The
NHL draft is now only a few weeks away, so it's time to conclude our
yearly media/scout poll.
For comparison's sake, here are the
preliminary (from November) and the midseason (from February)
consensus lists.
Preliminary
List
Midseason
List
It's
always interesting to note some of the major changes/trends from the
beginning of the year to the end. Billy Constantinou and Matvey
Guskov are big fallers over the course of the season after starting
the year in most Top 10's for the OHL. Ryan Suzuki also has to be
considered here. Came into the year as the unquestionable number one
from the OHL and ends the year at number 3. At this rate, he is not
even a lock to be a first round pick. He went from 14 number one
votes in the preliminary list, down to 8 at midseason, down to only two
votes now. As for the big riser, that has to be Jamieson Rees.
He got only 5 votes total in November, and is now on every single
list, even receiving multiple top 5 votes.
At this point, the
number of OHL players taken in the first round remains a total
mystery. It's a noted down year in the OHL. Who will be the first
player taken and when? Will the OHL even have a player taken inside
the Top 20? One thing is certain and that is the top 8 players from
the OHL this year appear to be pretty set no matter who you ask. On
almost every list, the top 8 players listed here were the top 8
players, just in different orders.
As always, it's important
to note the contributors, as without them and their terrific insight,
this article does not exist. For the final list, the following helped
out:
Corey
Pronman - NHL Prospects Writer for TheAthletic
(@coreypronman)
Dominic
Tiano - Writer for The OHL
Writers (@dominictiano)
Dylan
Galloway - OHL Scout for Future
Considerations
(@dylangalloway_)
Mike
Morreale - Staff writer for NHL.com (@mikemorrealeNHL)
Scott
Wheeler - NHL Prospects Writer for TheAthletic
(@scottcwheeler)
Chris
Peters - NHL Prospects Writer for ESPN
(@chrismpeters)
Cam
Robinson - Managing Editor for
Dobber
Prospects
(@Hockey_Robinson)
Here's the list:
1. Arthur Kaliyev –
Forward – Hamilton Bulldogs
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 1st
(13x)
Lowest Ranking: 6th
(1x)
Comments:
“The best shooter in
the draft after Cole Caufield, Kaliyev has been my No. 1 prospect in
the OHL for some time now, which says as much about his skill level
(he’s better than some scouts give him credit) as it does about the
strength of this OHL group (the best junior league on the planet
would probably prefer to have its top prospect be a kid who’s going
to go higher than the teens).” - Anonymous
“Stupid smart player.
He can run a power play with the best of them because of his
offensive IQ and shot. Everything Hamilton did ran through him. He'll
need a driver on his line though to get into the offensive zone.” -
Anonymous
“Boom or bust type
player. His scoring is without a doubt impressive and could make him
an impact player at the next level. He's an average skater, and if he
can improve on this aspect of his game he will be one step closer to
realizing that dream. My biggest worry with his game is his compete
level and play off the puck in general. This could be a maturity
issue and improve over time and he could prove to be the best OHL
player to come out of the 2019 NHL Draft. But with the state of his
current game he's got some work to do to reach his true potential.”
- Dylan Galloway
“There are few players
in this crop that can divide the scouting world so demonstrably.
Kaliyev is a premier point producer. His shot is right near the top
of the heap. He has good vision, quality puck skills, and knows how
to find the quiet areas of the rink. His deficiencies are readily
apparent. He clearly lacks fire away from the puck, and often relies
on his mates to recoup it for him to finish. I like to swing big on
talent, and Kaliyev has that in spades. He’s on the younger side of
this class, so perhaps a bit of maturity can aid in the inspiration
process moving forwards.” - Cam Robinson
“He's polarizing for
questions of whether he'll be a 200 foot player so I'm going all in
and saying he'll be the first OHL player picked. We all know he can
get to the scoring areas, score and his release is lethal. The
defensive game will come. I saw him kill penalties for Hamilton
during the latter part of the season and he did just fine. Did I want
to see more in the playoffs? Sure, but Hamilton got dusted pretty
quick.” - Steve Clark
“
I
like guys with measurable talent and a bit of personality. It’s
something the game kinda needs, and Kaliyev certainly brings it. The
guy knows how to score in a variety of ways in many situations, and
is the only OHLer who crossed 40% involvement in total team scoring,
and only one of three players I’ve tracked this year with primary
points on 30% even strength goals on average. I certainly can
understand the reservations regarding his apparent lack of intensity
on-ice, but the results are there, and if there is a fit with the
right system/program, there could be a tremendous scoring winger
here. Whatever it is he’s doing, it works, but whatever he becomes
is really up to him.” - Will Scouch
“When
it comes to draft eligible OHL players, Kaliyev is without a doubt
the most offensively gifted of the bunch. 51 goals on a young
Bulldogs team is an exceptional feat, and he already has one of the
most lethal shots in the league. His wrist shot off the wing while
stationary is deadly accurate, while he's still capable of firing
pucks to the net off the rush and has a powerful slapshot/one-timer
in his arsenal too. Kaliyev is a volume shooter and often follows his
shot to the net. That makes him a threat to score from anywhere on
the ice. But what I really like about Kaliyev's game is his ability
to find space on the ice without the puck. He benefitted from some
great playmaking linemates in Hamilton this year, but Kaliyev's knack
for finding the right place on the ice always made him dangerous,
even when everybody in the building knew he was the man to stop.
