Toronto snagged Zac Olsen with the 73rd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and man, did they get a player teams are gonna *hate* playing against. He’s that hard-working, fast-skating, hard-hitting winger who does all the dirty work and still pitches in on offense like a wrecking ball. The Leafs grabbed a couple of these types of players this year, but Olsen is the only one who cracked the T25U25.
This Kid Is Built to Make Opponents Miserable
So, who is this guy? Olsen’s 18.29 years old as of July 1, stands 6’1″ and weighs 203 lbs, shoots right, and plays right wing. Toronto drafted a genuine pest, an energy checker who can absolutely be a rat on the ice. If you want a fun combination of Landon Sim and Bobby McMann, that’s Olsen. Interestingly, the rankings for him were all over the place, with the craziest distribution of votes of any player on the official list this year. It’s wild, but it makes sense both ways. He’s got a solid foundation for a depth/supporting winger already, with that speed, work ethic, and physical play making him a somewhat safe bet for an NHL depth role. That’s not a guarantee yet, but he’s got the building blocks.
The College Path and Where He Needs to Sharpen Up
One big advantage Olsen has is that he’s been gearing his play to a professional-style role for the past two years. Knowing who you are and working hard on those specific skills can really give a player a leg up, especially compared to someone like Ryan Tverberg, who has a similar game. Olsen is heading to Colorado College this coming season, which isn’t a top program, but it’s in a good conference and has some decent NHL draft picks, though none are high selections. He’ll be the youngest player by a clear margin, the only non-goalie not already 20 years old, and he doesn’t hit 19 until next March.
There are definitely areas for him to improve. His post-draft profile highlighted passing, puck handling, and discipline as his biggest needs. Those are still the spots with the most room to grow. To really turn into that power winger, he needs to fine-tune those skills, specifically making passes and handling the puck in close quarters, around the net, and along the boards. Looking at Nikita Grebyonkin’s development could be a blueprint for him there.
Keep your eyes on Zac Olsen at Colorado College. With his raw talent and the specific areas he’s looking to develop, his freshman NCAA season is going to be super interesting to watch. If he makes a big jump, everyone will be talking about this kid and what he means for the Leafs’ future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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