Players at Leafs development camp skated in two groups at the Ford Performance Centre on Thursday.

Kitchener Rangers winger Matthew Hlacar and Cincinnati Cyclones defenceman Rhett Parsons dropped the gloves during a battle drill at the end of Thursday's opening practice at Leafs development camp.

"It just two guys going hard and tempers flared, and it happens," said Hlacar, who was Toronto's seventh round pick (217th overall) in the 2025 draft. "It's all good. I talked to him and we're fine. It is what it is."

The pair needed to be separated after finally falling to the ice.

"When you're in a battle drill stuff like that happens," said Parsons, who signed a two-year American Hockey League deal with the Toronto Marlies in October 2024. "But total respect for him and no hard feelings off the ice."

General manager Brad Treliving is looking to change the DNA of the Leafs this summer by injecting more competitiveness into the organization, but this isn't exactly what the front office had in mind.

What was Hayley Wickenheiser thinking as she watched from the stands?

"'Oh no,' honestly," said the Leafs assistant general manager, player development, who is overseeing the five-day camp. "We don't want guys to fight in development camp. We talk about it, 'We want you to compete, but no one needs to get hurt.' But those two, that's what they do. It's part of their game."

Hlacar, who made the Rangers as a walk-on, scored seven goals while racking up 62 penalty minutes in 43 games in the Ontario Hockey League last season.

"I just play hard and try and do my thing," the 19-year-old from Binbrook, Ont. said. "I don't really try to be an enforcer or tough. I just kind of play hockey, play hard and whatever happens, happens, sort of thing."

Parsons registered five assists and 116 penalty minutes in 62 games in the ECHL.

"I like to get under guys skin," the 21-year-old from Cremona, Alta. said. "I'm not trying to hurt anyone out there. I'm just trying to play hard and do what I can to make a hockey team."

Leafs staff addressed what happened with both players after the fight.

"They were fine with it afterwards," said Wickenheiser. "Obviously you don't want to see it, but the game is full of emotion and you kind of, at the same time, are happy to see guys playing with emotion and passion and wanting to make an impact. So, it's fine line to walk."

The fisticuffs caught some of the other campers off guard, including Toronto's top pick in the recent draft.

"Really crazy, actually," said centre Tinus Luc Koblar, a second-round selection (64th overall) who plays for Leksands in the Swedish junior league. "I don't get to see that that much in Sweden. Just crazy."

Wickenheiser is not expecting a repeat performance on Friday or Saturday when the prospects return to the ice.

"I'm sure we won't see it again," she said with a laugh.

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Toronto's top prospect is attending camp this week, but not taking part in any of the on-ice sessions.

"Leafs want me to stay off, get some workouts in, and get the weight up," said forward Easton Cowan, who was picked in the first round (28th overall) in 2023. "I'll be back on the ice next week in London."

One year after a painful loss in the Memorial Cup final, Cowan led the London Knights to a Canadian Hockey League championship in May. He also represented Canada at the World Juniors in each of the past two years.

"He's played over 100 games the last couple seasons, so it was more allow him to have a bit of recovery time, a bit of down time," said Wickenheiser. "He's going to have a big........

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