The OHL season began recently and there are plenty of exciting 2025 NHL Draft-eligible players to keep an eye on. Specifically, the OHL’s East Division holds many great talents that should go high in the upcoming draft. I will be taking a look at each team and highlighting some of the East division’s key draft-eligible players, as well as some players who have already been selected.
Brantford Bulldogs
Jake O’Brien
DOB: June 16, 2007
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Draft: 2025 Eligible
Jake O’Brien broke onto the scene last season, scoring 13 goals and 51 assists for 64 points in 61 games. As you can tell by the numbers, O’Brien is a playmaker, one who uses his great vision to find open seams and create chances. As a June birthday, he is one of the younger players in the draft, giving him the advantage of a potentially longer runway than many in this draft class. He has the potential to be a riser as the season wears on.
Marek Vanacker
DOB: April 12, 2006
Height: 6-0
Weight: 179lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Draft: 2024 1st Round Pick, 27th Overall (Chicago Blackhawks)
Marek Vanacker was a player who was not high on most scouts’ radars heading into last season. Vanacker responded by exploding offensively and became a first-round pick, going 27th overall to the Chicago Blackhawks in June. He put together an impressive draft year, potting nearly 40 goals and emerging as one of the better goal scorers of the draft. If he can round out his game this season, he could be one of the league’s leading scorers.
Joshua Avery
DOB: January 30, 2007
Height: 5-11
Weight: 157lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
In his short stint with the Bulldogs at the end of last year, Joshua Avery impressed, producing four points through seven games in a limited role. He has shown some creativity and decent vision at the OHL level, combined with an ability to play a simple depth game. If he can see consistent ice this year, he could definitely be a player to watch.
Oshawa Generals
Owen Griffin
DOB: April 8, 2007
Height: 5-10
Weight: 161lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Last year, Owen Griffin was used sparingly on a veteran-heavy contending team, and as such, was only able to produce six points through 61 games played. The lack of chances was surprising given his high motor and compete level, as well as his duel-threat abilities as both a playmaker and scorer. This upcoming year, he will undoubtedly see a much bigger opportunity and, given his skillset, likely a higher output.
Beckett Sennecke
DOB: January 28, 2006
Height: 6-2
Weight: 181lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
Draft: 2024 1st Round Pick, 3rd Overall (Anaheim Ducks)
Sennecke was a late riser who was nabbed up at third overall this past June to the Anaheim Ducks. He has great hands and playmaking ability, combined with a good shot and forechecking game that makes him a real threat in the offensive zone. If he returns to Oshawa this year, he will undoubtedly be one of the league’s best.
Calum Ritchie
DOB: January 21, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Draft: 2023 1st Round Pick, 27th Overall (Colorado Avalanche)
Just like his teammate Sennecke, Calum Ritchie could be one of the OHL’s top players now that he as returned after he did made the season-opening roster for the Colorado Avalanche. Especially with the recent acquisition of Colby Barlow, Ritchie’s high-end playmaking could make them a truly dynamic duo. The Generals are already a fairly stacked team. Now that Ritchie has returned to resume his role as one of Gens’ main pieces, he has the opportunity to put up some enormous numbers for the club.
Ben Danford
DOB: February 6, 2006
Height: 6-1
Weight: 187lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Defenseman
Draft: 2024 1st Round, 31st Overall (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Ben Danford was the first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs at 32nd overall this past June. He is a defensive defenseman and is seen as having more offense to give. This year, with a few key returnees paired with growth in himself and others, Danford could find himself in a more advantageous spot to produce on the offensive side of the ice. Either way, being a Leafs’ pick, he is sure to have eyes on him all season long.
Colby Barlow
DOB: February 14, 2005
Height: 6-1
Weight: 194lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
Draft: 2023 1st Round, 18th Overall (Winnipeg Jets)
Colby Barlow was a recent acquisition from the Owen Sound Attack and bolstered the Generals’ roster into one of the best in the OHL. He is an elite shooter with a big frame who plays a power style. Given the pieces already on the roster, Barlow could see a major jump in production from his 40-goal and 18-assist effort last year, aiming much closer to triple digits and potentially a 50-goal campaign.
Ottawa 67’s
Filip Ekberg
DOB: April 14, 2007
Height: 5-10
Weight: 168lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Filip Ekberg is a diminutive winger who plays a two-way, forechecking style of game. He can make quick passes and use his high-end skating ability and puck skills to carry the puck in transition. He will be playing his rookie season in North America and should be able to excel given his style of game while being a top contributor for the 67’s.
