple Leafs fans a look into one of their prospects against some NHL competition, as Koblar looks to continue to grow in his young career.
Koblar, along with Anaheim Ducks 2024 first-rounder Stian Solberg, New York Rangers 2025 fourth-rounder Mikkel Eriksen, and Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 seventh-rounder Noah Steen, will be the only four NHL-affiliated players on Norway’s roster.
Norway will open their World Championships on Saturday, May 16, when they take on Slovakia. Puck drop is set for 6:30 a.m. EST.
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