The Leafs may have struck gold in the 5th round of the 2021 draft
Heading into the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, there were projected to be quite a few potential steals outside of the first round, due in large to the pandemic shutting things down to scouts, leaving them to focus on mostly video to evaluate draft eligible players.
For Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and an excellent Leafs scouting staff, this presented a unique opportunity to capitalize and use their three 2021 draft picks to draft players who they viewed as high-ceiling players in the 2nd, 5th and 6th rounds.
Early returns on Vyacheslav Peksa in the 6th round have been good, as he had a very strong season over in the Russian minor league, and we all know how good that the Matthew Knies pick in the 2nd round is looking for the Buds, but their pick in the 5th round, Sarnia Sting winger Ty Voit, is beginning to look like an absolute homerun.
Voit produced just 28 points in 49 games during his rookie season in the OHL, which didn't really jump off the page, but the Leafs' scouting staff liked a lot about his game. Voit is a strong playmaker with a scoring touch and while he may be a bit undersized, his skill with the puck is undeniable. Sound familiar? Well, it should. He has been compared to Mitch Marner more than once in his OHL career.
The 18-year-old missed his entire sophomore season due to COVID-19 shutting down play in the OHL, so when the Leafs announced Voit's name in the 5th round (153rd overall) at the draft, a lot of fans were unsure of what to make of the pick. Well, it's a little easier to be excited now, with Voit sitting at 26 goals and 54 assists for 80 points through 66 games in his D+1 year.
For some perspective, Voit's 80 points is the 4th highest among 2021 NHL draftees coming out of the OHL, as TLN's Nick Richard points out:
While Voit is likely still at least a 2, potentially 3 years away from getting a look in the NHL, the early returns are more than encouraging on the Pittsburgh, PA native. All signs are pointing towards the Leafs having plucked a gem in the 5th round in 2021.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 16 | 311 ANSWERS The Leafs may have struck gold in the 5th round of the 2021 draft Where do you think Ty Voit will top out in the NHL, if he makes it there? | ||
| Top line winger | 24 | 7.7 % |
| Top six winger | 107 | 34.4 % |
| Middle six winger | 148 | 47.6 % |
| He's too small to make it | 32 | 10.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