Whether or not he can continue to find that space at the next level
is certainly a question mark, and for me, will determine how much of
his offence will carry over from the OHL. Overall, his defence has
plenty of room for improvement. But given his offensive skillset, all
he needs is to not be a liability in his own end to have value.
Kaliyev's offensive potential is sky-high, and with goals always at a
premium, I have a hard time believing he goes any later than 17th
overall in the draft.”
- Victor Findlay
2. Thomas Harley – Defense
– Mississauga Steelheads
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 1st
(2x)
Lowest Ranking: 6th
(2x)
Comments:
“Great skating ability
allows him to close quickly on players. Knows his gaps and how to use
his stick. He possesses an all-around game and an ability to create
time and space when he handles the puck. Harley, to me, is the
second-best best defenseman among North American skaters in the
draft, after Bowen Byram of Vancouver (WHL).” - Mike Morreale
“I like Harley. A lot.
But I can’t bring myself to put him at the top of this list like
we’ve seen from some rankings out there throughout the season. He’s
an excellent skater who has an intriguing and excellent set of skills
and thinks the game at an extremely high level. He’s an elite pp
quarterback, an excellent defender at the transition game – a
one-man breakout machine – and joins the rush like no other
defender in the class. But when I try to find his compete level in
his own zone, I think he leaves it at the opposing blueline. If he
can find that, then we have a real player here.” - Dominic Tiano
“
I
honestly have zero clue what Harley’s potential is. I’ve always
found him to be a good skater who can quarterback a power play, but
his analytics at even strength are certainly not what you’d expect
for a 1st round NHL talent. A lot of his production came on the power
play, he earned points on even strength goals at about an average
rate for CHL defensemen (~35%), and while he boosted goals for rates
by over 50%, goals against rates increased by over 60%, and my
viewings backed that up somewhat. I found him somewhat underwhelming
at the U18s, especially with his decision making in his own zone, and
my OHL viewings showed a solid passing, aggressive defender who got
burned a few times. I see why people are enticed, but I’m not
nearly on the wagon as much as others, Top-10 30+ NHLeScore be
darned.” - Will Scouch
“I've
seen some scouts compare Mississauga Steelheads defenceman Thomas
Harley to Cam Fowler on the low-end and Thomas Chabot on the
high-end. Stylistically, the Chabot comparison satisfies my sense.
Harley is an effortless skater who can gain speed in the blink of an
eye and swivel his way through the neutral zone as a puck-carrier
with relative ease. His shot is okay -- nothing special. I'm not as
sold on Harley's hockey sense as most scouts, but it's not a weakness
by any means. The big concern with Harley was his effort level. I
often found Harley to be a little on the laissez-faire side of
things, almost to a fault, and that he struggled to flip the switch
when his team needed it. That said, Harley had to play huge minutes
for the Steelheads, so perhaps some of that is conditioning related,
as he might have been conserving energy. I'm not sure I see Harley as
a top pair defenceman at the NHL level, but he could comfortably slot
into a second-pair somewhere down the road.” - J.D. Burke
“Has
a lot of the traits that you like in a young defender with size,
skill & an ability to skate. Spent time quarterbacking the
Steelheads PP but I'm not sold on his total hockey IQ. Took too many
gambles & could be pressured when he went back to get pucks but
the raw tools are there.” - Mark Seidel
“Defender
is a strong puck mover who skates the puck or makes a heady pass.
Love the poise, size, smarts and speed combo he possesses. Even
though his development trajectory was steep from when he came into
the OHL he is still progressing in all areas. Not super refined in
his own zone, he has a ways to go in his development yet.” - Dan
Stewart
3. Ryan Suzuki – Forward –
Barrie Colts
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 1st
(2x)
Lowest Ranking: 6th
(1x)
Comments:
“One of the best
playmakers in this draft class. His vision and creativity are very
high end and enable to see passing lanes and execute plays with
extreme precision and consistency. On top of his incredible play
making ability Suzuki has showcased a lethal shot, that, when he
chooses to use it comes off his stick with great accuracy and speed.
Suzuki needs to utilize his shot more often to become a more
effective player and I found his overall compete to be inconsistent
at best. He would show up some periods and steal the show and at
other times was invisible.” - Dylan Galloway
“Excellent playmaking
tools, but lacks consistency. I think some of those concerns are a
little overblown, but I agree with others that he can hang on the
perimeter too much.” - Anonymous
“Suzuki has dropped on
every list out there except mine. Just can not ignore the skills he
possesses, but I readily admit his season may have hurt his draft
stock. He possesses elite skills with superb skating and excellent
hockey sense. There’s not a better passer available from this draft
class and he can do it at top speed. Like Kaliyev, it all comes down
to compete level and whether he can raise that. It’s there at times
so it is not as big a red flag for me. It’s all about consistency.”
