2021 Top 25 Under 25: Dmitri Ovchinnikov is #16

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesA fifth round pick at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Dmitri Ovchinnikov was someone that the Leafs liked enough to make a trade while he was still available specifically to choose him. That’s not something that Kyle Dubas does often — in fact I can’t remember if he’s ever traded up like that before. That may make you think that he is a steal, and... maybe!

There are some good things that Ovchinnikov has going for him. He finished his draft season in the MHL, producing 55 points in 54 games. That was good for 15th in the league, and first among players who were first-year eligible for the NHL draft. He followed that up with 51 points in 40 games in his D+1…