Centre Tinus Luc Koblar is first Leaf selection at the NHL draft
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The Maple Leafs waited a long time for their first pick at the NHL draft, then went a long way to find him.
Welcome to Toronto Tinus Luc Koblar, a wispy 6-foot-3 centre of Norwegian-Slovenian descent, who played for Leksands juniors in the Swedish league. He was ranked 56 th among international skaters by Central Scouting and had eight goals and 21 points in 43 games last season.
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Winnipeg Free Press
22 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipegger to meet his heroes after being drafted by Penguins
Peyon Kettles remembers the Evgeni Malkin jersey he rocked as a youngster. So you can imagine his delight when the Winnipegger pulled on a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey on Saturday after being chosen in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the 39th overall pick. 'It was definitely a huge relief and I'm definitely happy to hear my name called by the Penguins. To have their history, with me growing up around that time, is really cool and really special,' Kettles said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where he attended the event at Peacock Theater with his parents and his brother. 'I owned a Malkin jersey and all of the stuff like that. It's a full circle moment for me.' DAMIAN DOVARGANES / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Carter Bear, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by Detroit Red Wings during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. Kettles, listed at 6-5 and 194 pounds, is a hard-hitting defenceman who had five goals and 14 points in 53 games in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos. 'I'm a big defensive guy who likes to play physical,' said Kettles. 'I'm a really good skater. A guy that is not afraid or is going to back down from anyone. 'I thought I had a pretty good season. I was out with some injuries, but that happens. Overall, I thought I had a really good season and I proved myself to Pittsburgh and a lot of other teams. I'm really happy to be part of their organization.' Kettles spoke with 21 different teams at the NHL Combine in Buffalo earlier this month and he's looking forward to heading to development camp in Pittsburgh during the coming days. 'I thought I had a really good interview with everyone, but my interview with Pittsburgh was really good. I thought they really liked me. It's cool to see them trade up and pick me,' said Kettles, noting he enjoyed watching the Penguins win multiple Stanley Cups while he was growing up. 'I've dreamed of this moment my whole life, so it's cool to see it come true. For me to meet my heroes and my idols is going to be really cool in this next week or two.' Kettles was in attendance on Friday night, since some mock drafts had him going late in the first round. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Hayden Paupanekis, then a Winnipeg Wild forward poses outside his home in 2022. That was a stressful situation to navigate, but Kettles made the most of it and didn't need to wait long on Day 2. 'I went (Friday) night and saw a lot of buddies go,' said Kettles. 'To hear my name called this morning was a big relief and I'm excited to get going.' It was a solid day for the Keystone province as seven Manitobans had their names called on Friday and Saturday. The seven selections is one short of the record, set three times (2017, 2018, 2022). That it comes one year after Brandon product Clarke Caswell was the only local kid drafted (in the fifth round, by the Seattle Kraken) represents a strong rebound for Manitoba. Carter Bear of West St. Paul went 13th overall to the Detroit Red Wings and the high-scoring winger from the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League was the only Manitoban to go in the first round. Burke Hood Later in the second round, Winnipegger Matthew Gard of the Red Deer Rebels went 57th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers. The left-handed shooting centre had 19 goals, 36 points in 66 WHL games this season. Gard also suited up for Canada at the U18 championship in Texas this year, collecting a goal and four points in seven games, capturing a gold medal. In the third round, Winnipegger Hayden Paupanekis was chosen 69th overall by the Monteal Canadiens. Paupanekis split last season between the Kelowna Rockets and Chiefs of the WHL, collecting 22 goals and 43 points in 71 games. Later in the third round, the Winnipeg Jets used the 93rd overall pick on Oakbank product Owen Martin, who had a strong season with the Spokane Chiefs. ROB WILTON/VANCOUVER GIANTS FILES Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood, shown staring down Wenatchee Wild forward Maddix McCagherty. Martin dealt with a foot injury that limited him to 39 games, but he produced at nearly a point-per-game rate (13 goals, 34 points). Seeing a bunch of fellow Manitobans hear their names called was special for Martin. 'I've been texting them, congratulating them. And then, once I got taken, they all congratulated me,' Martin said during a Zoom call on Saturday. 