Michal Orsulak is an intriguing name to watch in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old Czech goaltender was passed over last July, but is expected to be taken this year after his debut North American season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders. Could he be a mid-to-late-round option for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

In 2025, Orsulak entered the draft as the ninth-ranked international goalie. This year, he’s coming in as the second-highest ranked North American goalie. In 36 games with the Raiders this season, he had a 28-4-4 record, posting a .907 SV%, 2.22 GAA, and four shutouts. He then helped the team to a WHL Finals appearance, albeit with slightly weaker numbers. Through 20 postseason appearances, he had a 13-6-1 record, with an .895 save percentage and a 2.90 GAA. Earlier this year, Orsulak also made his World Juniors debut, backstopping Czechia to a silver medal finish. He conceded 16 goals in seven games played, earning an .874 SV%.

The Maple Leafs are certainly in a good place right now in their goaltending pipeline. They have Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, Dennis Hildeby looking set for a full-time NHL role, and Artur Akhtyamov proving his value amidst a strong AHL playoff run with the Toronto Marlies. But it’s never a bad time to start investing in the next era in between the pipes.

Toronto has shown they love their big netminder, and standing at 6-foot-4 and 225 lbs., Orsulak fits the bill. In June, Orsulak was ranked by NHL.com‘s Adam Kimelman as the fourth-best goaltending prospect available. In his breakdown, Kimelman noted that scouts have compared the Czech netminder to Stolarz, as well as Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson.

In January, Orsulak was also listed by Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis as one of the top 10 goaltenders to watch in this year’s draft. Ellis pointed to Orsulak’s size and results this season as positives, but commented that “he could definitely work on being a bit quicker in the crease.” He also made note of the goaltender’s poor past results internationally. Given the limited sample size of his improved play after he was passed on last year, there’s reason to believe some teams may hold off on taking him sooner than later.

It’s unlikely Orsulak goes in the first three rounds, and if there’s a chance he does, it’s certainly not worth the reach for Toronto. But after that, he starts to become an interesting player to target. Currently, the Maple Leafs have four picks from rounds 4 through 7: one in round 4, two in round 5, and one in round six. If he falls to the fifth round, that might be the sweet spot for Toronto to take a swing.