I am very excited to present my Top 56 OHL Skaters for the 2024 NHL Draft. Below is, in my opinion, the most comprehensive guide you will find on over 64(!) OHL skaters. There are 56 ranked profiles, followed by 8 notable overagers, with over 13000 words in total. This is by far the most comprehensive draft piece I have ever written, I hope you enjoy.
1. Sam Dickinson
Height/Weight: 6’3/203 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: London
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #3
Sam Dickinson is my #1 defenseman in a draft filled to the brim with elite-level defensemen, and the decision for the top spot was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made. To make this call, I borrowed a philosophy from Recruit Scouting’s Head of North American Scouting Gabe Foley. It goes something like this: If you told me my ability to buy pizzas was on the line [Note: Gabe used tacos, I’m not as much of a fan], and I had to bet on one defenseman to succeed on a team’s top pairing… I’m taking Sam Dickinson.
To start, Sam Dickinson possesses some of the best skating abilities I’ve ever seen from a defenseman of his size at 6’3. That alone will get him an NHL gig. Pair that with an effortless shot, composure on the puck not seen from players of his age, plus flashes of high-level playmaking, and that’s how Sam Dickinson achieved the 6th most points among all U18 OHL Defensemen in the last 3 decades without being known as an offensive defenseman. Defensively, Dickinson uses his elite skating and elite athleticism to become one of the OHL’s most imposing rush defenders, offering a mix of high-level gap control plus the threat of throwing his body around.
Sam Dickinson’s tools alone are enough to make him a top-4 defenseman. His hockey IQ will determine if he becomes a #1 defenseman. Dickinson must display significantly more consistency with the puck on his stick. I admire his confidence on the rush, but he must prove that he can dictate play at all paces. He has amazing playmaking skills but must identify high-% plays more consistently to be trusted with top minutes. Furthermore, he has the physical tools to become one of the NHL’s premier shutdown defensemen, but Dickinson must show more consistency in reading plays off the rush.
I don’t like betting on players with hockey IQ concerns, so why am I high on Dickinson? Perhaps it’s a testament to the tools he carries (and also that I don’t think his hockey IQ issues are that bad, just inconsistent). I seriously believe that Dickinson’s floor is already to become an NHL #4 defenseman. As in, if he fails, that is what he will be: a toolsy 2nd pairing defenseman who can play on the 2nd powerplay unit. His decision-making is not that lacking, it is more representative of what I believe it takes to become an elite defenseman at the NHL level and I believe any wrinkles must be ironed out ASAP. Dickinson compares himself to Miro Heiskanen, but I see a lot of Jake Sanderson in him. He is definitely a top-10 selection, and he sits at #3 on my rankings.
Ceiling: Elite NHL Defenseman
Projection: Consistent Top-Pair NHL Defenseman
Floor: #4 Defenseman
2. Zayne Parekh
Height/Weight: 6’0/181 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Saginaw
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #10/#4
Zayne Parekh is a generational offensive talent. I don’t think that’s ridiculous to say. He just put up the most points for a U18 OHL defenseman in the last 34 years, surpassing names such as Drew Doughty, PK Subban, Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan Ellis, Dougie Hamilton, and Chris Pronger (seriously, it’s been that long). It’s not like he’s a statpadder either, you understand that you’re watching a generational offensive dynamo when witnessing Parekh, who led Saginaw in points by 21 (once again, as a U18 defenseman!), work his magic with the puck.
Parekh uses his elite skating to deceive and manipulate opponents, combines it with Grade A puckhandling, elite playmaking ability, and a laser of a shot, and wraps it all together with one of the highest hockey IQs in the draft. The first few attributes are very fun to watch, but it’s the last bit that separates him from the pack and will be his key to stardom. Zayne Parekh is playing chess, and he makes his opponents play like they’re playing checkers instead. He’s not just relying on his tools to put up points, but he is creating offense with his brain in a way that is highly projectable to the NHL level.
Of course, with every offensive defenseman, there’s always the question of, well, defense (it’s in the name, after all). Many offensive defenseman are exposed routinely for their weaknesses, and you would be justified in thinking that it’s this frequent exposure that has dropped Parekh on many lists. The truth is, though, I see it a little differently. I don’t think Parekh is getting exposed as much as he just doesn’t bother trying. For most of the season, he was passive in the corners and along the boards, he failed to take the extra stride when hustling back and was prone to losing his man. I don’t think I can feasibly blame a guy who is that instrumental to his team’s offense for cheating on defense, but Parekh must demonstrate that he at least has the ability to use his vision and skating to hold his own defensively the way true elite defensemen such as Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes have demonstrated at the NHL level. I also don’t really love the whole upright stance thing, but I’m sure he’ll figure that part out.
Parekh is already so good offensively that the possibility of not making the NHL isn’t even a thought in my mind. His floor is somewhere between Shayne Gostisbehere and Erik Gustafsson, two players with immense offensive talent and PP QB abilities who aren’t able to lock down roles due to defensive deficiencies despite great offensive production. His ceiling? I don’t think names like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are out of the picture.
Ceiling: Elite Offensive Defenseman
Projection: #1 NHL Defenseman
Floor: #5 Defenseman with PP responsibilities
3. Beckett Sennecke
Height/Weight: 6’2/181 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Oshawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #33/#13
There are two Beckett Senneckes. There is the Beckett Sennecke we saw to start the season, and there is the Beckett Sennecke we saw that ended the season. It is Sennecke’s meteoric rise that has put him in top-10 conversations for this draft, but it is his overall rawness that has left him in many’s 2nd round. I don’t know if he’s a top-10 prospect in this draft, but he is one of my favourite prospects, and the upside is sure to get teams excited. One thing that I keep remembering when considering Sennecke’s raw play is that he’s grown 4 inches within the last two years, so not only is he adjusting to a top OHL role like his peers are, but he’s also trying to figure out how to play in a whole new frame. When talking about short players, people often talk about how good they’d be if they were a little bigger. Enter Sennecke, who is literally a 5’10 player in a 6’2 body. Sennecke is #nasty, his hands are some of the best in this class, paired with unmatched confidence and great deceptiveness, I see hints of William Nylander in his game. He has a sharp shot, and his playmaking skills, while often overshadowed by his slick hands, are also looking to be in the upper echelon of the draft.
Sennecke also showed more and more hustle as the year went on, developing into a fierce forechecker by the end of the season. I don’t blame people who have watched Sennecke the whole year for being skeptical, but I’m willing to say that Beckett Sennecke is the real deal. Areas of improvement include ironing out wrinkles in his decision-making, tweaking his skating stride to take advantage of his size, putting on more muscle without losing his deceptiveness, and, most importantly, proving that he can perform at such a high level for a full season. There is top-line upside, enough so that I’ve slotted him in my top 15, but it will take a team with patience and a detailed development plan to harness his potential.
Ceiling: Elite NHL Forward
Projection: Complimentary NHL Top-6 Winger
Floor: 3rd Line Winger
4. Liam Greentree
Height/Weight: 6’2/214 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #14/#20
If I were ranking players based on how impressive their season was rather than how I feel about their projectability, Liam Greentree would be one of the first names on my list. Seriously, I have developed an insane amount of respect for Liam Greentree for his season in Windsor this season. I watched as prospects, rightfully, looked discouraged as the team desperately tried to reach the finish line of an 18-42-8 season. Greentree simply wasn’t fazed, as the young captain of the Spitfires led his team in goals, assists, and points (by 24!) this season en route to putting up the 10th most points among U18 OHLers in the last decade. He’s a very strong forward who can not only power through his opponents, but he can deke through them as well. Whereas most power forwards are known for driving the net, Greentree’s remarkable playmaking skills allow him to absorb contact, power through the zone, and still have the vision to find a teammate. His shot is very strong and sharp, and his puck skills allow him to make plays in tight. Specifically, Greentree loves pulling off the forehand-backhand deke in tight, and it’s worth noting that his backhand is quite remarkable. Greentree’s high-level trifecta of his shot, playmaking, and puck skills, combined with his offensive intelligence, have propelled his status as a top prospect.
The elephant in the room, though, is Greentree’s skating. A lack of pace is not an issue for a strong, skilled player at the junior level, but below-average skating is generally the reason why top junior scorers are unable to translate to the NHL level. Greentree can carry speed with his strong stride, but his first steps are poor and he will struggle to brute force his way into rush chances at the next level. Also, maybe this will be more apparent on a more competitive team where he’s not doing the heavy lifting offensively, but it would be nice to see some consistent motor from Greentree and for him to show off what he can do defensively. I can see the Jason Robertson and Matt Boldy comparisons, and I understand why teams will be drawn by Liam Greentree’s top-6 upside. Furthermore, I’ll add that he’s not a top-6 or nothing player, as his game is diverse enough to contribute all over the lineup. However, it all depends on whether his skating can get to the next level, and teams have been burned on that end many times before. He’s currently 20th on my rankings, teams with confidence in their skating departments could take him even higher than that and reap the benefits.
