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

Roni Hirvonen wasn’t far behind, suffering two injuries that limited what should have been a successful season. But after putting together a dominant 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 also ended up disappearing before the end of the season.

Between the shoulder injury during the Traverse City Prospects tournament and the season-ending shoulder surgery in early January, it was a big blow for a young player who had to overcome all the obstacles to get to this point.

No one questioned Voit’s talent. He was drafted in the fifth round in 2021 despite the OHL season being canceled due to COVID-19. He responded 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 assists and was named to the league’s second all-star team, but he was not invited to the United States’ World Junior Championship camp as the team sought more comprehensive options.

Being 5 feet 9 inches tall didn’t help either. Voit has never been particularly strong and his defensive game is still developing. If there’s anything he’s done well throughout his career, it’s outplaying his opponents and pulling off high-quality setups. So when Voit turned pro in 2023-24, many hoped he would maintain his hot streak. But then the injuries hit him and it was over before we knew it. He had eight points in five games in NL, showing he had the skills to make it work – but he played one game with the Marlies and that was it. He fell awkwardly onto the boards and the season was over.

And now ?

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

For Voit, staying healthy and consistent is essential to his development. It’s easy to get lost when you don’t play enough. He should have no problem succeeding in the ECHL, and if all goes well, maybe he’ll return to the Marlies sooner rather than later. But there are people up there too, so he’ll have to fight his way up there – make himself more expendable. Part of it is being physically stronger, but also taking the next step in your skating. He moves well, but he needs to be very explosive to compensate for his shortcomings.

Voit was held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 season-opening loss to Kalamazoo. It’s not exactly a large sample size, but a few explosive weeks here could help him get back into Toronto’s crosshairs in hopes of pushing him forward. The Marlies have their share of notable setup men – Logan Shaw, Ryan Tverberg and Nikita Grebenkin come to mind. Voit could easily fit into a midfield role with the club if he shows no signs of slowing down after a rough rookie season, and some scouts think that’s possible.

But from an overall perspective, Voit needs to make the most of his opportunity here. On the one hand, he will get a lot of ice time in the ECHL. On the other hand, you don’t want to become complacent and get lost in the shuffle.

It can be easy for a winger to fall off the depth chart when others start to make noise. Having key spots on the Marlies team filled by notable AHL-only contracts – Shaw, Alexander Nylander and Joseph Blandisi – makes getting the ice time he needs a little more complicated. This is a big year for Voit to prove he’s the prospect that destroyed the junior leagues – but he needs everything to go right.

Some of this is beyond his control. But showing off your talent consistently is not.