Kimi Körbler
DOB: September 25, 2006
Height: 6-0
Weight: 168lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Right Wing
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Kimi Körbler enters this draft cycle as a player who is fairly under the radar. However, he was able to produce respectably last season, notching 19 points in 60 games in his first North American season with 15 coming in the final 24 games. He plays with an unmissable energy and motor and possesses some slick puck skills that could make him an interesting player to watch, as he has real potential to shoot up draft boards.
Henry Mews
DOB: March 9, 2006
Height: 6-0
Weight: 187lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Defenseman
Draft: 2024 3rd Round, 74th Overall (Calgary Flames)
Mews found himself in first-round consideration this past June but was ultimately passed over until the Calgary Flames nabbed him in the third round at 74th overall. Despite his draft stock drop, Mews is an exciting prospect who possesses elite skating and offensive instincts that make him one of the OHL’s most productive blueliners. He will have a chip on his shoulder coming into this season and could have the potential to explode, especially with high-end 2025 draft-eligible Filip Ekberg joining the mix.
Chase Yanni
DOB: January 8, 2007
Height: 5-10
Weight: 172lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Although he’s not the biggest name heading into the 2025 Draft, Chase Yanni has some interesting skills with the puck. His playmaking and passing abilities are his most notable traits, as he is able to find open seams and make quick cross-ice passes to advance play and move the puck within the offensive zone. He struggled to be a consistent fixture in the 67’s lineup last season, playing in only 10 games. If he can showcase his skills this year, Yanni could rise up the rankings as the season wears on.
Kingston Frontenacs
Tyler Hopkins
DOB: January 23, 2007
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Heading into his draft year, Tyler Hopkins will be tasked with fighting for a permanent top-six spot with the Frontenacs who could see quite a few key returnees. He has the offensive skills in his toolkit to produce and with a fairly good defensive game, he is in a good position to take a step this season and could work his way into a mid-round selection or higher next June.
Jacob Battaglia
DOB: March 17, 2006
Height: 6-1
Weight: 196lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Draft: 2024 2nd Round, 62nd Overall (Calgary Flames)
After being one of the Frontenacs’ highest scorers last year, Jacob Battaglia has the ability to be the team’s MVP this year. He will undeniably be given all but the keys to the city. With his high skill level and playmaking ability, Battaglia should be able to put together a standout post-draft year.
Emil Pieniniemi
DOB: March 2, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 176lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defenseman
Draft: 2023 Third Round, 91st Overall (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Emil Pieniniemi was drafted in the third round, 91st overall in 2023 by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He joins Kingston this year for his first season in North America. He played 38 games for Karpat in the Finnish Liiga last year. Pieniniemi is a two-way defender that boasts good size, and if he can adapt well enough, could be a major player for the Frontenacs this upcoming season.
Peterborough Petes
Carson Cameron
DOB: June 27, 2007
Height: 6-1
Weight: 174lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Defenseman
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Carson Cameron was the second-highest-scoring DY-1 defender in the OHL last season and has the chance to be the Petes’ go-to guy on the backend. This mixed with him being a highly-coveted right-shot blueliner could make him a hot commodity this season and I would not be shocked to see him become a big riser for this draft.
Caden Taylor
DOB: March 31, 2007
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
After playing a very limited role with the Sudbury Wolves, Caden Taylor was a mid-season acquisition by the Petes and became a major piece down the stretch last season. Things don’t look to change this year, and if he can build off of his 18 points in 31 games, the 6-3 forward could find himself high up on NHL draft boards by season’s end.
Nico Addy
DOB: August 17, 2007
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
Draft: 2025 Draft Eligible
Nico Addy was another mid-season acquisition by the Petes who came in and hit another gear with his new team. He is able to be a net-front presence but also has the raw skill and mobility that makes him an intriguing player to keep an eye on. This season, I’d expect that with another year growing into his 6-5 205lb frame, he will take another big step. The combination of size and skill is always highly coveted by NHL front offices and I suspect that will lead to his name being called next June.
The OHL’s East Division is filled with plenty of interesting players, ranging from exciting draft-eligible players to high-end drafted players. The teams within are a mix of young up-and-comers with budding cores and teams with championship aspirations. The potential is there for the division to be exciting. Either way, the East Division is worth keeping an eye on for the 2024-25 season.
Check back here at RecruitScouting.com for more coverage of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and beyond as the year goes on.