Ceiling: Top Line NHL Power Forward
Projection: 2nd Line NHL Supporting Power Winger
Floor: Middling 3rd Line Winger
5. Cole Beaudoin
Height/Weight: 6’2/209 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Barrie
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #57/#27
Cole Beaudoin is one of my favourite players in this year’s draft class, and he will be a fan-favourite for whatever NHL team picks him very soon. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a player that works as hard as he does. He’s also very, very strong, utilizing his very solid frame to push through opposing defenders and impose his will. Beaudoin carries a crisp, powerful shot and pairs it with solid playmaking abilities. He displays intelligence on both sides of the puck, and projects as a two-way power forward at the NHL level. Much discussed, though, has been the topic of Beaudoin’s skating. He has a powerful stride but lacks consistency and top-end speed. While he’s put in the work, skating is often what limits players of Beaudoin’s archetype at the NHL level. NHL teams pay premiums for guys like Beaudoin, who might already be closer to Tanner Jeannot than Jonah Gadjovich, but it will be his skating that determines how valuable he can be on an NHL team’s 3rd line. I like his motor, strength, and intelligence to take a chance in the late first, but he could slip to the 2nd.
Ceiling: Key 3C on a Cup-Winning Team
Projection: Fan-Favourite Bottom-6 Forward
Floor: 4th Line Grinder
6. Luke Misa
Height/Weight: 5’10/165 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Mississauga
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #47/#32
Luke Misa is very fast, as is the NHL. Thus, a match made in heaven. Misa was given a starring role for the Mississauga Steelheads and ran with it to start the season, with 44 points in his first 28 games. He did slip on most draft boards after going under a point per game in the home stretch of the season, and while his play was not as dominant as many wanted, he was still a very high-level performer. Misa pairs one of the draft’s best skating mechanics with high-level playmaking ability and a relentless motor. He proved that he could utilize his blazing speed to create chances with his high-end vision, while also using his speed paired with his hockey IQ to become a threat defensively.
Misa is small, and will probably need to bulk up without losing his trademark speed to succeed at the professional level. His shot is also fine, but not great, and it would be very helpful for his case if he could develop a more threatening shot. Perhaps that could come with adding more strength, as mentioned before. Luke Misa compares himself to Jesper Bratt, and while I see what he’s getting at, I think Misa will perform best on an NHL team’s third line. Whether or not this will be at centre or on the wing is to be determined, but Misa’s speed, vision, and determination are a contending team’s dream. Misa may be able to become a speedy forechecker with offensive upside at the NHL level while also being viable on the penalty kill. He has made a case for my first round, but I believe he is more likely to be selected in the mid-2nd.
Ceiling: Fan-Favourite Top-9 Speedster with key PK responsibilities
Projection: 3rd Line Energy Winger
Floor: 4th Line Winger
7. Jett Luchanko
Height/Weight: 5’11/187 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Guelph
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #33/33
I don’t know if his parents knew how fast he would be when they named him, or if they had a lucky guess, but Jett Luchanko cashes the cheque that his first name writes for him. A surprise promotion to the NHL for Guelph’s star playmaker Matt Poitras left a gaping hole in the Storm’s roster. In his first full OHL season, Luchanko took the opportunity and ran with it. He blossomed into a premier playmaker who uses his top-end speed and skating ability to be a menace defensively. Luchanko is one of the fastest skaters in the draft, and NHL teams will always have time for someone like that in their bottom-6. Pair that with high IQ on and off the puck, on both sides of the arena, and NHL teams are looking at a speedy forward who can slot in on their 3rd line and PK units, providing menacing forechecking with the addition of offensive and defensive acumen. Luchanko’s August birthday will convince teams to have more leniency with his deficiencies, but I feel as if he needs to greatly improve his shot selection and puck skills to extend his ceiling. I do not see him as more than a 3rd liner at this stage, but contending teams love guys who play like Luchanko. I would pick him in the early 2nd round, but teams may reach as early as the late 1st.
Ceiling: Elite 3C with PK responsibilities
Projection: 3rd Line Speedster
Floor: 4th Line Energy Winger
8. Henry Mews
Height/Weight: 6’0/185 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Ottawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #60/34
A tier behind the two OHL defensemen competing for top 10 honours this year is a defenseman who is quietly pushing to become the 3rd OHL defenseman selected in the top 32. Henry Mews is right behind Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson in U18 defenseman goals, assists, points, and points per game. He’s a highly skilled defenseman with the IQ to match it. Mews is a smooth skater who can manipulate opponents with his shiftiness and pairs it with high-level vision to become one of the OHL’s premier offensive defensemen. Away from the puck, Mews uses his skating abilities to hold his own in the defensive zone.
One thing I can’t really shake about Mews is his affinity for slowing down and taking his time. Some players do this well, where they can dictate the play without forcing pace. With Mews, though, it’s hard not to feel like he’s taking his time simply because junior hockey affords him the time to take. Without a change in pace, Mews may be at risk of a rude awakening at the professional level. Furthermore, his play in his own end isn’t noticeably horrible, but it’s clear that he must display more effort in his own end if he is to be trusted with big minutes. Lastly, I think everyone who has watched Mews believes he is capable of more. I understand why that’s a little crazy to say about someone who just put up the 5th most points among U18 OHL defenders in the last decade, but Mews can and should blossom into a dominant force at the OHL level, and he often makes you feel as if he’s playing below his means. Mews is relatively new to playing defense (having played the position full-time for just over 3 years), and the pieces are there for him to succeed. There is a universe where Henry Mews is a top-4 defenseman for an NHL team, but there is also a universe where he is stuck in the TJ Brennan Zone, a place for elite AHL offensive defensemen who struggle to elevate their game to the NHL level.
Ceiling: #2 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #4 NHL Defenseman
Floor: AHL All-Star
9. Marek Vanacker
Height/Weight: 6’0/165 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Brantford
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #38/37
When Marek Vanacker showed up to the NHL Combine in a sling, he revealed something that came as a shock to many. He had gotten surgery on a torn shoulder labrum, having played through it for most of the season. In other words, the guy who put up the 16th most points among all U18 OHLers in the last 10 seasons did so on a bum shoulder. No big deal. Vanacker is an extremely intelligent player with a well-rounded offensive arsenal that includes a smooth shot, crisp playmaking skills, and deceptive puck skills. His compete level is inconsistent, but he is willing to get dirty when needed (and perhaps he will do it more when playing healthy), and his high IQ means he can be effective without being a workhorse, a contrast from the other top OHLers profiled this year (see: Misa, O’Reilly, Luchanko).
His skating has been the subject of much scrutiny, but while his form is weird, he carries above-average speed that allows him to be deceptive on the rush. He must improve his first step and explosiveness, though, as this will be a major asset in improving his mobility defensively and deceptiveness offensively. The problem with a well-rounded offensive player like Vanacker without a standout trait is that, while there is a path to a successful NHL career, it means he must continue to elevate all areas of his game to the NHL level, rather than relying on one trait. It will also be difficult for him to find a niche, but if he can continue to elevate his offensive abilities and improve his skating, there is a legitimate top-6 upside. He will not be a playdriver at the NHL level, but his calmness while making quick plays showcases that he has the composure and intelligence to be a complimentary forward at the NHL level. Overall, I will have my eye out for a healthy Vanacker next season, and I wouldn’t blame a team for taking a gamble in the late first. However, he remains in my 2nd round, and that’s where I think teams should draft him.
Ceiling: 2nd Line Winger
Projection: Top-9 Complimentary Scorer
Floor: NHL Depth Player, AHL All-Star
10. Sam O’Reilly
Height/Weight: 6’1/183 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: London
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #31/#60
Some call him a coach’s dream, but I’d argue that Sam O’Reilly is a scout’s dream. I could probably set a watch on his potential to become a bottom-6 forward in the NHL, and it makes rankings very easy. There are guys who I think are more valuable than a likely NHL energy forward and guys who are less valuable. O’Reilly’s unrelenting motor combined with his high-end hockey IQ on both sides of the puck, plus his above-average stickwork, make him a top option for teams looking for young depth. O’Reilly must improve on his skating, as while his agility has impressed me, he must find more consistency on his feet. I would look at O’Reilly in the late 2nd round, but I would not blame a contender for picking him earlier than that.
Ceiling: Fan-Favourite 3rd Liner
Projection: Fan-Favourite 3rd Liner
Floor: AHL 2nd Line
11. Kevin He
Height/Weight: 5’11/181 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Niagara
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #92/#74
I have a lot of respect for Kevin He for continuing to perform for a disastrous Niagara IceDogs team. There is no doubt in my mind that He will be the highest-drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history (sorry, Misha Song), and He quickly became one of my favourite prospects out of the OHL. Kevin He utilizes his blazing speed and relentless work ethic to make him a serious threat on both ends. That, paired with his sharp shot and ability to throw crushing hits (including one that got him suspended indefinitely at the end of the season) will surely make him a fan-favourite wherever he plays. He must improve his spotty playmaking and must find ways to improve his decision-making under pressure. Overall, with further refinement, Kevin He has the potential to become an NHL 3rd liner + penalty killer and has proven himself worthy of a 3rd/4th round selection.
Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Winger
Projection: 3rd Line Forechecker
Floor: AHL Top-6
12. Lukas Fischer
Height/Weight: 6’3/181 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Sarnia
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #86/#75
Lukas Fischer is raw. More importantly, Lukas Fischer is raw on a poor Sarnia Sting team that finished 4th last in the OHL, so it was not hard to see his deficiencies get exposed. It is, however, not difficult to see how the 6’3 defenseman, whose September 2006 birthday makes him one of the youngest players in this draft, could blossom into an NHL defenseman. The son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer has an effortless stride that you rarely see from a player of his size and pairs it with promising, yet extremely inconsistent defensive play and playmaking. To keep it brief, his decision-making needs work, his shot must be developed significantly, and he must add more mass to his frame. Still, he is absolutely worth a swing around the 2nd-4th round, as a patient NHL team can help him develop into a #4 at the NHL level.
Ceiling: #4 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #5 NHL Defenseman
Floor: AHL Regular
13. Ben Danford
Height/Weight: 6’1/190 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Oshawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #68/#76
Ben Danford paired high-level defensive IQ with great physicality to become the top defenseman on the OHL Championship Finalists in Oshawa. He’s a mature defenseman who showed great promise despite playing on his off-side for most of the year. He combines strength and mobility with great positioning to emerge as one of the OHL’s premier shutdown defenders. He must find significantly more consistency with the puck on his stick, though. Danford is clearly a very intelligent player, but he must prove that he can consistently utilize his high-end thinking and mobility to become a premier puck-mover at the OHL level. Otherwise, his ceiling is capped as a bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level, but even then, he will likely achieve that role. I would pick him around the 3rd/4th round, as I think there is a probable #5/6 shutdown defenseman with #4 upside if he can find offensive consistency.
Ceiling: #4 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #5 NHL Defenseman
Floor: NHL 7th Defenseman
14. Luca Marrelli
Height/Weight: 6’2/185 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Oshawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #83/#79
Luca Marrelli emerged as a top draft prospect in Oshawa this year. In my opinion, the best way to describe Marrelli is well-rounded. He is a good skater, who defends the rush well, distributes the puck well, has a solid work ethic, and has good decision-making skills. After all, you need to be pretty good to be among the top-10 point-getters from the blueline in the OHL. Overall, Marrelli is good enough to the point where I can see him having a successful professional hockey career. The only issue is that a lack of a standout trait caps his NHL ceiling to being a very solid bottom-pairing defenseman, and even that projection means he has to be solid at all those aforementioned traits against bigger, stronger, and faster players. Still, I would bet on him in the middle rounds, as I believe that Luca Marrelli can become a full-time NHLer as long as he progresses neatly.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #6 NHL Defenseman
Floor: AHL Top Pair
15. Anthony Romani
Height/Weight: 6’0/179 lbs
Position: C/RW
OHL Team: North Bay
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #84/#87
I’m not usually that high on overage producers with skating difficulties, so why is Anthony Romani firmly in my Top 100? Well, here’s a list of U19 OHLers with 55+ goal seasons since the 04-05 lockout: John Tavares (x2), Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, Tyler Toffoli, Nick Robertson, Anthony Romani. End of list. Now, Romani is not anywhere near as good as Tavares, Kane, or Stamkos, who accomplished this feat at a younger age… but both Toffoli and Robertson did that in their D+1 as well, and they’re still scoring in the NHL.
Romani carries a great shot and extremely strong passing, pairs it with a relentless defensive game, and wraps it all together with high-end hockey IQ. The skating isn’t horrific, but the more I watch him, the clearer it is that Romani will struggle to produce at the NHL level without more explosiveness on his feet. I also wonder if he is ready to make the transition from being a dominant junior player to a scrappy bottom-6er, as he will likely have to play less like the patient sniper Toffoli and more like the energetic depth scorer Robertson. Still, Romani is a re-entry pick that I would take an earlier bet on than most, maybe as high as the third round.
Ceiling: Top-9 Scorer
Projection: Scrappy 3rd Line Scoring Winger
Floor: AHL Top-6
16. Riley Patterson
Height/Weight: 6’0/192 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Barrie
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #113/#88
At 16, Riley Patterson amassed the most points for any U17 OJHLer since the 04/05 lockout, surpassing names such as Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, Evan Rodrigues, Jake Evans, and more. No big deal. At 17, he started out rough in Barrie with 11 points in 20 games but went point per game the rest of the way to finish 1st in goals among all OHL rookies. Patterson is a smooth skater with an NHL-ready shot and smooth puck skills. Unfortunately, he lacks consistency when it comes to his decision-making and must prove that he can consistently work with the puck under pressure. Patterson’s tools alone are worthy of a mid-round pick, but it will take a patient NHL team to iron out his flaws before he can blossom into a middle-six scorer in the NHL.
Ceiling: Middle-6 Scorer
Projection: Bottom-6 Winger
Floor: AHL Top-6
17. Jacob Battaglia
Height/Weight: 6’0/205lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Kingston
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #73/#89
Jacob Battaglia enters the draft as a strong winger with a well-rounded offensive game. He led a competitive Kingston team in goals and showed off a remarkable work ethic. Battaglia is strong with good hands, good playmaking skills, and good finishing. A top-10 U18 scorer in the O this year, Battaglia dipped to #89 on my overall draft list, as I am not confident in his skating ability. He lacks power in his first step, and without improvement to his speed, he may have trouble deploying his above-average offensive game at the professional level. He has the potential to be a 3rd-line contributor at the NHL level, but he must improve his skating and/or find a way to make his offensive game stand out.
Ceiling: NHL Middle-6 Scorer
Projection: NHL Depth Forward/Prolific AHL Scorer
Floor: AHL Top Line
18. Nathan Villeneuve
Height/Weight: 5’11/194 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Sudbury
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #105/#90
I think NHL teams will really value a player like Nathan Villeneuve. He was consistently very good in a supporting role on the Sudbury Wolves, as his high-pace play and unrelenting motor made him tough to play against on both sides of the puck. His shot is very sharp, and overall has the offensive instincts to play a supporting role at a higher level. I do not see the puck skills or standout offensive creativity necessary to extend his ceiling, but his feet are quick and his offense is well-rounded enough for him to contribute offense at the pro level while performing as a relentless forechecker and on the penalty kill. I would look to draft Villeneuve around the 4th round, but I would not blame a team for drafting him higher if they see a key depth piece of a contender in his game.
Ceiling: 3rd Line Forechecker
Projection: Bottom-6 Energy Player
Floor: AHL Top-6
19. Jakub Fibigr
Height/Weight: 6’0/172 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Mississauga
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #94/#91
In his first season on North American ice, Jakub Fibigr demonstrated his ultra-smooth skating ability, along with strong defensive instincts and puck-carrying ability in a top role with Mississauga. I’m not super sold on his passing ability despite his lofty assist total this year. He’s a solid puck distributor, but I find that he lacks consistency. Fibigr must improve his passing under pressure, but there is bottom-pairing NHL potential for the Czech defenseman. He showed a lot to like in flashes and does not display any backbreaking characteristics that make him a particularly risky pick. I would take a look near the middle of the draft, as there is definitely enough to build on for an NHL career to be in Fibigr’s sights.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #6 NHL Defenseman
Floor: Lengthy Professional Career in Europe
20. Anthony Cristoforo
Height/Weight: 5’11/181 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #112/#96
Being an offensive defenseman and having to take a top defensive role on a team that reeks at the age of 18 is not a position many would envy. That’s the life Anthony Cristoforo lived in Windsor this season, as a lacking Spitfires team saw Cristoforo’s defensive holes (which were already a work in progress) get exposed again and again. The good news is, that he’s a very skilled and intelligent offensive defenseman who finished 6th in points among all U18 OHL defensemen and remained a key cog of the Spitfires offense. Cristoforo is at his best with the puck on his stick, thinking of creative plays and exploiting holes in the opposition. He would have greatly benefitted from sheltered minutes on a better team, and his play notably became more uninspired as Windsor sank to 2nd last in the OHL. The difference between an NHL future and a productive overseas career for Cristoforo is whether or not he can elevate his game and lead the Spitfires to a more desirable season. A team should take a swing on him in the later rounds this year, but I would not blame teams for wanting to wait and see if he can refine his game and take it to the next level.
Ceiling: #4 NHL Defenseman with PP responsibilities
Projection: #6 NHL Defenseman/NHL Depth (Victor Mete?)