- Dominic Tiano
“
Outside
of measurable talent and personality, I value swinging on upside
greatly. Suzuki is arguably the biggest upside player out of the OHL
to me. He was quite inconsistent, and his primary point involvement
was average (~21%), but every time I’ve laid eyes on him he strikes
me as a player who can quarterback a line, seeing plays developing
well in advance, and on the right line, could centre a powerful unit
in the NHL. He may not get to dangerous areas as much as you might
want, but I don’t think that’s his game. He does seem to lack
confidence at times, which may be tough to improve, but if he puts it
all together, he could be one of the better “field general-type”
playmakers to come out of this draft.” - Will Scouch
“The
list of players in this year's NHL Entry Draft with more raw talent
than Barrie Colts forward Ryan Suzuki isn't a long one. It's why
Suzuki started the year at No. 10 on Jeremy Davis' consolidated Draft
rankings, where it showed that one scout had him as high as sixth
overall. Here we are barely a week-plus away from the Draft itself,
and I'm uncertain as to whether he'll cross the stage on day one.
Suzuki's on-ice vision and playmaking ability are top-five in his
class. He's a strong skater already, and I suspect that he'll only
get better as he builds muscle. I've come away from most of my Suzuki
viewings this season disappointed though. His competitiveness waxed
and waned between piss poor and halfway decent. Way too much of
Suzuki's time was spent on the perimeter, letting the game come to
him. If Suzuki can put it all together, there's serious home run
potential. It's going to take a lot of work on Suzuki's end to get
there though.” - J.D. Burke
“One
of the highest IQ's in the draft & makes passes that his
teammates don't even expect but he disappeared too many shifts and
periods for my liking. Doesn't have a physical side to his game but
his smarts and poise will be important as he moves into the NHL.” -
Mark Seidel
“After
a strong start to his season, Suzuki's draft stock trailed off
towards the end of the year as players like Kaliyev, Harley, and
Tomasino all solidified themselves as first round talent for the
draft. Suzuki never seemed to find chemistry with anybody else the
same way he did with Lucas Chiodo before the trade, and an injury did
his stock no favours at the 2019 U-18 tournament in Sweden. However,
there's still a lot I like about Suzuki's game. For starters, his
bread and butter is transition offence off the rush. He can get it
started with an excellent pass, or he can create opportunities with
his top-end skating ability. Although not a powerful skater, Suzuki's
elusiveness and agility makes him a nightmare for defenders coming in
over the blueline. Couple this with his excellent vision and you have
the best pure '01 born playmaker in the OHL, for my money at least.
Away from the puck, Suzuki has lots of room for improvement. While I
do like his active stick and willingness to support low in the zone,
but he's relatively ineffective until the play heads the other way.
But to me, it's not a lack of effort rather than a lack of strength.
If this is an area that Suzuki continues to build on with age, I can
still see him projecting to be a top six playmaker in the NHL. I
don't see him going any lower that 23rd in the draft.” - Victor
Findlay
4. Philip Tomasino –
Forward – Niagara IceDogs
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 1st
(1x)
Lowest Ranking: 8th
(1x)
Comments:
“An excellent skater
with really solid puck control and good vision. Tomasino carries the
puck well through traffic and utilizes some nifty edge work and hands
to get the puck to dangerous scoring areas. Sometimes can stick
handle himself into corners and force plays that aren't there. Good
quick stick on the back helps break up plays, but is inconsistent in
his defensive play.” - Dylan Galloway
“I could put Suzuki
here, but I saw Tomasino a lot more and his offensive gifts are
outstanding and you can check the highlight reels for some his goals.
Hopefully next year he will kill penalties because his defensive game
is OK, but far from well-rounded.” - Steve Clark
“Tomasino has an
excellent combination of skill, skating, compete and high-level
hockey sense and may just be the best all-around forward in the draft
class. Despite his size, he plays fearlessly with a non-stop motor
and work ethic. It may sound foolish to say of a guy that put up 30+
goals, but one thing he needs to work on is his shot. If he could get
more power behind it, improve his release and his accuracy, there’s
no telling what he would be capable of.” - Dominic Tiano
“
Tomasino
has a much more projectable game to me. Good skill, solid skating,
gets to dangerous areas. I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone
jump to take him over some more well-known names. Played on a great
team, but his impact on even strength goal scoring are promising. Of
CHL first-time eligibles, just he, Dylan Cozens, Raphael Lavoie, Alex
Beaucage and Nathan Legare were on the ice for 4.5 even strength
goals for per 60 minutes, and he’s the only one who had points on
60% or more of those goals. The numbers are favourable, but I’m
somewhat skeptical of super-high upside, but he’s certainly no
slouch.” - Will Scouch
“A
well-rounded centre, Tomasino is very dangerous around the net and
actually plays a solid physical game despite being on the smaller
side. He’s so strong at carrying the puck and his quick release
makes his one-timers so fascinating to watch. Consistency is an issue
and he needs to be more engaged in his own zone.” - Steven Ellis
“One
of the most underrated players in the Draft. Really became a catalyst
for Niagara despite his age. Reminds me of when Josh Bailey stayed
under the radar during his draft year & has proven to become a
very good NHL'er.” - Mark Seidel
“High-end
speed and burst. Super skilled hands and the ability to make plays at
full speed. Strong shot. Love the abilities he has but hate the
consistency of which he utilizes his skill-set. Also, for a guy with
decent size he gets knocked around at the junior level far too much
for my liking. He does have value in the early second round but I do
not see the first round hype he’s been getting at this point.” -
Dan Stewart
5. Nick Robertson –
Forward – Peterborough Petes
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 2nd
(1x)
Lowest Ranking: 8th
(2x)
Comments:
“I love Nick Robertson.
