The Canucks acquired a 58 goal scorer: He's got everything to be draft's steal

Only four players under 19 have scored 58+ goals in a single OHL season in the last twenty years. Three players were first-overall picks: Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares. The fourth is Anthony Romani.

Unlike the first-overall picks, Romani was selected 162nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks. The reason for this is simple: he achieved his 58-goal feat in his second year of draft eligibility. Romani went undrafted in his first eligible year, but he made his mark by dominating the OHL.

Romani's 58 goals led the league, and it's worth noting that he was still 18 years old for the entire season. He turned 19 on July 12, meaning that this would have been his first year of draft eligibility if he were two months younger.

Beyond goals, Romani led all under-19 OHL players with 111 points. He outscored first-round picks like Quentin Musty, Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie, Oliver Bonk, Colby Barlow, and even Dalibor Dvorsky, the 10th overall pick.

Romani isn't entirely on the level of dynamic talents like Kane, Stamkos, and Tavares, but his achievement places him in good company. A more fitting comparison might be Tyler Toffoli and Nick Robertson, who also excelled in their second years of draft eligibility. Toffoli didn't become an NHL regular until five years post-draft, and Robertson spent time in the AHL five seasons after his draft.

Romani likely has a long development path ahead. However, the Canucks may have secured second-round value from a sixth-round pick. In his draft year, Romani's numbers—23 goals and 43 points in 66 games—didn't stand out due to limited ice time on a deep North Bay Battalion team. Yet, he secretly excelled at 5-on-5, scoring at an elite rate. With increased opportunity, Romani's scoring prowess became evident, leading to his breakout season and making him an exciting prospect for the Canucks.

Credit: Vancouver is Awesome