It seems like the Leafs always have some late round draft pick for fans to get excited about with how well Kyle Dubas has been drafting since he took over as GM, and it looks like we have another one in forward Ty Voit, who the Leafs have just signed to a three year entry level contract.
We’ve signed forward Ty Voit to a three-year entry level contract. #LeafsForever
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 19, 2021
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Voit was a 5th round pick in the 2021 draft after not playing for a full year due to the OHL not restarting because of COVID-19. He had just 28 points in 49 games as a rookie for the Sarnia Sting, but many expected him to play at a higher level in his draft eligible year. He has since lived up to that expectations, already surpassing his totals from his rookie year in just 24 games with 29 points thus far, all while also making the transition from winger to center.
His stock has definitely risen over the course of the season, as he jumped up four spots since in October in fellow TLN writer Kyle Cushman’s draft rankings, sliding in at 13th on the team.
It’s a joy to watch Voit play, his creativity and playmaking leave you never knowing which play he’s going to make. He’s a constant threat on the powerplay but has also been effective at creating space for his teammates at 5v5 and finding them when he does.
It’s also quite the rise from our annual TLN prospect rankings that had him at 18th. Our other prospect expert Nick Richard broke down what Voit brings to the table in the summer.
Voit’s greatest assets are his vision and the way he is able to create deception on his passes. He can execute skilled plays at high speed and identifies his options early, allowing him to make quick decisions with the puck on his stick. His ability to layer moves and quick passes on top of one another makes him a dynamic offensive threat.
Considering that the Leafs had just three draft picks in the 2021 draft, they needed to make the most of it, and so far it seems like the returns have been plenty. Matthew Knies has impressed many Leafs fans early on, and Voit has made that draft look even better, and has the potential to be a good complimentary forward for the Leafs in a few seasons, when they’ll need the cheap depth. The fact that Dubas somehow improved the prospect pool with just three picks speaks a lot about his draft ability.
Is there a deeper meaning behind this signing? Possibly. With the Leafs struggling to maintain a full lineup at the current moment due to COVID protocol, and unable to call more people up due to the cap, Voit could be an emergency recall. But, odds are he’s just being rewarded for a strong season. It probably wouldn’t help his development to be thrown to the wolves when he isn’t quite ready for the NHL game.
Contract details:
The #Leafsforever signed ‘21 5th Round Pick F Ty Voit to 3 year Entry Level Deal:
Yr 1/2: 750K Base, 75K Signing Bonus, 80K Minors
Yr 3: 775/80/80Cap hit/AAV 835K
Rep’d by Michael Curran @ORR4HOCKEY
29P in 24 OHL GPhttps://t.co/mbPUGphbeb
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) December 19, 2021