On June 29th, 2024, the Winnipeg Jets drafted forward Kieron Walton. The big 6’6″ Toronto native, was selected 187th overall in the 6th round of the NHL Entry Draft. And so far this season, he has stunned everyone by the way he has been performing.

Walton, 18, is currently playing in the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves in his third year of junior hockey. Through 37 games this season, Walton has been on fire, posting 24 goals and 42 assists, totaling an impressive 66 points. His plus-minus rating sits at +15, and he’s also accumulated 26 penalty minutes.

Walton’s skillset has been widely praised by scouts and analysts alike. As noted in the EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide, ”he’s a skilled passer, capable of slipping pucks underneath defenders’ sticks to open teammates driving the net.” The guide continues, “Whether he’s deking through defenders or knocking down tricky passes, he uses his full reach to handle the puck and make the next play.”

The leap Walton has made this year is shocking. With 24 goals already a little more than halfway through the season, he’s well ahead of the 18 goals he scored in 65 games last season. It’s almost like he’s a completely different player in 2024-25, and if this level of play is what the Jets can expect from a sixth-round pick, it’s a major win for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Walton currently leads the OHL in assists (42), is tied for second in points (66), sits eighth in goals (24), is tied for fifth in power play goals (10), and ranks 31st in plus-minus (+15).

The Sudbury Wolves played last night, January 8th, and once again, Kieron Walton kept on rolling. In a standout performance, Walton recorded another three-point game (1G, 2A), bringing his total to 66 points, which now ties him for second in the OHL. He also fired off eight shots on goal and earned the game’s 3rd Star honors. Walton’s point streak now sits at an impressive 19 games, during which he’s registered 45 points.

Walton is proving to himself and everyone else that he deserved to go higher in the NHL Draft. If this had been his performance leading up to the draft, there’s no doubt he would’ve been a second-round pick, and perhaps even a first-rounder. Regardless, Kevin Cheveldayoff deserves credit for snagging such an under-the-radar talent. Now, Walton is an OHL superstar, and with his continued development, he has the potential to make a real impact in the NHL one day.