Former director of amateur scouting for the Florida Panthers and NHL scout Jason Bukala has been impressed by Kitchener Rangers defenseman Alexander Bilecki.
The Maple Leafs prospect was drafted 60th overall in the second round of the 2026 NHL draft, coming off a season in which he won the Memorial Cup with the Rangers.
Bilecki showed exceptional promise on that Cup run: in 18 playoff games, he scored two goals and nine assists for 11 points and Bukala had great praise for the Leafs blue line prospect:
What stands out for me about Bilecki is his exceptional skating stride. He's quick to take away time and space, reads how plays are developing off the puck, and can lead or join the rush offensively.
Bilecki has been involved physically, too. He doesn't shy away from contact or engaging in the trenches to battle for position.
-
Bilecki is showing balance with both his offensive capabilities and defensive
Bilecki was not on the first power-play unit last season and still showed out offensively in his draft season. This season, he is fourth on the team in scoring, with 18 points in 18 games (2 goals, 16 assists).
His offensive output has improved, and Bilecki taking a step forward on a team that lost some talent coming off that cup run is an indictment of his development.
-
Defensively speaking, having blue liners with exceptional skating ability who can also keep up with the skill and speed of a day's league is something the Maple Leafs have lacked in recent years and have rarely found in the draft.
Bilecki has a very projectable frame at 6'2 and 180 pounds; if he can fill out that frame and combine it with his speed, he could truly develop into a player who fits comfortably in the top 4 of a D core.
Bukala projects him as a top four/top pair defenseman in the NHL and to play in 2028-29
Whether or not he actually develops is unknown. However, when a former director of amateur scouting and pro scout has these opinions, it likely means people in the same circles have similar projections or hype.
-
It is clear now that the Maple Leafs have a major prospect on their hands that people universally think highly of and that has value as a trade piece.
General manager John Chayka has made a plethora of moves since joining the franchise in June of this year; Chayka being aggressive in trades is not out of the question.
However, if his timeline holds up with what Bukala projects, that will come as one of the biggest success stories we have seen from the Maple Leafs farm in quite some time.
Do you think Alex Bilecki is the Maple Leafs' best defensive prospect?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Mike Babcock takes a shot at Kyle Dubas while reminiscing about the Maple Leafs