I love the way he skates. I love the way he shoots. I love how
relentlessly he hunts pucks. I love that he finishes every check and
bounces to the next one. You get the picture. He’s going to make a
good middle-six winger someday. One of the youngest players in the
draft too.” - Anonymous
“A personal favorite of
mine, I think Robertson has the skill and pace to play with today's
NHL. He's unafraid to mix it up, gains the zone so well and I think
his release is among the best in this draft.” - Anonymous
“It took some time for
Robertson to grow on me after a strong Hlinka/Gretzky Tournament. In
fairness, it took some time to recover from a wrist injury and that
slowed him down at the start of the season. The diminutive forward
has an excellent set of skills, hockey smarts and work ethic. He
possesses an excellent shot, is very good at puck possession and has
an ability to draw in defenders and use excellent passing skills to
set up teammates. However, I think his skating is just average and
for a player of his size, I would like to see near elite level
speed.” - Dominic Tiano
“To
me he is underrated, not unlike his brother was in his draft year.
Being one of the youngest players in the draft, having made the cut
off date by a handful of days, he still has that much more room to
develop. A skilled playmaker who uses his creativity to make plays.
Really like his quick feet and the way he moves in tight. Should be a
top producer in the OHL next year.” - Levi Hill
“You
want to talk about a player growing on me over the course of the
season, that player is Peterborough Petes forward Nicholas Robertson.
Whereas someone like Suzuki was able to rest on their laurels --
where laurels is a stand-in for immense, preternatural talent --
Robertson built his case to be a late first-round pick by battling
night-in and night-out to help his team in whatever way possible.
We're not talking about a garden variety grinder though. Robertson
has legitimate offensive chops. His skating is a strength, as are his
hands, and he owes to a solid wrist-shot. While Robertson's
production, which barely eclipsed a point per game, isn't
overwhelming, by any means, it looks a lot better with SEAL
(Situational Era Age League) adjustments, where Robertson was one of
the 20 most productive players in this entire class.” - J.D. Burke
6. Connor McMichael –
Forward – London Knights
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 2nd
(2x)
Lowest Ranking: 8th
(4x)
Comments:
“McMichael might be one
of the smartest players of this draft class. He’s very
opportunistic and scored 36 goals and 72 points despite not receiving
a ton of minutes on the power play. He’s that player you hate to
play against, mature with a shoot-first mentality.” - Mike Morreale
“Really
impressed by the improvement he's shown in his skating. When I first
saw him in Minor Midget he was powerful and got around, but he looked
like he had heavy feet and was a bit clunky. Now his skating is an
attribute. He's a quiet goal scorer, meaning he doesn't score on a
big one timer or go end to end but he finds quiet areas around the
net and capitalizes on rebounds or cross ice passes. 90% of his goals
are scored 10 feet from the net. Slick hands in tight. Him and
Stranges should be magic next season for London.” - Levi Hill
“There
is a lot to like about McMichael. Firstly, I know scouts put stock
into the London Knights program and how they develop forwards. Their
track record speaks for itself. Second, he possesses great speed to
go with one of the best IQ's available this year. He is so smart
without the puck and is able to exploit those gaps because of how
well he skates. But there are some red flags for me that have him a
little further down my list. First is that he can be a passenger at
times, and can really disappear out there because his physical
intensity wavers, as does his aggressiveness with the puck. Second,
is that I'm not sure he is a center long term. Faceoff ability aside,
I think he profiles better as a scoring winger who can attack the
offensive zone with his speed. He's a 30-45 pick for me and not
someone I would take well into the first round as some lists have
him.” - Brock Otten
“With
72 points, McMichael was one of the best 17-year-olds in the OHL this
season and really became an exciting prospect. He’s so smart when
it comes to getting the puck where he wants it and he has a couple of
tools at his disposal to score at a high rate. On the downside, he
spends a lot of time just watching the play and a missed call can
cause him to stop being effective for a few shifts.” - Steven Ellis
“If
you asked me, the line between draft-year Robert Thomas and draft
year Connor McMichael is razor thin. Thomas obviously was the
superior defensive player but McMichael last year was far more
creative and dangerous in the offensive zone. I didn’t like his
series against Guelph, but then again, every Knight pretty much stunk
after Game 3.” - Steve Kournianos
“Of
all the draft eligible OHL players this year, I think McMichael is
the most well-rounded of them all. We can say that now after he took
a massive leap from 8 to 36 goals with London as their leading
point-getter this year. He became a factor for the Knights in every
zone and in all situations. But I side with many in the popular
belief that McMichael does a collection of things quite well, but
isn't incredible at any one single thing. While there's some nights
or flashes of potential where he looks like a top six player at the
next level, I see him more of a bottom six reliable forward. His
defensive game is very strong, and his skating ability helps him in
all three zones. It's possible McMichael focuses in on an element of
his game and takes another big step forward while he's still in the
OHL, but right now I think he's one of the safer picks with a high
floor, but a lower ceiling than the top-end draft eligible OHLers.