'It's a good group of Manitobans. We all know each other pretty well so yeah, it's been super cool seeing that success for all of us.' The sixth Manitoba chosen came in the sixth round when goalie Burke Hood went 170th overall to the New York Islanders. Hood, who hails from Brandon, is coming off a solid season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, posting three shutouts a .910 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average in 42 appearances. The final Manitoba chosen on Day 2 was McCreary product Brady Turko, a right-winger with the Brandon Wheat Kings who had seven goals and 26 points in 68 games this season. TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Brady Turko of the Brandon Wheat Kings tries to keep the puck out of reach of Brayden Klimpke of the Saskatoon Blades during WHL action. Turko's teammate and fellow forward Roger McQueen was chosen 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Winnipeg Jets complete Day 2 of NHL Draft, re-sign Haydn Fleury
After the selection of 18-year-old defenceman Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th overall selection during Friday night's first round of the NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, the Winnipeg Jets kicked off Day Two on Saturday by signing pending unrestricted free agent blueliner Haydn Fleury to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $950,000US. The Fleury signing will leave the Jets with nine defencemen on one-way contracts, once an expected agreement has been reached with pending restricted free agent Dylan Samberg. Fleury played in 39 games for Winnipeg last season and had seven assists before adding two more helpers in the eight playoff games he appeared in. After that, the Jets got down to the business of 'stocking their cupboard' with future talent by selecting Spokane Cheifs Center Owen Martin of Oakbank, Swedish RW Viktor Klingsell, LSD Edison Engle of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers and Dubuque Fighting Saints, and RRW Jacob Cloutier of the OHL Saginaw Spirit in the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds respectively. Story continues below advertisement Martin is just the third Manitoba born player, and first from the Winnipeg area to be drafted by the 2.0 version of the Jets since the NHL returned to the city in 2011. During a Zoom media availability, the 18-year-old, six-foot tall, 185-pound pivot told reporters the historic significance of the pick was appreciated. Goalie Jason Kasdorf of Portage la Prairie was a sixth round selection in the Jets 2.0 inaugural draft of 2011, while Brandon-born centre Jordan Stallard of the Calgary Hitmen was taken in the fifth round in 2016. 'I was on the phone with some one from the Jets and they told me that I am the first home town kid to be drafted by the Jets. I think that's just unbelievable. Super cool for me, my family — all my friends,' said Martin, who suffered a slight fracture and partially-torn tendons in his foot blocking a shot during a game in November, limiting him to 39 regular-season games for Spokane where he played for ex-Winnipeg assistant coach Brad Lauer. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Obviously coming back from the NHL he's got a lot of experience and he really brought that to our team,' said Martin, who scored 13 goals and added 21 assists for 34 points in his second full WHL season. 'He expects a lot out of me headiing into next year, keep my development going overall, offensively and defensively.' Story continues below advertisement 4:25 John Shannon on the Jets: Looking to the offseason Jets director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier says it was a good overall draft for the organization, but left no doubt the highlight was getting Boumedienne at 28th overall. 'Our final meetings were in May but then we're meeting every week on Zoom after May,' Hillier told reporters via Zoom availability on Saturday afternoon, following the completion of the draft. 'I make it clear that everybody's got their individual list, but when we start the draft here it's the Winnipeg Jets list and we're not straying off it in the first round. 'We had probably three players that we were comfortable in taking that were left on the board and we had them rated higher. Boumidienne was at the top of that list and he was going to be our guy.' Hillier described Owen Martin as a 'an intriguing guy for us' with good size, a good skater, a good two-way game. And when it came to Viktor Klingsell, who was thought — at least by some — to go a lot higher than 156th overall in round five, Hillier responded by saying 'hopefully he's a steal.' Story continues below advertisement Hiller says the five-foot-11-inch, 188-pound winger is a player the Jets liked all year long. 