Floor: USports -> ECHL All-Star
21. Kieron Walton
Height/Weight: 6’5/203 lbs
Position: C/LW
OHL Team: Sudbury
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/#103
It was a tale of two seasons for Kieron Walton, who ended the season by scoring 3 goals in his final 31 games this season, a contrast to his 15 goals in his first 34 games. No injury bug here, Walton was a victim of a deep Sudbury Wolves team that demoted him to the 4th line on their way to a 2nd round loss in the OHL playoffs. Walton’s profile doesn’t match that of most 6’6 forwards. Instead, his strengths lay in his silky-smooth hands and remarkable vision with the puck. Walton is not an exceptional skater, but he moves around quite well for a guy who’s that big. Going forward, Walton must further improve his skating, learn how to use his frame to his advantage, find consistency in a bigger role with Sudbury this season, AND continue to dispel concerns regarding his work ethic. Easier said than done, but Walton is worth a mid to late-round swing from a team that is willing to be patient and work with him, as he could become a very unique middle-6 playmaker at the NHL level.
Ceiling: Middle-6 Playmaker
Projection: Inconsistent 3rd Line Winger
Floor: AHL Top-9
22. Ethan Proczyszyn
Height/Weight: 6’2/190 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: North Bay
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #203/Unranked (4th-5th round)
Ethan Proczyszyn fell under the radar playing a 3rd line role, overshadowed by a dynamic North Bay Battalion 1st line. Instead, he held the fort, solidifying the Battalion’s supporting cast. Proczyszyn is a heavy centre who pairs his physicality and his relentless motor to become one of the harder players to match up against in the OHL. He is very smart in both ends away from the puck, but lacks the ability and the ideas on the puck to pose a major threat. He has a heavy shot, and shows flashes of high-end playmaking and stickhandling, but will have to tie it all together in a larger role next season. Also, his skating is a weak point that the 6’3 forward will have to improve significantly. Nonetheless, he has the work ethic, physicality, and off-puck IQ to become a valuable bottom-6 player in the NHL, and is worthy of a selection in the mid-late rounds.
Ceiling: Heavy NHL 3C
Projection: Consistent NHL 4C
Floor: AHL 3C
23. AJ Spellacy
Height/Weight: 6’3/201 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/Unranked (5th round)
Less than two years ago, AJ Spellacy left several D1 Football offers on the table to pursue his dream of playing hockey. This season was extremely depressing for the Windsor Spitfires, and many players lost their steam as the season went on. This was not the case for Spellacy, who, after mustering just 11 points in his first 37 games, scored 11 goals in his last 20 games to end a season from hell for the 18-42-8 Spitfires. Spellacy is extremely raw, but the 6’3 forward is one of the fastest players in the draft, and you don’t see players of his frame with blazing speed every day. He pairs that with his affinity for crushing hits and his willingness to fight, sure to wow NHL GMs. Spellacy’s hockey IQ is clearly still developing, he lacks consistency in his playmaking abilities, and he will need to develop his puck skills. Still, his speed, physicality, and motor are surely enough to bet on in the later rounds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team willing to be patient with his development picks him earlier.
Ceiling: 3rd Line Forechecker + PK Specialist
Projection: Bottom-6 Energy Forward
Floor: USports -> AHL Middle-6
24. Christopher Thibodeau
Height/Weight: 5’9/146 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Kingston (Traded to Flint)
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #122/Unranked (5th Round)
Christopher Thibodeau quickly became a favourite of mine in Kingston. The diminutive winger uses his speed and relentless tenacity to drive the net and outwork his opponents where he can’t outmuscle them. He pairs his high-end speed and motor with a solid shot and decent puck skills. Unfortunately, at 143 lbs, if getting through his opponents is difficult right now, it might be impossible against NHLers. His relentless motor is enough for me to say that he deserves a shot, but he needs to bulk up, show more consistency in his playmaking, and blossom into a top OHL scorer to get an NHL look. With time, he could carve a role somewhere in between post-Sabres Tyler Ennis and Tyler Motte.
Ceiling: Late-Career Tyler Ennis (Energetic, Undersized Depth Scorer)
Projection: AHL Middle-6
Floor: ECHL Top-6
25. Gabriel Frasca
Height/Weight: 6’0/170 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Kingston
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #114/Unranked (5th round)
Injuries slowed down Gabriel Frasca’s draft year, but he remains in position to do what OHL standout brothers Jordan and Jacob didn’t do before him: Hear his name called at the NHL Draft. Unfortunately, I am not too high on the Kingston Frontenacs centre. His high hockey IQ will secure him a lengthy professional hockey career, but I fear he lacks the skills necessary to succeed in the NHL. His skating needs work, and his shortened season did not display enough improvement from his performances last year. There is a lot to like about Frasca’s game, and he should have his name called this year, but he must take the next step to prove that he can be a middle-6 NHL option.
Ceiling: NHL 3C
Projection: AHL Top-6
Floor: AHL 3rd Line
26. Frankie Marrelli
Height/Weight: 5’11/182 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Ottawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #143/Unranked (5th-6th Round)
Frankie Marrelli might not be the biggest player on the ice, but the way he plays, maybe someone forgot to let him know. The 5’11 defenseman is extremely aggressive, generally opting to put his body on the line to stop offense in its tracks through hits and blocked shots. He has solid offensive instincts and good skating but lacks the top-end abilities expected for a player of his size. He will have trouble throwing the same body checks at the professional level and lacks a standout trait to put him over the edge. However, his impressive motor and overall well-rounded game will be enough to set him up for a long professional hockey career, and he should earn a late-round look as a future bottom-pairing staple.
Ceiling: #6 NHL Defenseman
Projection: NHL Depth Defenseman/AHL 2nd Pair
Floor: Lengthy Career in Europe
27. Kaden Pitre
Height/Weight: 5’11/168 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Flint
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #166/Unranked (6th Round)
Kaden Pitre played just 35 games this season due to injury, but it shouldn’t be enough to take him out of draft consideration completely. Pitre is a very smooth skater who pairs his great speed with his relentless play defensively. He also carries a decent shot but must figure out how to consistently be in a position to be a threat offensively. Specifically, Pitre must use his speed to become more of a threat offensively before an NHL projection is more likely. I can also see why many would be concerned with his tenacious play style paired with his injury history and lack of size, but hopefully, this is alleviated by adding more strength and bulking up. Overall, Pitre projects as a coach’s dream on the fourth line, but must find consistency offensively to reach the NHL level.
Ceiling: Bottom-6 NHL C
Projection: NHL 4C
Floor: AHL Top-9
28. Lucas Ellinas
Height/Weight: 6’1/176 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Kitchener
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/Unranked (6th-7th Round)
Hidden within an OHL rookie with 5 fights this season is one of the draft’s more intriguing prospects. Luke Ellinas pairs one of the better shots in this draft class with solid hands. He has good vision, but his playmaking is often extremely inconsistent, and as a result, currently hard to project. He would greatly benefit from adding speed to his game and overall must figure out how to put himself in high-danger positions to score more often. Ellinas is a prime breakout candidate in Kitchener next season and is worth a late-round selection for a team that sees potential for him as a bottom-6 NHLer.
Ceiling: Fan-Favourite NHL Bottom-6 Winger
Projection: Energetic NHL 4th Line Winger
Floor: Cult Legend in a Lower European League (Shoutout to Joe’s Nottingham Panthers!)
29. Owen Protz
Height/Weight: 6’0/201 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Sudbury/Brantford
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/Unranked (7th Round)
A mid-season trade from Sudbury to Brantford served as a blessing for Owen Protz, who impressed many as a top defenseman for the Bulldogs. Protz is a strong, 6’2 defenseman who uses his physical strength partnered with his high hockey IQ to stop forwards in their tracks. A lack of high-end skating paired with spotty puck management makes me question his ceiling, but his sharp rise when given an opportunity in Brantford makes me think he’s worth a late-round pick, as he could easily develop into a 3rd pairing defenseman at the NHL level.
Ceiling: #6 NHL Defenseman
Projection: NHL Depth Defenseman/AHL Top-4
Floor: USports -> Europe
30. Braydon McCallum
Height/Weight: 5’10/165 lbs
Position: C/RW
OHL Team: Peterborough
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #192/Unranked (7th Round)
I’ll let a quote from Braydon McCallum do some heavy lifting for me: “I’m the type of player you love to have on your team but if I’m not then you hate me.” Braydon McCallum is a villain. He’s undisciplined, he’s dirty, and… he’s actually pretty good offensively. A late-season move to centre saw McCallum find his groove and hit the point-per-game mark in his last 14 games. He’s an undersized, shifty forward with decent speed and a very sharp shot. At 5’9, though, his skating is much further away than you want in a player of his size. Any speed he carries is more a result of his unmatched motor rather than any technical ability. Furthermore, I’m not fully sold on his playmaking ability as a high-end aspect of his game. Lots of GMs will love McCallum’s edge, but he must figure out how to agitate players without taking stupid penalties. I see a lot of Andrew Shaw in Braydon McCallum, but he has a long way to go before that ceiling can become a reality, both in his temperament and in his skillset.