That's why I see McMichael as a mid to late second round draft pick.”
- Victor Findlay
7. Jamieson Rees – Forward
– Sarnia Sting
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 5th
(4x)
Lowest Ranking: 8th
(4x)
Comments:
“A smaller guy (5-10,
173) who can get to where he needs to go in a flash; he has real
strong edges and he plays with his head up. He’s a player you want
on your line because he’s a magnet on pucks, makes plays and is a
pain in neck to defend.” - Mike Morreale
“A buzz saw pivot who
blends terrific two-step quickness, high-end top-end speed, and a
tenacious style. He endears himself to coaches and teammates alike by
living in the red zone. Has suffered through multiple injuries in his
OHL career and scouts have questioned whether his body will be able
to handle his style of play in the long run. However, if it can, he
has definite upside. Can impact the game in all situations. A fun
player to root for.” - Cam Robinson
“Honestly, an
impossible player not to like as a scout. He works his ass off out
there, but has way more skill than your average “pest.” He does
everything well at a high tempo, including carrying the puck, and
that should translate well to the next level. I do think that he'll
need to prove that he can be a goal scorer by improving his shot. And
I do think that he will also need to prove that his body can handle
the way that he plays, as durability is a real concern. But guys like
Rees do not grow on trees anymore. He is a throwback and a guy that
could be a clutch playoff performer down the line. Just look at how
his game elevated this year when faced with challenges
(Hlinka-Gretzky, TPG, U18's). Someone has to like this guy enough to
take him in the first round right?” - Brock Otten
“
Injuries and
suspensions robbed the Draft analysis community of so much of Sarnia
Sting forward Jamieson Rees' season, so there's a bit of risk with
taking him just based on the limited sample of games from his first
draft-eligible campaign. You have to hand it to Rees, though, as he
put in perhaps his best performances of the year on the biggest stage
as a part of Team Canada at the Under-18 World Hockey Championships.
Rees' speed really stuck out on the larger ice surface, and his
battle level was evident on a shift-to-shift basis -- he dragged
Canada into hockey games, kicking and screaming sometimes. I like
Rees' creativity with the puck, but I'm not sure it's high-end or
something that I would project at the NHL level. Ultimately, Rees is
one of those players that struck me as the type that will not be
refused an NHL career. The question is what type of impact he'll have
at the next level. Rees has some tantalizing tools but ultimately
strikes me as someone destined for a bottom-six role.” - J.D. Burke
“After
Rees got over his early season injury troubles, he really took the
OHL by storm. His numbers aren't exactly eye-catching, but it's
impossible to take your eye off him when he's on the ice. He was the
motor for Sarnia down the stretch this year, and his energy on the
ice is infectious. This carried over to the U-18s in April where he
stood out to me as a key part of Team Canada among other very
talented draft eligible players. The questions a lot of people have
now is in regard to his health. Injuries and a suspension limited his
playing time this year, and even in his rookie season ankle problems
affected him twice. Given the way Rees plays the game, he is often
putting himself in situations where if he doesn't dish out the
contact, he's going to take it. But health questions aside, Rees can
be a difference-maker every night, and can be a spark on nights when
his team comes out flat. At best, Rees can impact his team in a
similar fashion that Boone Jenner does with Columbus. But even if
he's not contributing offensively, he's still an effective player
down the lineup and away from the puck because of his energy. That's
why I see Rees as an early second round pick in this year's draft.”
- Victor Findlay
8. Vladislav Kolyachonok –
Defense – Flint Firebirds
Total Votes: 18
Highest Ranking: 4th
(1x)
Lowest Ranking: 9th
(2x)
Comments:
“High-end skater with
that size is truly impressive. I think he gave himself a better shot
to move up some boards based on his U18 play. Hard guy to gauge due
to Flint's season.” - Anonymous
“Early season waiver
pickup by the Firebirds from the Knights, Kolyachonok’ s debut with
Flint was delayed by visa issues. But when he arrived, we began to
see what we already knew. He’s an elite level skater and probably
the most technically sound skater in the draft class. He’s a
two-way defender who has some physicality to his game. Defensively,
he’s one of the best in the draft class. Offensively, his
transition game is superb, he reads what is in front of him extremely
well, and he can quarterback the powerplay. His work ethic is off the
charts and by all accounts, is very coachable. I actually wanted to
put him higher on my list, but it playing in Flint wasn’t the best
case for his draft stock.” - Dominic Tiano
“Kolyachonok is the
type of player that you need to look past the stat line for. His game
really grew on me over the course of the year. You can tell (and I
know from what I have heard) that he takes his development very
seriously. I imagine that he probably interviewed very well at the
combine. Just a really good kid. His defensive game was always solid
this year, but it was his offensive game that really grew as the
season went on. He's a sneaky quick skater, on top of being extremely
fluid in all four directions. He gets to loose pucks so quick,
especially on the point. At the U18's, we also saw a side of him that
we did not see a ton of this year; as a powerplay QB. I really do
think that this is a guy who will just keep getting better and
better.” - Brock Otten
“Is an extremely strong
skater and is tough to beat off the rush or off the cycle. He has a
high-character personality and is a student of the game. He finished
second among OHL rookie defensemen in assists (26).” - Mike
Morreale
“Kolyachonok is an
elite skater, whether we're talking about his straight-line speed or
agility on his edge, with a great shot to match. The production
reflects that, too, whether we're talking about Kolyachonok's OHL
numbers or the point per game pace he ran at the U18s for Belarus.
