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Throughout the season, we will check in on the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects to see how they are progressing. In spite of trading out of the first round to rid themselves of the albatross contract of Petr Mrazek, GM Kyle Dubas appears to have found some young players who could have some future potential of making the NHL. Here is how the five players who were selected in the 2021 Draft are doing:
Matthew Knies – LW – University of Minnesota(NCAA)
The Leafs 2021 second-round pick exceeded his career goal total with two goals against Michigan State last week, has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 28 games for the University of Minnesota this season, and is expected to be a finalist for the 2023 Hobey Baker Award. There continues to be speculation that Knies is what many teams are asking for in potential trade deadline deals, but it appears highly unlikely that GM Kyle Dubas will move the 20-year-old.
Matthew Knies’ productive weekend continues by absolutely wiring home his 17th goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/RxGoWk7iRn
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) January 28, 2023
Ty Voit – RW – Sarnia Sting (OHL)
The Leafs may have found a bargain in the fifth round with Pittsburgh, PA native, as Voit is leading the OHL’s Sarnia Sting (and is third in league scoring with 71 points (15 goals, 56 assists) in 46 games.
ICYMI: @StingHockey's Luca Del Bel Belluz and Ty Voit became the second pair of @OHLHockey teammates to score a hat-trick in the same game this season! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/TWly5hhwPz
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) February 4, 2023
Vyacheslav Peksa – G – Ak-Bars Kazan (VHL/KHL)
The 20-year-old was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 from the same Russian club that 2020 fourth-round pick Artur Akhtyamov was selected. Both are playing well in the second-division VHL, with Peksa posting a 2.34 GAA and .921 save percentage in 40 games.
Slava Peksa saved 19/22 on Sunday before being peppered earlier today. He made 39 saves on 40 shots in a 1-0 loss on Tuesday.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) February 1, 2023
Totals (VHL): 39 GP, 13-19-5, .922 SV%, 2.33 GAA pic.twitter.com/zAYt7EQCzd
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Leafs winger Mitch Marner was selected the NHL’s third star of the week ending February 5, with Florida winger and former London Knight linemate Matthew Tkachuk named the first star and Detroit’s Dylan Larkin named the second star.
Marner had a goal in Toronto’s 5-2 loss to Boston on Wednesday but had six assists (0-6—6) in the Atlantic Division’s two games en route to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game championship on Saturday.
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