Ceiling: Andrew Shaw
Projection: AHL Middle-6
Floor: The Most Hated Player in USports
31. William Nicholl
Height/Weight: 6’0/170 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: London
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
Everyone wants a piece of what the Hunter brothers are cooking. 12 out of London’s top 14 scorers this season have either been drafted or are unanimously projected to be drafted (Dickinson, O’Reilly), leaving 20-year-old Ruslan Gazizov and an OHL rookie by the name of Will Nicholl.
I hate to be the scout who shoots a player up based on a small sample size, but I’ll bite. Nicholl caught my eye in the home stretch of the regular season and won me over in the playoffs for the OHL Champions. Nicholl pairs his smooth skating with high intelligence, physical play, and a motor with no off switch. He went straight from being a top-10 GOJHL scorer last year to understanding and embracing a bottom-6, defense-first role in London. Nicholl played his role to a tee, but teams thinking about drafting Nicholl don’t expect him to stay in this role for long.
The London Knights will have many graduates this offseason, which should leave a top-6 role ripe for Nicholl to take. Ideally, Nicholl can nab the 2C role and show what he can do with the puck on his stick. There were glimmers of high-level offensive play this season, but to earn a real look, Nicholl must improve his shot, become more consistent with the puck on his stick, and continue to display high-level playmaking in a top role. William Nicholl is a prime breakout talent, and a team that wants to buy-low could take him in the 7th round, but that’s more based on what he can do as opposed to what he has actually done.
32. Mason Zebeski
Height/Weight: 6’1/185 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Mississauga
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
Mason Zebeski’s speed and exceptional motor put him on the map this season in Mississauga, showcasing his forechecking abilities and finishing with 24 goals, good for 4th on the Steelheads. I am a fan of Zebeski, but he must find more offensive consistency for a real shot at making the NHL. His tenacity and speed are enough for teams to give him a look, but currently, he is capped at a 4th line ceiling, and without improving his offense, that ceiling is even harder to realize.
Ceiling: 4th Line Forecheck Specialist
Projection: AHL Bottom-6
Floor: USports -> Europe
33. Cole Davis
Height/Weight: 5’10/174 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked/Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
Cole Davis is an undersized playmaker who stood out to me on a struggling Windsor Spitfires team. He has the offensive tools to succeed, with smooth hands, a neat shot, and most notably, very strong playmaking skills. His speed and shiftiness are also exactly where you’d like to see them on an undersized winger. Going forward, Cole Davis must find more consistency and elevate his offensive game to star status, as the only way for him to earn an NHL role is to prove that he can bring energy and NHL-calibre offense in a 3rd line role. If he doesn’t, there are still many players in his archetype that have carved out very solid careers in the AHL and top European leagues.
Ceiling: NHL 3rd Line Playmaker
Projection: AHL Top-6
Floor: Productive European League Player (NL?)
34. Jared Woolley
Height/Weight: 6’4/207 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: London
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
It is quite difficult to make a name for yourself as a depth player on one of the deepest teams in Junior hockey, but Jared Woolley is doing just that for the London Knights. His rookie season saw him earn a call-up to London after a blazing start in the GOJHL. The 6’4 defenseman has been given a very clear role in London’s Memorial Cup run as a 3rd pairing defenseman, and as a result, it can be hard to determine the extent of what he can accomplish. What we do know, though, is that Woolley has played his role to a tee, playing a remarkably calm and physical game, remaining poised in his own end. Questions about his speed and offensive potential remain, but I would not blame a team for taking a chance on the OHL Champion knowing that he could take a much larger role in London next year.
Ceiling: #6 NHL Defenseman
Projection: #6 NHL Defenseman (Yeah, I think he takes advantage of that London Voodoo magic, but I’m not ranking guys based on Voodoo.)
Floor: USports
35. Parker Von Richter
Height/Weight: 6’1/183 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Mississauga
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #202/Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
Parker von Richter proved to be a strong and reliable defenseman for the Mississauga Steelheads this season, with his physical presence, high defensive IQ, and strong stickwork putting him on NHL radars. Going forward, von Richter must assume a stronger role with the Steelheads (as he mostly played on their 3rd pairing) and showcase more of his strong puck-moving ability to prove that he can carve a bottom-pairing role in the NHL. I do not currently project him hearing his name at this year’s draft, but I would not blame a team for seeing a safe add to their defensive depth in von Richter.
Ceiling: #6 NHL Defenseman
Projection: NHL Depth Defenseman
Floor: USports
36. Luca Testa
Height/Weight: 6’0/165 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Brantford
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
A look at Luca Testa’s stat line will have you questioning why he’s in NHL draft conversations in the first place, so I’ll explain something. Testa opened the season sidelined with injury, dropped 9 goals in his first 13 games, missed a month and a half with an injury, and scored just 3 goals in his remaining 35 games, plus 6 scoreless playoff games. At his best, Testa is a sharp goalscorer with strong puck skills and skating ability. Unfortunately, whatever plagued him in November took him off draft radars completely. Testa will have to prove that his strong start was not a fluke and take a top role in Brantford, but his weak finish means his name likely will not get called this year.
Ceiling: NHL 3rd Line Goalscorer
Projection: USports Scorer -> Europe
Floor: USports
37. Ty Henry
Height/Weight: 6’4/198lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Erie
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
Ty Henry emerged as a smooth-skating defenseman in limited minutes for the Erie Otters in his rookie OHL season. He’s also a last-second addition to my rankings (seriously, days before this will go up). Why? Well, it turns out that hidden in Erie’s 3rd pairing is a player with the ultrarare combination of size, skating, and mobility. The son of CFL alumni-turned-pastor Andrew Henry pairs his athleticism with a very solid understanding in the defensive zone. Unfortunately, Henry isn’t even OHL-level with the puck on his stick, and usually, that’s enough for me to rule out a player entirely. He can’t control the puck, his backhand is non-existent, and his shot is putrid for a guy whose strength and size should give him a threatening shot from the point. His playmaking is okay, but rarely effective due to his lack of composure with the puck on his stick.
However! I did see some flashes of confidence in the late stages of the season for Henry. Despite very limited shifts, it looks like he’s really working on his poise with the puck on his stick, and this late-season development is a beacon for NHL teams to give him a look late in the draft.
His defense is projectable to the NHL level. His size and mobility are a coach’s dream and will make him an analytics darling by some metrics. Henry’s offense, though, will need a borderline miraculous amount of development to make the big leagues. Gone are the days when you could play defensive specialists who are black holes offensively in the NHL. Henry reminds me of Martin Marincin, the 6’5 former NHL depth defenseman with great results defensively, but who handled the puck like a live grenade. I would not blame a team for seeing a budget EJ Emery, though, and in the 7th round, you could do worse.
Ceiling: Theoretically? #4 NHL Defenseman with PK responsibilities. Operating within the parameters of how much development is possible offensively? NHL Depth Defenseman (Martin Marincin)
Projection: USports -> Europe (Weirdly, I think he would be fine in the SHL or Czech Extraliga if that were to come up)
Floor: USports
38. Jack Van Volsen
Height/Weight: 6’1/187 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Mississauga
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
At first glance, there is not much to dislike about Jack Van Volsen. The 6’1 centre has smooth hands, a crisp shot, and very sharp hockey IQ. Yet, he left many scratching their heads this season in Mississauga. The Brooklin native has not put his toolbox together the way many expected, instead taking a supporting role with the Steelheads. Van Volsen must find a way to bring his weaponry together to assume a top role in Brampton next year, while also improving his skating stride and perhaps showcasing a more powerful motor. I’ll be watching closely, as Van Volsen has one of the highest ceilings this far down the list.
Ceiling: NHL 3rd Line
Projection: USports Standout -> Europe
Floor: USports
39. Jack Brauti
Height/Weight: 5’11/159 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Barrie
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
It took a while for Jack Brauti to land on my radar. 5 points in 32 games as a bottom-pair option for Barrie wasn’t exactly a head-turner. Then, as Connor Punnett and Olivier Savard were moved by the rebuilding Colts, Brauti snatched a top-4 spot and tripled his production the rest of the way, with 16 points in his last 30 games.
Brauti is solid. He’s a smooth skater with poise on the puck but also pairs that with underrated physicality, with a surprising amount of strength packed in his 6’, 165lbs frame. He has a crisp shot with promising, but inconsistent passing. Brauti is confident with the puck on his stick and generally knows where he wants the puck to go. However, his hands don’t always agree with him, whether it’s in the form of flubbing a stretch pass or losing the puck in his feet. He’s good enough at the shot-pass where I think it’s worthy of a note here.
Brauti loves jumping up in play, but perhaps it’s a habit best left in junior hockey if he doesn’t improve his tools with the puck on his stick. He has the skating and the mind to make the NHL, and those are the two most important NHL traits at this age. However, he lacks the toolbox to become a force offensively. I’d rather see him develop his puck skills, but the more likely outcome is that Brauti has to rely on his skating and IQ to become a defensive defenseman at the professional level. Which is fine, but I’d hate to suck the fun out of his game. He will get a look in the last two rounds, but I would wait and see how he progresses in the OHL.
Ceiling: NHL #5/6 Defenseman
Projection: AHL 2nd Pair
Floor: USports -> AHL
40. Nathan Aspinall
Height/Weight: 6’7/190 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Flint
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #176/Unranked (7th Round Consideration)
The 6’7 Nathan Aspinall made enough of a mark in Flint this season for me to say that he should be considered in the later rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft. He finished 4th in goals on the Firebirds, proving to be an effective force in front of and around the opposing net. His frame and high IQ positioning, paired with his decent skating will make him an intriguing flier for many NHL teams.
As for the NHL projection… it gets a little shakier. Aspinall is 190 pounds, and gaining muscle would likely go a long way, but it must not come at the cost of his speed. Also, despite being a decent skater, I find him quite awkward and still slower than he needs to be to succeed at a high level. His ceiling to me at the moment is Curtis Douglas, who out-produced him significantly in his OHL days and still had to come a long way to become a decent AHLer.
Ceiling: Curtis Douglas (Middle-6 AHLer)
Projection: AHL Bottom-6
Floor: USports
41. Sam McCue
Height/Weight: 6’1/187 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Peterborough/Owen Sound
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Sam McCue is a tenacious winger with a solid scoring touch who isn’t afraid of getting dirty. A trade to Owen Sound saw him increase his production, and he has proven to be a solid net-front presence in the OHL. Unfortunately, he currently lacks the speed and overall skating ability necessary to succeed in a bottom-6 role in today’s NHL and must take significant strides to follow in the footsteps of his brother Max in becoming an NHL prospect.
Ceiling: NHL 4th Line Winger
Projection: AHL Bottom-6
Floor: USports -> ECHL Top-6
42. Carson Woodall
Height/Weight: 5’11/161 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Honourable Mention)
The good thing about bad junior teams is that players who wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to get top minutes get a chance to prove themselves. In a top role for the suffering Spitfires, rookie Carson Woodall was… actually not bad! Woodall is a fine skater, with fine playmaking, an okay shot, and impressive physicality which, at his size, grades out to – you guessed it – fine.
Carson Woodall impressed me this season. He did fairly well despite being given very little to work with. He’s effective against the rush, loves playing with aggression, and likes jumping up into play. Woodall has the potential to be a much better junior hockey player than many players above him.
Unfortunately, it’s a matter of projectability. Usually, when discussing projectability in junior hockey, it’s a matter of too much skill, poor skating, and lack of physicality. In Woodall’s case, it’s more a matter that he lacks a standout trait. Carson Woodall will have a lengthy professional hockey career if that’s the route he chooses. However, he’s very similar to Frankie Marrelli, who I’m also not super high on, but who has defined his aggression defensively better.
Like Marrelli, I could see Woodall assuming a #6 role at the NHL level. As a 5’11 defenseman without a standout trait, though, the odds are rarely in your favour. Woodall will have to either elevate all of his well-rounded arsenal to become a top OHL defenseman, or find a standout quality that sets himself ahead of the rest of the pack.
Ceiling: NHL #6 Defenseman
Projection: AHL Top-6 Defenseman
Floor: USports -> ECHL
43. Bode Stewart
Height/Weight: 6’1/168 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Barrie
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Breakout Candidate)
Bode Stewart is a speedy forward with a crisp shot, good stickhandling, and solid hockey IQ who spent the season in a secondary role with the Barrie Colts. He impressed many with his performances at the end of the season and earned a spot on Barrie’s top line. He has a great motor, combined with great speed, which has made him very projectable as a bottom-6 forward. Stewart must prove that he can consistently utilize his speed both offensively and defensively, and must take a top role in Barrie for an NHL projection to become possible.
Ceiling: Speedy NHL 4th Liner
Projection: AHL 3rd Line
Floor: USports -> Europe
44. Charlie Paquette
Height/Weight: 6’1/192 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Guelph
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
Charlie Paquette is a heavy player with strong finishing in a power-forward mould. He took on a supporting role on a middling Guelph squad, finishing 4th on the team with goals. Paquette has a strong stick but must put in more work to stand out, whether it is by improving his speed or by proving he can provide more creativity on offense. He has a solid foundation, but it will take improvement to his skating and more consistent performances for him to land on an NHL team’s radar.
Ceiling: NHL 4th Line Power Forward
Projection: AHL Bottom-6
Floor: USports
45. Jakub Chromiak
Height/Weight: 5’11/183 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Kingston
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (2024-25 Breakout Candidate)
Once touted as one of this draft’s top prospects, Jakub Chromiak has fallen off most draft boards. It’s not that anything disastrous has happened to him or his play, he just has not taken the necessary steps that were expected of him going into his draft year. He was moved out of Sudbury after failing to crack their top-4, as they needed to free an import spot for fellow Slovak Dalibor Dvorsky. In Kingston, he didn’t do very poorly but struggled to take hold of a top role. He was named to Slovakia’s WJC preliminary roster, only to be one of the final cuts.
The tools that made him a top prospect are still there. However, he has not found the consistency offensively nor has his defensive game developed nearly enough to make him a legitimate NHL prospect. I wouldn’t write him off yet, but significant strides must be made, and he must claim a top role in Kingston next season to be considered by the big leagues.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: Czech Extraliga Top-4
Floor: Slovak Extraliga Top-4
46. Matthew Virgilio
Height/Weight: 5’11/183 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Sault Ste. Marie (Traded to Niagara)
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Matthew Virgilio was once a highly-touted prospect won over by the Soo Greyhounds after a coaching crisis in Michigan (NCAA). At the end of his DY, though, you’ll struggle to find him on most draft boards. Still, he remains on my radar. The 5’11 defenseman is at his best with the puck on his stick, with a sharp ability to move the puck up the ice, paired with a crisp shot and strong puck skills. Unfortunately, his skating still lags behind what a smaller defenseman is expected to bring to the table, and despite his progress in the area, he may need more ripening defensively. Keep an eye on him, but I do not expect him to hear his name called this year.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: USports
Floor: USports
47. Josef Eichler
Height/Weight: 6’/192 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Windsor
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: #186/Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Josef Eichler is an old-school defenseman who has notable strength, which he showcases with his hard-nosed physical play and strong shot. Eichler has not shown enough offensively to warrant NHL consideration, but his play style will guarantee him a lengthy career in professional hockey. If he wants to increase his ceiling, Eichler may have to shake off the tough guy role he has carved on a poor Windsor team, find a way to utilize his hard shot from the point and showcase what he can do with the puck on his stick more often.
Ceiling: #7 NHL Defenseman
Projection: Czech Extraliga Regular
Floor: Chance Liiga Regular
48. Jacob Therrien
Height/Weight: 5’8/165 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: North Bay
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Many words ago, I told you that Beckett Sennecke is a 5’10 player in a 6’2 body. Well, meet the 6’4 player trapped in a 5’8 body. There’s absolutely no way Jacob Therrien is actually 5’8 (5’7, tops), and yet he throws the body and battles like he was a giant yesterday. He packs a surprising amount of strength in 165 lbs, is always willing to throw a check (yes, including the dirty ones), and takes an unfathomable amount of beating every game. Jacob Therrien is not a player that OHLers like… unless he’s on your team. He’s dirty, I’ll get that out of the way. He’s clearly a guy who watched Brad Marchand growing up. Therrien will throw you off your game, and your focal point goes from trying to win the hockey game to getting this little guy back.
Therrien is very speedy, but still not a refined skater. I don’t think that will matter, as his role at any level is going to rely on his straight-line speed, but it would be nice to see him improve. His shot is good but inconsistent. His playmaking abilities are even better at times, but glimmers of NHL-level vision come and go. Therrien is very erratic with the puck on his stick at times, and a lack of poise and puck skills will limit him to an energy role wherever he goes.
Taking a beating like Therrien does is difficult no matter your size. Therrien welcomes it, but he’s 5’8, 165 lbs, and not even playing against men yet. He also lacks the tools that Braydon McCallum – who earned an Andrew Shaw comparison – benefit from. Therein lies the problem for Therrien. He is not skilled enough to be Brad Marchand, and he is not tall enough to be Brendan Lemieux. The NHL upside is hard to find here. Instead, Jacob Therrien will likely be a fan-favourite in the lower professional leagues, as his speed, edge, and never-ending motor will win them over at a level where his offensive tools are viable.
Ceiling: AHL 3rd Line
Projection: EIHL Legend
Floor: USports
49. Alex Kostov
Height/Weight: 6’3/192 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Sault Ste. Marie/Flint
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Alex Kostov is a work in progress, but I’m keeping my eye on him. The 6’3 winger battles hard and shows off a mean streak. He has a sharp shot and a nose for the net, but is very inconsistent offensively. He has a fast top-end speed, but his skating is too heavy for him to make the necessary adjustments along the way. This is a player that could break out, or at the very least he will develop into a solid OHLer.
Ceiling: NHL Bottom-6 Winger
Projection: ECHL Top-6
Floor: USports -> ECHL
50. Matthew Jenken
Height/Weight: 6’4/201 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Flint
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Matthew Jenken is a fine skater at 6’4, with great reach and a solid understanding of the game in his own zone. He’s a very solid playmaker, with the vision, deception, and drive to execute high-level breakout passes. However, Jenken lacks ability with the puck on his stick, and that will limit him significantly at the OHL level. His skating is good for his size, but it will likely be a weakness at the NHL level. I’m not super impressed yet, but he looked more comfortable with the puck as the season went on. I wouldn’t pick him yet, but I would keep an eye and see if Jenken improves with Flint. Namely, he needs to refine his game defensively (whether it’s by getting physical or using his reach more effectively) and put significant work in on his puck skills. He could be fine depth one day.
Ceiling: NHL Depth Defenseman
Projection: USports -> ECHL Top-4
Floor: USports
51. Leo Serlin
Height/Weight: 6’/194 lbs
Position: RW/C
OHL Team: Guelph
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
A 2-goal OHL debut (including the GWG) was a great start for Leo Serlin, but 8 points in his final 46 OHL games (regular season + playoffs) largely took him out of draft consideration. Serlin is a hardworking winger with quick feet and a sharp shot with the upside to become a bottom-6 workhorse at the NHL level. He must show significantly more success and consistency offensively in Guelph next year before he can be considered by NHL teams, though.
Ceiling: NHL 4th Line Energy Player
Projection: USports
Floor: USports
52. Rowan Topp
Height/Weight: 6’2/196 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Guelph
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Rowan Topp impressed many with his strong defensive presence for the Guelph Storm in his first full OHL season. He moves around quite well and he’s not afraid to throw around his 6’2 frame. Unfortunately, more ability with the puck on his stick is necessary to prove that he can hold his own at the professional level.
Ceiling: NHL Depth Defenseman
Projection: USports
Floor: USports
53. Daniel Chen
Height/Weight: 6’4/185 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Brantford
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Daniel Chen is a smooth-skating, 6’4 defenseman whose mobility paired with his size caught my eye. He must prove that he can process the game at an OHL level before he is considered for the big leagues. His athleticism and physicality are impressive, but a lack of consistency with the puck on his stick, poor playmaking ability, and generally disastrous decision-making limited him significantly in his rookie OHL season. However, he showed me enough to the point where I will keep an eye on him in his upcoming season in Brantford.
Ceiling: #6 NHL Defenseman
Projection: USports
Floor: USports
54. Benjamin Cormier
Height/Weight: 6’/181 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Owen Sound
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Ben Cormier is well-rounded but perhaps lacks a standout trait that will take him to the big leagues. He has a good shot, good puck skills, and solid passing, overall displaying an offensive toolbox that will make him a formidable offensive presence in the OHL. His motor is commendable, and while I see the quickness in his legs, I think there is a lot of potential still to be unlocked in his skating. He’s an intelligent player who must show significantly more consistency at the OHL level before an NHL upside is considered. Perhaps he could become an NHL 4C with the right steps?
Ceiling: NHL 4C
Projection: AHL Bottom-6/ECHL Top-6
Floor: USports
55. Charles Hilton F
Height/Weight: 6’5/201 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Ottawa
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
Charlie Hilton is the youngest player in this year’s draft, and at 6’5, his frame and work ethic has given him some looks. He has a heavy shot, good hands, and solid checking ability, but a heavy stride will limit his ceiling. He was scratched for much of Ottawa’s season, he must crack the 67’s roster AND show effectiveness offensively to be considered for NHL potential.
Ceiling: NHL 4th Line Grinder
Projection: USports
Floor: USports
56. Maxim Dirracolo
Height/Weight: 6’4/216 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Kitchener
Recruit Scouting Rank/My Rank: Unranked (Honourable Mention)
I wasn’t really expecting to put a mid-season OHL free agent signing on my radar, but Kitchener always pulls something out of their sleeve. You see, most OHL teams don’t feel the need to sign free agents when they’re loaded with prospects from the 15-round OHL Priority Selection. Yet, it was free agency that landed the Rangers a younger Arber Xhekaj (who they traded for a barrage of picks in his overage year), Jonathan Yantsis (who potted 50 goals in 18/19), and their 5th highest scorer this year in Adrian Misaljevic. It took 2+ seasons for all three to breakout in the OHL, so I won’t expect much different from Dirracolo. Like those three, I don’t think Dirracolo is going to hear his name called at the NHL Draft.
However! I see where Dirracolo could become a late bloomer, so I’ll profile him anyway. He was signed and thrust into the OHL mid-season after NHL prospects such as Tomas Hamara and Roman Schmidt were moved, and… was solid, which is impressive considering the circumstances. Dirracolo is mobile and a good skater at 6’4, but has heavy feet that limit him at times. He’s strong, and looked more comfortable being physical as the year went on. Offensively, his tools arguably aren’t even OHL-level yet, but he clearly has the right ideas. Defensively, he must figure out how to stay attentive and utilize his rare strength + reach + mobility combination. I see the pieces of a top OHL defenseman, but it might take a few years.
Ceiling: NHL Depth Defenseman/AHL Top-4
Projection: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Floor: USports
Also considered: Carter Lowe, Lincoln Moore, Noah Roberts, Callum Cheynowski, Zack Sandhu
Lowe and Moore showed glimpses of upside on their teams’ 4th lines. They didn’t show much in terms of production, but could be CHL Free Agent candidates in the future if they break out.
Roberts, Cheynowski, and Sandhu are fine defenders who must find standout traits to set themselves away from the pack, but showed potential throughout the season.
OVERAGERS
Aside from Anthony Romani, no overager really overwhelmed me this year. Most of these guys could be slotted in the top 56 of this list. However, I don’t really like comparing guys in their D+2 to guys in their DY, and I believe that there is value in being able to wait and let a prospect develop rather than drafting them and needing a spot for them within a year. Most of these guys, though, would be good results for the younger guys (as in, becoming top-level OHLers), and as a result, I would say they’re all worth taking by around the #30 mark on this list.
Dalyn Wakely (DY+2)
Height/Weight: 6’/190 lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: North Bay
Draft Projection: 6th to 7th Round
I guess the question with Dalyn Wakely is: How much salt do I take this with? Wakely was one of five players to hit 100 points in the OHL this season – 3 of them are NHL prospects, and 1 is Anthony Romani, who I have projected in the 3rd round. Wakely was fine for the last two years, but broke out at the age of 20 on one of the best lines in Ontario beside Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel.
The problem with having three overagers succeed on a line together is that not only do you have to figure out how to weigh their physical maturity over teenagers, but you also have to divide the credit. It would be very easy to give all the credit to the younger Romani who almost hit 60 goals… but I don’t think that would be right.
Dayln Wakely is a pro. He’s a battler. That’s how he found his role over the last few years on North Bay, finding his touch in front of the net and earning his spot along the boards. This season, though, he added a new dimension to his game. Wakely became a dynamic playmaker, giving his intelligence something to work with through the middle of the ice. He’s not just a defensive centre who crashes the net, Dayln Wakely is an OHL star. He has a sharp shot, a nose for the net, defensive intelligence, and a motor that will win his coaches over.
However… he’s doing this as a 20-year-old against younger players. Also, his skating, while improving, will hold him back at the next level. I don’t think you can ignore what Wakely is showing off. A team that drafts him will only get his rights for a year, but Wakely’s performances this year are what you’re praying for if you’re picking half of the players on the above list. Sure, you could wait and see what improves during his OA year in North Bay (which, I do think he should go back for) and sign him later… or you could jump the line and pick him in the 6/7th round. Wakely will be a pro, it’s just a matter of how far he can elevate it.
Ceiling: NHL Bottom-6 Forward
Projection: AHL 2nd or 3rd Line C
Floor: ECHL All-Star
Beau Jelsma (DY+2)
Height/Weight: 5’10/174 lbs
Position: LW/C
OHL Team: Barrie
Draft Projection: Undrafted
You can’t always pick a guy who has already proven he can play in the AHL, but 20-year-old Beau Jelsma fared well in an Amateur Try-Out with the WBS Penguins after his season in Barrie concluded.
I felt that Jelsma should’ve been selected in 2022 and there is evidence of me saying that my hometown Maple Leafs should consider inviting him to their development camp (which they did, surely due to my pleads). All five U18 players that scored more OHL goals than Jelsma heard their name called at the NHL draft, as did 12 out of the next 14 players under Jelsma.
I understand. However, Jelsma has been invited to two straight development camps (Leafs, Hurricanes), and will likely head over to the Penguins organization if he goes undrafted. Maybe if you’re a prospective team, you’re worried he goes there anyway. I don’t expect Jelsma to be drafted, but he will surely sign a professional deal within the next year.
Jelsma is a quick, strong skater who utilizes his high IQ and well-rounded offensive arsenal to serve as a dangerous, but not particularly flashy forward. He’s a strong forechecker with solid defensive zone results and strong playmaking ability. His shot, while improving, still lacks the zip I think may be necessary for him to score at a higher level. Jelsma had 19 more points and 8 more goals than his next-best teammate, is super fast, and is looking better and better with the puck on his stick. While I don’t know if he has the middle-6 upside I once tipped him for, I would say he still has the opportunity to develop into a 3rd line energy player at the NHL level. His size will limit him, but I hope Jelsma can continue to strengthen up to battle at the professional level. However, it is entirely possible that teams see him as property of the Penguins, so I would not be shocked if that’s where he continues his professional hockey career.
Ceiling: NHL 3rd Line Energy
Projection: AHL Middle-6 Winger
Floor: AHL Bottom-6 Winger
Ruslan Gazizov (DY+2)
Height/Weight: 5’11/187 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: London
Draft Projection: 7th Round
Let me take you through the London Knights leading scorers again. Flyers prospect, Leafs prospect, Ruslan Gazizov, Jets prospect, projected top-5 pick, Flyers prospect, Sharks prospect, Blue Jackets prospect, projected top-60 pick, Bruins prospect, Islanders prospect, Blues pick. Yes, so far the NHL has taken notice of 10 out of London’s top 11 scorers, and yet #3 on the list is completely up for grabs, what gives?
Gazizov is a very offensively gifted forward who has made major strides in his defensive abilities and efforts in the last three years. He dazzles with the puck on his stick, has an excellent eye to make plays, and his shot is sharp. He’s shaken off the markers of inconsistency that plagued him in his draft year, and has worked on pretty much everything that caused him to go undrafted in 2022 when many projected him to go as high as the 2nd round that year. Gazizov looks more competitive on the forecheck than ever and is displaying pro-level tendencies. His skating isn’t necessarily bad, but I would still like to see him improve his first steps and explosiveness on his feet. His size shouldn’t be an issue at 5’11 and I think he is strong, feisty, and talented enough for it to be an afterthought anyway.
Gazizov is going to be a scorer in professional hockey. I just don’t know which league he’ll score in. Everything needs to elevate up a notch if he is to have a shot at the NHL. I see shades of Nikita Gusev, as a strong, small, super-skilled forward with issues picking up speed (worth noting that Gusev is, like, a generational KHL talent, so it is not a career projection, just a comparable). I would consider drafting him in the 7th, Gazizov is someone who I’m confident can score at a fair rate in the AHL, and with enough development, could carve a role on an NHL team.
Ceiling: NHL 3rd Line Scorer
Projection: AHL 2nd Line
Floor: ECHL All-Star
Owen Van Steensel (DY+2)
Height/Weight: 5’10/174 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: North Bay
Draft Projection: Undrafted
We covered two stars from the North Bay Battalion’s monster first line, so… where’s the passenger?
The answer is… nowhere. Owen Van Steensel is not a passenger. So, how does a playmaker who was 11th in North Bay scoring in his D+1 year become the 7th-best goal-scorer in Ontario? By discovering that he has one of the best shots in the league, I guess. Seriously, Van Steensel has emerged as a surprise double threat in the OHL. He’s quick, has a sharp shot, great playmaking ability, and plays with an edge.
I’m a fan of Van Steensel. Here’s the thing, though. Romani and Wakely all progressed and bubbled before they broke out. Van Steensel looked amazing in his own right, but… it has been out of nowhere, and I’d like to see if it’s the real deal in an overage year with North Bay. I also don’t know if he’s going to see as much space at the next level. Like Romani, I wonder how prepared Van Steensel is to fight not just for possession, but for every inch of space. Van Steensel is already a battler, though, so I’m not all that worried. I would keep my eye on him for sure.
Ceiling: NHL Bottom-6 Energy Scorer
Projection: AHL Middle-6 Winger
Floor: ECHL All-Star
Mitch Young (D+1)
Height/Weight: 6’1/170 lbs
Position: LHD
OHL Team: Sarnia
Draft Projection: Undrafted
While scouting a poor Sarnia Sting team (admittedly, looking for Lukas Fischer), I stumbled upon potentially the least-discussed breakout player in the draft. Mitch Young played a depth role on Sarnia last season, but blossomed into one of the OHL’s most dynamic defensemen. Young is mobile, he’s smooth, and he’s unreal with the puck on his stick…
But there’s a catch. I don’t think that Young understands how to use his tools offensively. He could be an ultra-creative defenseman in the mold of Rodwin Dioncio, but there doesn’t seem to be a consistent idea or understanding behind plays, the addition of which would make him one of the OHL’s premier defensemen (I think he’s a better skater than the aforementioned Dioncio, FWIW).
Defensively, he’s aggressive, dynamic, and physical. He uses his skating in his own zone to hound puck carriers. I think his understanding is lacking in his own end too, though. I don’t know what it is, but perhaps he could use a better understanding of how to effectively use his skating to become one of the best gap controllers in the league.
There’s a lot to like, and there’s a lot not to like with Mitch Young. He would be fun to take a shot on, though. I’m not sure what I want him to be, but I think the sky is the limit for what he can do. At worst, he could be a toolsy defenseman with slick moves and sharp skating, but who is prone to giveaways and inconsistent breakouts. At best, you’re looking at a full-time NHL defenseman who came out of nowhere.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: AHL Top-6 D
Floor: USports -> ECHL
Finn Harding (D+1)
Height/Weight: 6’1/201 lbs
Position: RHD
OHL Team: Mississauga
Draft Projection: Undrafted
Overager Finn Harding turned many heads with his high-end defensive stickwork this season. That, accompanied by strong playmaking ability and a crisp shot, puts him on my radar, but not high enough to be considered draft-worthy as a D+1 player. If Harding works on his heavy skating stride, he has the potential to be a sneaky CHL FA signing in the future with 3rd pairing NHL upside.
Ceiling: #5 NHL Defenseman
Projection: AHL Top-6 D
Floor: USports -> AHL
Marco Mignosa (D+1)
Height/Weight: 6’/168 lbs
Position: RW
OHL Team: Sault Ste. Marie
Draft Projection: Undrafted
Marco Mignosa is an intelligent winger who impressed many in his D+1 year with the Soo Greyhounds. He has great speed, strong hands, and great instincts on both sides of the puck. Mignosa was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs Development Camp last year, and I’d expect his route to the pros to be as an undrafted free agent. A slow finish to the season took a bite out of his stock, but if he can elevate his offense and find more consistency with the Greyhounds next season, he is sure to get calls from professional teams.
Ceiling: NHL Bottom-6 Winger
Projection: AHL 3rd Line Winger
Floor: European Regular
Owen Allard (D+2)
Height/Weight: 6’2/201lbs
Position: C
OHL Team: Sault Ste. Marie
Draft Projection: 6th to 7th Round
After going undrafted in his first two years of eligibility, Owen Allard drew eyes when he made the cut for Canada’s World Junior team. Unfortunately, I do not believe that Allard will change the script in his 3rd year of eligibility. At the age of 20, his production at the OHL level is simply not draftworthy. However, I could see him earning an NHL look as a fourth-liner if he is able to succeed in the AHL. He plays a mature game and could play a role similar to what Canada tapped him to play on its fourth line.
Ceiling: NHL 4th Line
Projection: AHL Bottom-6
Floor: AHL 4th Line
Trent Swick (D+2)
Height/Weight: 6’7/216 lbs
Position: LW
OHL Team: Kitchener
Draft Projection: 7th Round
In his third year of eligibility, 6’7 winger Trent Swick has found his footing in the OHL, approaching a point per game in Kitchener and coming up clutch with 5 goals in 7 playoff games. He moves quite well given his size, has strong hands, and a strong shot, and his size + strength makes him a threat in front of the net. Some would consider Swick a late bloomer, and thus worthy of an NHL look as a long-term prospect. After all, 6’7 forwards don’t fall off trees. Unfortunately, I believe he is significantly further behind where fellow giant Curtis Douglas (my go-to comparable for big guys out of the OHL) was at the same age. Any prospective teams will need a specific plan and a lot of patience if they take a chance on the 20-year-old.
Ceiling: Curtis Douglas (Hulking Middle-6 AHLer)
Projection: AHL 4th Line/ECHL Top-6
Floor: ECHL Regular
Thank you for looking through my Top 56 OHL Skaters for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft! Don’t worry, I understand if you didn’t read all of that, but keep this in your bookmarks so you can come back after the draft and learn about all the draftees from the OHL. If you liked this, follow me at @TaahaaLone and support my content and I. If you haven’t already, check out our draft guide!