The only concern I have with Kolyachonok is that I've found his
hockey sense is on the low-end -- it's a big concern because that's
not the sort of thing most players can correct. If Kolyachonok can
put it together, we might be looking at a second-pair, two-way
defenceman down the road. It's going to take time and patience,
though, if Kolyachonok will ever get there at all.” - J.D. Burke
“
I totally get the love
people are feeling for him, because being a No.1 for both Flint and
Belarus is no laughing matter. But is smart, sound one-on-on
defensive play enough to make him a first rounder? Still, everything
he does is clean, and I can see a team thinking there’s a creative
gene somewhere upstairs that’s waiting to be revealed. But if he
has a long NHL career, it will be because of the way he performs on
his side of the red line.” - Steve Kournianos
“As
the Ontario Hockey League season wore on, and watching him in
international events, I just could see the NHL upside the Belarussian
defender has. He looks to have top four NHL upside as an intelligent,
mobile, puck moving, athletic, two-way guy in a couple years and I
would be surprised if his offensive game did not take a massive jump
in his second OHL season.” - Dan Stewart
9. Ethan Keppen – Forward
– Flint Firebirds
Total Votes: 6
Highest Ranking: 8th
(1x)
Lowest Ranking: Outside of the Top 10 (12x)
Comments:
“Big winger with
excellent speed and a strong stride down the wing. Good vision make
him a sharp passer. A little weak on the puck and along the boards at
times and needs to improve his ability to win puck battles. That
being said, Keppen does have a nice scoring touch and quietly put up
30 goals and 59 points on the Flint Firebirds.” - Dylan Galloway
“Despite being stuck in
a difficult situation in Flint, Keppen was one of the more impactful
draft-eligible wingers in the OHL. The power forward is a load to
handle down low and can force his way into prime scoring areas. Once
there, he boasts the heavy and accurate release that helped him score
30 goals and average over three shots per game this past season. He
was a play-driver for the Firebirds, with 51 of his 59 points being
primary. He's rarely outworked or outmuscled. Likely destined for an
energy role, that should still bring value to a team selecting
outside the top-60. Quicker feet. Better puck skills. And adding some
more creativity to his game would certainly improve his chances of
being offensively impactful at the next level.” - Cam Robinson
“Power
forward with good skating and scoring touch. Battles along the
boards and protects the puck well. My pick for one of the steals of
the draft. Wouldn’t be surprised that in five years people are
asking why he wasn’t a 1st-2nd rounder. “ - Levi Hill
“One
of, if not the underrated player in the draft. I’ve been told he
could be a better skater, but I’ve seen a lot and I don’t see
that criticism. Keppen is tremendously strong and determined on the
ice. He is never far from the puck, plays responsibly in his own end
patrolling both the centre and left wing of the ice well on an awful
team, and was often kept away from Flint’s most talented forwards.
Great in transition and an underrated passer, but his biggest
advantage is moving pucks and playing hard all the time. If you love
Vasily Podkolzin and don’t get him, Keppen is far from a bad
alternative, and you could land him far later in the draft than he
should go. You want metrics? Just a 27% total involvement, but 25%
primary point involvement at even strength, second only to Kaliyev,
and had primary points on a remarkable 70% of goals scored at even
strength. Once Flint rounds out their defensive game, which was
horrid at times, the whole ship should start to right itself, and
Keppen will be the top beneficiary.” - Will Scouch
After
a quiet rookie season, Ethan Keppen made some major strides and has
become a diverse power forward for the Flint Firebirds. Keppen
notched 30 goals this year in a variety of ways. Sometimes he used
his size and positioning to score the ugly way, other times he'd
fired one in off the wing, and sometimes he'd finish off plays in
tight or on a breakaway as gracefully as they come. Although I think
Keppen can improve his skill a lot, he added some serious finesse to
his game and the improvements he's made in a one year span are enough
for me to believe he's got even more potential he hasn't shown us
yet. Keppen really exploded in the second half of 2018-19, and found
great chemistry on the top unit with Dellandrea/Durham, but also had
some great flashes with Cody Morgan who faired exceptionally well
in Flint after being traded from Windsor. Keppen showed his ability
to improve, he's versatile, and he's a good fit with the Firebirds.
Those are all positive signs moving forward, and are enough to make
me think he'll end up as a late third round pick in this year's
draft.”
