Four Leafs prospects playing in the CHL all finished their seasons above a point-per-game
With the CHL regular season coming to an end, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be more than mildly pleased with how their young prospects fared in 2022-23. Ty Voit of the Sarnia Sting, Braeden Kressler of the Flint Firebirds, Fraser Minten of the Kamloops Blazers, and Brandon Lisowsky of the Saskatoon Blades each finished above a point per game pace.
Voit, who was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, finished 2nd in the OHL with 105 points. He scored 24 goals and added 81 assists as he just fell 6 points short of Matthew Maggio's 111 points for the top spot. Look for Voit to make the leap to the Toronto Marlies next year in his first year of eligibility.
Braeden Kressler was an undrafted prospect that the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up signing on the 1st of October, 2021. He scored 9 goals and 18 points in 2019-20. After being signed by the Leafs in 2021, he scored 5 goals and 16 points in 28 games and added another 10 points in 17 playoff games. He took a big leap in his development this season with 25 goals and 52 points in just 47 games.
Minten was drafted in the 2nd round of last year's draft and has already shown what he can bring to the table with a 30-goal campaign in his draft+1 season. He scored 20 goals and 55 points last year in 67 games and he smashed all those numbers in 10 less appearances with 31 goals, 36 assists, and 67 points in 57 games. The 18-year-old will look for another leap next season for the Blazers - if he doesn't shock everyone and earn a spot with the Leafs in training camp.
Lisowsky was drafted in 7th round of last year's draft, in fact he was the 8th last player drafted in 2022. He scored 33 goals and 58 points in 68 games in his draft year and he improved to the tune of 38 goals and 71 points in just 65 games. 30+ goals in back to back seasons and drafted in the 7th round is insanely good value for Kyle Dubas and company.
The exception here is the newly acquired Josh Pillar, who came over to the Leafs from Minnesota in the Ryan O'Reilly/Noel Acciari deal. The Wild brokered the deal and received a 4th round pick for their troubles. Pillar had just 17 points in 28 games this season.
