‘This Is For Real Now’: Matthews, Tavares, Nylander Texts Help Welcome New Maple Leafs Prospects…
As the Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed a new class of hopefuls at their 2025 Development Camp, it wasn’t just coaching staff and front office personnel reaching out — the team’s leadership core, including Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander, took it upon themselves to personally connect with the club’s latest prospects. And for many of those young players, a simple message from a franchise icon carried more weight than any on-ice drill ever could.
“This is for real now.”
That was the message repeated by several incoming prospects who were left stunned — and deeply motivated — after receiving welcome texts from Matthews, Tavares, and Nylander shortly after being drafted or invited to camp.
For 2025 second-round pick Liam Becker, a 6’2” forward out of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, the moment was surreal.
“I was on the bus with my junior teammates when my phone buzzed,” Becker said. “I looked down and saw ‘Auston Matthews’ — I thought it had to be fake. But then he wrote, ‘Welcome to the Leafs. Time to go to work.’ That’s when it really hit me. This is real. I’m a Toronto Maple Leaf now — at least I’ve got my foot in the door.”
Becker wasn’t alone. Reports from inside Leafs Development Camp suggest several prospects received similar messages from the trio, all of whom have grown into vocal and respected leaders within the organization.
Leadership Beyond the Ice
The move isn’t unprecedented. NHL veterans reaching out to rookies is becoming more common in today’s tightly connected hockey world. But the Maple Leafs’ top stars have made it a point of pride to set the tone early — especially for a franchise hungry for playoff success and eager to build chemistry from the ground up.
General Manager Brad Treliving praised the initiative:
“It wasn’t something we mandated. Those guys — Auston, John, Willy — they just did it. They know what it means to be a Maple Leaf, and they want the new kids to understand it, too. That kind of leadership? You can’t coach that.”
Matthews, entering the first year of his four-year contract extension, has taken on a more vocal role this offseason. He’s reportedly been in frequent communication with both the development and scouting departments and has spent time reviewing prospect footage with Leafs development coach Hayley Wickenheiser.
Tavares, the team’s captain and veteran presence, remains deeply invested in mentoring the next generation. Known for his steady leadership and professionalism, he sent several encouraging notes to players after their arrival in Toronto, welcoming them and offering advice about training routines, recovery, and the demands of playing in a hockey-obsessed market.
Nylander — ever the enigma but beloved by fans and teammates alike — may not have the same serious demeanor as his teammates, but his messages, according to one prospect, were “pure hype.”
“Willy just said, ‘Let’s cook this year. You’ve got skill — show it.’ I laughed, but it got me fired up,” said defenseman Theo Niemi, the Leafs’ fourth-round pick out of Finland.
Setting the Culture Early
In a sport where development camps are often seen as low-pressure introductions, the Leafs are flipping the script. The organization appears to be focused not just on skills development, but on instilling identity, accountability, and cohesion right from day one.
Toronto’s new Director of Player Development, Mike Van Ryn, spoke to the evolving approach:
“We want guys to feel the weight of the sweater, but not be crushed by it. The messages from our leaders help bridge that gap — make it personal, make it real. It’s no longer just about reaching the NHL; it’s about becoming a Leaf.”
This year’s development camp featured sessions not just on skating, nutrition, and systems, but also included presentations on media management, financial literacy, and mental performance — reflecting a holistic approach to nurturing future NHL players.
A New Chapter in the Leafs Story
With the team’s core now entering or approaching their 30s, the next wave of Toronto talent is critical to sustaining long-term competitiveness. The club has stockpiled picks in recent years and emphasized internal growth over blockbuster trades.
If the early signs are any indication, that growth will be built on more than just raw talent — it will be built on connection, leadership, and shared purpose.
And as one prospect put it while walking off the ice at Ford Performance Centre:
“You dream about putting on the jersey. But when you get a text from the guys who already made it, it’s like — okay, this is real now. Time to prove you belong.”
