No Toronto Maple Leafs prospect had worse luck last year than Ty Voit.

Roni Hirvonen wasn’t far off, suffering two injuries that limited what should have been a fruitful season. But after putting on a dominating performance in his final year with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, Voit was limited to just six games in 2023-24 – one with the Toronto Marlies, and five with the Newfoundland Growlers. And let’s not forget that the Growlers ended up disappearing before the season was over, too.

Between the shoulder injury at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament and the season-ending shoulder surgery in early January, it was a massive blow for a young player who has had to overcome the odds to get to this point.

Nobody questioned Voit’s talent. He was drafted in the fifth round in 2021 despite the OHL’s season getting cancelled due to COVID-19. He fought back with an 80-point Draft+1 season before upping the ante with 81 assists and 105 points in 67 games in 2022-23. He led the OHL in helpers and was named to the league’s second all-star team, but he wasn’t invited to USA’s World Junior Championship camp as the team looked for more well-rounded options.

Being 5-foot-9 didn’t help, either. Voit was never particularly strong and his defensive game is still a work-in-progress. If there’s anything he has done well throughout his career, it’s out-thinking his opponents and making high-quality setups. So when Voit turned pro in 2023-24, many were hoping he’d keep the hot streak alive. But then, the injuries struck him and it was over before you knew it. He had eight points in five games in Newfoundland, showing he had the skill to make it work – but he played one game with the Marlies and that was it. Fell into the boards awkwardly, and the season was over.

Voit is back in the ECHL, trying to get back and make up for lost time. The Leafs are now aligned with the Cincinnati Cyclones, with Voit being the only NHL-signed skater on the team. Goaltender Slava Peksa is part of the four-goalie rotation, including Leafs’ camp invite and former NHLer Jon Gillies.

For Voit, staying healthy and consistent is critical in his development. It’s easy to get lost when you’re not playing enough. He should have no issues finding success in the ECHL, and if all goes well, maybe he’ll get back to the Marlies sooner rather than later. But it’s crowded up there, too, so he’ll needs to clear his own pathway there – make himself more expendable. Part of that is being physically stronger, but also finding another step in his skating. He moves well, but he needs to be extra explosive to make up for the deficiencies.

Voit was left off the scoresheet in a 3-2 season-opening loss to Kalamazoo. It’s not exactly a major sample size, but an explosive few weeks here could help him get back in Toronto’s sights in hopes of pushing him forward. The Marlies have their fair share of notable set-up men – Logan Shaw, Ryan Tverberg and Nikita Grebenkin come to mind. Voit could easily fit into a middle-six role with the club if he shows no signs of slowing down after a difficult rookie season, and some scouts believe it’s possible.

But from an overall standpoint, Voit needs to make the most of his opportunity here. On one hand, he’s going to get plenty of ice time in the ECHL. On the other, you don’t want to get complacent and lost in the shuffle.

It can be easy for a winger to fall down the depth chart when others start making noise. Having key roster spots with the Marlies taken up by notable AHL-only contracts – Shaw, Alexander Nylander and Joseph Blandisi – makes getting the ice time he needs a bit more complicated. This is a big year for Voit to prove he’s the prospect that ripped apart the junior leagues – but he needs everything to go smoothly.

Some of that is out of his control. But showcasing his talent on a consistent basis isn’t.