Defenceman Nathan Mayes, and forward Matthew Hlacar are no longer with the Maple Leafs, and will re-enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
The following season, the now 19-year-old returned to Spokane and put together the best season of his junior career, recording six goals and 21 assists over 56 games while helping the Chiefs to a second-place finish in the United States Division before eventually falling in round one of the WHL playoffs.
Mayes returned to Spokane again for the 2025-26 season, skating in 63 games, and recording two goals and 14 assists. If Mayes goes undrafted during the 2026 Draft, he will become a draft-related free agent once all the selections have been completed.
The now 20-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with the Memorial Cup-winning Rangers, and put together a better season, totalling six goals and six assists to go along with a plus-minus rating of plus-eight. Over 15 playoff games, Hlacar picked up one goal before being healthy scratched during the Rangers’ Memorial Cup run.
Hlacar did not receive a bonafide offer from the Maple Leafs and will have the opportunity to be selected once again in just under a month when the draft takes place in Buffalo. If he goes unselected, he will become a free agent and be able to pursue opportunities with other organizations.