- Victor Findlay
10. Mike Vukojevic –
Defense – Kitchener Rangers
Total Votes: 5
Highest Ranking: 9th
(5x)
Lowest Ranking: Outside
of the Top 10 (13x)
Comments:
“Defense-first, steady
and smart. Has good size and can blend his physical game well with
defensive responsibility. Very limited offensive potential hurts his
draft stock.” - Anonymous
“Another big D man who
covers his position well and I think has another level when it comes
to his offensive game. Kitchener was really mediocre this year, so he
didn't have a chance to shine as much as I thought he would when he
made his much heralded entry into the OHL last year. Still, D like
this don't grown on trees.” - Steve Clark
“A mobile shutdown
defender, Vukojevic isn’t going to contribute much offensively at
the next level but, man, he does a good job of bringing energy to the
game. A physical blueliner, Vukojevic is a good skater and is
extremely smart in his own zone.” - Steven Ellis
“Just on the outside,
looking in of my top 10. But I think he made great progress as a
prospect this year. Previously, I think he has been a kid who relied
on his size advantage at a younger age to really establish himself as
a monster in his own end. But he's dedicated himself to improving the
weaker areas of his game to ensure that he can be a pro hockey
player. His skating made great strides this year, which was evident
at the U18's, where he looked great on the larger ice surface,
especially when it came to taking away time and space from quicker
forwards on the attack. And his play with the puck really improved in
the second half of the OHL season. I still don't know how much upside
there is as an NHL defender, but he should play in the league for a
long time as at least a PK anchor and third pairing guy.” - Brock
Otten
Honorable Mentions
Graeme Clarke – Forward
– Ottawa 67's
Total Votes: 5
Highest Ranking: 9th
(2x)
Comments:
“The sixth overall
selection in the 2017 OHL Priority Draft, Clarke brings creativity,
and some seriously quick hands to the rink each night. He also
possesses a deadly shot that is most effective when he changes the
release point. However, his ability to get to scoring positions is
compromised by his weak stride. He improved his play away from the
puck and was rewarded with an increased role in the playoffs. Once in
the top six, his metrics rose with his ice time. If he can improve
his quickness and top gear, he’ll add the elusiveness needed to
thrive at the next level. A high-skilled player with big upside to be
found later in the draft.” - Cam Robinson
“I've come around later
on Clarke. He's got some intriguing puck skills, but I'm concerned by
the relative lack of production. I wonder if he suffered the same
fate Foudy did last year before the trade deadline because Liam
didn't pop until after London started moving guys. That obviously
wasn't going to happen with Ottawa. I think he could be a real
standout for them next season.” - Anonymous
“I was really impressed
with how Clarke elevated his game in the playoffs this year for
Ottawa, who ended up losing out to Guelph in the OHL finals. Clarke
is right there, neck and neck, with Nick Robertson as the most
individually skilled player in this age group. The things he can do
with the puck are shocking at times. He's far from a polished
product. He'll need to improve his skating. He'll need to continue to
improve his consistency without the puck. And he needs to show better
as a playmaker and not just a finisher. But on a stacked Ottawa team,
where ice was hard to come by, he always found a way to be noticeable
and that can be a tough thing for a skilled kid like him who is asked
to adapt and not always have the puck on his stick. I don't think
we've seen anywhere close to the best from him. Will challenge for
the OHL scoring title by the time he graduates from the league.” -
Brock Otten
Billy Constantinou –
Defense – Kingston Frontenacs
Total Votes: 4
Highest Ranking: 7th
(1x)
Comments:
“I love the way
Constantinou skates. He didn’t get the proper recognition this
season due in large part to the trade but Constantinou has four-way
mobility and the confidence to match. I can’t wait to see where
he’s at in 2-3 years. Patience will be key but there’s sneaky
upside to his game.” - Anonymous
“
Constantinou
got about as short end of a stick as you can get by being traded to
Kingston during the year. He got tons of ice time, but his results
took a complete nosedive after his time with Niagara. However, I have
always come away impressed with what Constantinou brings. He really
strikes me as a modern minutes eating two-way defender. Great skill,
great patience, smart puck movement and some offensive flair on top.
I think if his raw speed can hit another gear in Kingston, he could
take a huge jump as the team improves. Defensive positioning and
physical strength could use work, but Kingston is a rebuilding team
and Constantinou should grow into his role as a focal point. A/B’ing
his offensive metrics to Kolyachonok is pretty striking, landing
primary points on double the on-ice even strength goals, but
Kingston’s lack of offense as a whole brought him down a bit.” -
Will Scouch
“An
offensive defenseman with average size. Loves to rush the puck from
his end all the way up to the offensive zone. Would rather keep
possession at all costs instead of throwing the puck away. Skating is
an asset of his, with speed and mobility, but his technique is
questionable. Unorthodox skater but it works for him. Great vision on
the offensive side of the puck. Great reach. His skating and reach
are assets on the defensive side as well, but his decision making and
positioning can be suspect at times. With him it's more learning then
an effort or commitment issue. More junior time and pro coaching
should solve his defensive game. Raw prospect with great upside."
- Levi Hill
Hunter Jones –
Goaltender – Peterborough Petes
Total Votes: 4
Highest Ranking: 9th
(2x)
Comments:
“The only goalie to
make the list, Jones became a victim of his team's uneven play. He
was brilliant the first half of the season, slipped in the mid season
and then responded well down the stretch. He was outplayed by Kyle
Keyser in the playoffs, but so was everyone save for Mikey DiPietro.