'He's a well-known player, not the biggest. We met him at the combine — he has a real solid frame on him, he can really skate, has really good speed and played in all the international tournaments this year.' All five of the Jets 2025 draft picks are expected to attend the team's development camp, which will feature on-ice sessions Tuesday-Friday at the Hockey For All practice facility in Headingley. Seven Manitoba products selected in the draft Winnipeg Jets third-rounder Owen Martin was joined by a half dozen other Manitoba-born players who were taken over the seven rounds of the 2025 NHL entry draft. Everett Silver Tips forward Carter Bear of West St. Paul was drafted 13th overall by Detroit on night one. Pittsburgh traded up in the second round to select defenceman Peyton Kettles (Winnipeg) of the Swift Current Broncos 39th overall while Red Deer Rebels centre Matthew Gard (Winnipeg) was taken 18 picks later — 57th overall by Philadelphia. Another trade to move up the draft ladder saw Montreal make a swap with Boston in round three to take Kelowna Rockets centre Hayden Paupanekis (Winnipeg) 69th overall. Goalie Burke Hood (Brandon) of the Vancouver Giants and Brandon Wheat Kings RW Brady Turko (McCreary) went in the sixth (170th) and seventh (200th) rounds respectively to cap off a very successful day for the Keystone Province. Story continues below advertisement
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Simon Wang becomes highest-drafted player born in China, going 33rd to Sharks in NHL draft
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Wang was proud to become the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him Saturday with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft. The big defenseman is also confident he won't hold that distinction for long. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment. … I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' The 6-foot-5 blueliner was chosen 33rd overall while the NHL concluded its newly decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders kicked off the draft Friday by using the first overall pick on defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12 to further the career of a kid who attended the NHL China Games and became fascinated with a sport that has grown steadily in China. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.' His real name is Haoxi Wang, but he plans to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans,' he said. Wang is a physical specimen who probably isn't even done growing, but he surged forward in his hockey development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks and several other teams. Wang aspires to be an imposing two-way defenseman in the mold of Victor Hedman or Colton Parayko, but he had little draft buzz until the start of last season, when teams began to take notice of his rapidly developing skills. He soon joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals and got even more exposure during their playoff run. 'Seeing so many scouts in the Junior A barn, it just started hitting me,' Wang said. 'The summer before the season, I thought I was going undrafted, to be honest with you. But it happened for a reason, and I worked so hard for this. I deserve to be here.' Wang got into hockey as a child, but he didn't truly embrace the game until his family took a trip to Los Angeles eight years ago. The 10-year-old attended a Kings game right across the street from where he was drafted — although he fell asleep during the game, he recalls with a laugh. Wang then attended that Bruins-Flames game played in Beijing in 2018, and he soon decided to move to Canada to boost his development. Wang walked the red carpet in Los Angeles on Friday with his mother, who propelled his career — and even bought and moved his former junior team. He also got his first chance in nearly two years to see his brother, who studied at Boston University, where Wang might play college hockey starting in 2026 if next year in Oshawa goes well. After minimal player movement Friday, several significant trades were executed Saturday. Longtime Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson was traded to Detroit in a package for Petr Mrazek, while defenseman Jordan Spence went from Los Angeles to Ottawa in a bid for more playing time. Almost every first-round prospect was in attendance in Los Angeles, but the players in the audience dwindled on the second day. The late rounds were still memorable for several attendees — including Alexis Mathieu, who went 136th overall to the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round. Mathieu, a physical defenseman from Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL, knew he wouldn't be a first-round pick, but his family decided to take a vacation to Southern California so Mathieu could attend the draft. His family kept him upbeat with jokes while the draft stretched into the back of the middle rounds Saturday. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The group roared with excitement when Mathieu's name was announced, and he got got to walk down to the stage to pull on the orange sweater and hat. 'When I heard my name called, it was something special,' Mathieu said with a broad grin. 'Like they say, dreams come true. … It was a little vacation for us at the start of the week, but when I arrived downtown, it was draft mode.' The 223rd overall pick was also in attendance: Aidan Park, a product of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings system and the nephew of former NHLer Richard Park. The 19-year-old center got one last big cheer and a walk to the stage when he was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round. ___ AP NHL:
