How the Toronto Maple Leafs Stole the 2021 NHL Entry Draft

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No one knew what the Toronto Maple Leafs had planned for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Today, we know they spent their time fleecing the rest of the league.

The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with low expectations. They had just three picks over all seven rounds, with their highest at 57-overall in the second-round. Their other two selections were in the fifth and sixth rounds. With very few bullets, the Leafs still managed to hit the mark in a big way.

The prized pick in the draft was Owen Power. He went first-overall to the Buffalo Sabres. Matty Beniers, who played with Power for the University of Michigan went next to the Seattle Kraken. Third was Mason McTavish who was selected by the Anaheim Ducks. All three of those players have already become regulars for their respective NHL clubs.

Beyond the top three selections, there was a significant drop off in NHL ready talent. It makes what General Manager Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs managed to do even that more impressive.

Toronto had to wait until the second round because they acquired Nick Foligno and Stefan Noesen ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. Unfortunately, giving up their first-rounder as part of the three team exchange ended in disappointment for the Leafs. That’s because their additions from the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks didn’t keep them from being eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens.

As it turns out, even without a pick in the first, third, fourth, and seventh rounds, the Leafs managed to strike gold and steal the draft.

Matthew Knies

When the Maple Leafs finally had the opportunity to go to the podium for the first time on the second day of the draft, NHL Central Scouting’s 37th ranked North American skater was still on the board. The Leafs announced that they were drafting the 6′ 3″, 210 lbs left-winger, Matthew Knies.

Knies had just finished off his third season with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He began the season with a concussion but still managed to play in 44 games. Over that span, he recorded 17 goals and 25 assists for a total of 42 points. It was the third-best total among his teammates.

Prior to getting drafted, Knies was invited to Team USA’s world junior camp but didn’t make the team. It made scouting him a little more challenging, but the Leafs still knew that he’s who they wanted.

Scott Wheeler ranked Knies 75th overall in his top 100 prospects of the year. He described the Slovakian-American’s game favorably. Saying “He’s got great touch and underrated goal-scoring instincts around the net. He’s always working to keep himself in the play off of the puck, and he understands how to play off of crowds to facilitate.”

Since the Toronto Maple Leafs made the selection, Knies has looked like a completely different player, a far better one. He made Team USA’s 2022 WJC roster and went to the Olympics to play for America. After committing to the University of Minnesota, Knies began suiting up for the Golden Gophers.

With the University of Minnesota, Knies played 33 contests. He registered 15 goals and 18 assists for a total of 33 points. Being a point-per-game player as a freshman is no small feat. Knies began getting advice from many around him on how to proceed with his hockey future, including from Auston Matthews.

Matthews encouraged Knies to be patient and not rush into turning pro too quickly. As such, Knies returned to the gophers in the Big-10 for another season, where he’s continued to produce at an impressive clip. He has collected 19 points through his first 18 games. That has come on 11 goals and 8 assists.

Ty Voit

Some could argue that as great of a pick that Knies was for Toronto, Ty Voit was a better one. While Knies continues to be the stronger prospect, selecting Voit in the fifth round may be the greater steal of the draft. That’s because Voit has been having an outstanding season with the Sarnia Sting.

Born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Voit played minor hockey in Florida and in his birth city. In his Under 15 year playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, he scored 32 goals and added 32 helpers in 62 games.

His performance led him to become a first-round pick by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL. Instead of remaining in America to pursue playing for a college team or joining the U.S. National Development Program, he went to play Major Junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Voit was selected by Sarnia in the fifth-round (89th overall) in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

The biggest knock to Voit’s game has been his size. At 5’9″, 151 lbs, his future as an NHL regular has been questioned, especially leading into the NHL draft. One thing that was never up for debate has been Voit’s offense.

In his OHL rookie season, Voit skated 49 games. He notched 8 goals and 20 assists. With a year of experience, Voit may have been ready for a breakout performance in the 2020-21 campaign. However, due to the breakout of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the season was cancelled. While that delayed Voit’s ascent until this year, he used the time off to add muscle mass.

Playing both left wing and center for the Sting, Voit has been on fire this campaign. He was the first player in the OHL to reach 40 points and now appears to be close to being the first to 50. Though his first 28 games, Voit registered 49 points on 9 goals and 40 assists. He is the OHL’s current points leader by a wide margin, 10 points.

Despite that success, Voit was snubbed by Team USA. He was denied an invitation to the USA World Juniors camp this winter. Time will tell if this motivates him even more.

Vyacheslav Peksa

With their third and final pick in the 2021 draft, the Maple Leafs selected goaltender Vyacheslav Peksa.

Playing in the Supreme Hockey League (SHL/VHL) in Russia for Bars Kazan, in his first 27 games, he has earned a record of 12 wins, 11 losses, and three overtime losses. Over that span, Peksa has posted a goal-against average of 2.17 and a save percentage of .927. Two of his wins have come on shutouts.

Playing juniors in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (JHL/MHL), Peksa dazzled between the pipes last season. Stopping puck for Irbis Kazan, the 6’2″, 163 lbs prospect carried his club into the playoffs. Despite a strong showing, they weren’t able to capture the Kharlamov Cup, after being eliminated in the semi-finals.

Peksa’s regular season numbers were unbelievable. He started 56 games and made scoring against him extremely difficult. He had a 1.79 goals-against average with a save percentage of .936. That was good enough to help Irbis win 30 games he started.

Peksa still hasn’t seen a true challenge. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a better sense of where the goaltender fits in the organization once he makes the jump to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Peksa’s development will likely make a leap once he begins facing professionals with better shots and releases.

Next. 10 Massive Leafs Trade Targets for the Trade Deadline. dark

The 2021 draft class wasn’t one of the strongest. What the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to accomplish with the picks they had and the players available will be remembered, especially if Knies and Voit continue on their current trajectories.

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