Jones is your typical big goalie who covers a lot of ground. Playing
on what should be a very good Petes team next year will be
interesting for sure.” - Steve Clark
“
Jones had an extremely
up and down year with the Petes and his numbers don’t look great.
But he’s one of the more promising goaltenders to come from the OHL
and should contend for a spot on Canada’s World Junior team in a
few months from now. His conditioning was well improved from last
year and has a nice combination of size and athleticism in net. The
issue with Jones is that you never truly know what to expect from
him: one game, he’ll steal a win for the Petes. The other, he’s
allowing soft goals and not moving as well as he should. He looks
like a future NHL backup.” - Steven Ellis
“Big
stopper who played on a bad team but held his own. Very good skill
and smarts. Works hard to improve his game. Not sure if he has the
best mental approach as he lets his team’s performance effect his
individual play. His season as well went from impressive to just okay
towards the end but with that said he is still a top ten goaltending
prospect for this draft.” - Dan Stewart
Nikita Okhotyuk –
Defense – Ottawa 67's
Total Votes: 3
Highest Ranking: 9th
(1x)
Comments:
“I have such hard time
reconciling Ottawa 67s defenceman Nikhita Okhotyuk's production with
what I was seeing from him on a game-to-game basis. Okhotyuk competes
hard on a shift-to-shift, game-to-game basis, is a high-end skater,
particularly after he's picked up steam -- those first two steps
could use a little work -- and I've even seen some high-end puck
skills flashed from time to time. The 67s had a lot of defensive
depth, so perhaps Okhotyuk's lack of production has more to do with a
lack of opportunity than skill. If that's the case, then we're
talking about a solid defensive prospect because his defensive zone
reads, physicality, etc. are already at a high enough level to
project at the professional level.” - J.D. Burke
“In my opinion, he was
Ottawa’s most consistent blue-liner from start to finish. I think
his hockey sense is underrated. Defensively, he’s tough to beat,
plays his angles extremely well, has excellent gap control and an
extremely active stick. Plays a physical game and won’t give up his
blue line. He’s a one-man machine when it comes to breaking the
cycle. I also think his skating is underrated. While he doesn’t
have top end speed, his mobility is excellent and his lateral
movement is superb. There are concerns about his offensive abilities,
and I share some of those concerns. I think he’s shown hints of
offensive abilities at times, but how much did the 67’s have to use
him offensively when you have the 5th best offense in the
league, especially when you have Kevin Bahl and Noel Hoefenmayer
leading the charge from the back end?” - Dominic Tiano
“
Nikita reminds me of
the throwback defenders from the 70's in that he plays the game very
hard. An emphasis will be placed on prospects that play heavy &
this kid personifies that. He hits like a truck, will fight anyone &
has enough skill to make a good 1st pass. He will be a bottom pairing
guy in the NHL but your team will be better with him in the lineup.”
- Mark Seidel
Matvey Guskov – Forward
– London Knights
Total Votes: 3
Highest Ranking: 10th
(3x)
Comments:
“Not in my Top 10 to
end the year, but I can see why someone would have him in there based
on this weak OHL crop. One of those “toolsy” types. Size. Skating
ability. Flashes puck skill. Flashes physicality. Flashes pretty much
everything you would want in an NHL player. Just does not do it
consistently. Can he put it all together? I think it depends how much
you trust the London coaching staff to develop the rest of his game
and bring out the best in his raw physical tools.” - Brock Otten
“London Knights forward
Matvei Guskov was the ultimate victim of circumstances this season.
Because of London's forward depth, Guskov had to spend most of the
season in a checking role, without much in the way of opportunities
to prove his worth offensively. So while I'm not sure that I'd
project Guskov as a playmaking centre at the next level, I'm not sure
his point production this season is reflective of his skill level
either. He's a strong skater who is hard on pucks, with great vision
and defensive habits. I like Guskov more as a distributor of the puck
in the offensive zone, but he has an okay shot, too. If Guskov can
get a bit quicker, there's a chance he can carve out a bottom-six
career in the NHL.” - J.D. Burke
“Playing as a depth
player for London always is a double-edged sword. Yes, you are no
longer a top-line star. But you also get maximum exposure and play
for an elite training program. I love the way Guskov continued to
impact his shifts despite getting what seemed to be mostly
defensive-zone starts. He’s strong on the puck and an underrated
playmaker. Overall, i think his hockey sense is very high.” - Steve
Kournianos
Blake Murray – Forward
– Sudbury Wolves
Total Votes: 3
Highest Ranking: 10th
(3x)
Comments:
“Seems like I might be
the only one advocating for this kid to be a top 3 round pick this
June. Look, he has his warts. I'd love to see him use his size to
play with a little more physicality between the dots and below the
dots, instead of using just his length. His skating is good, but
could stand to add more explosiveness to it. He could be a better in
all three zones. His puckhandling ability, especially at full speed,
could use some refinement. Yet, this is a 6'3 center who scored 30
goals in the CHL this year and was a go to member on a quality team.
Guys like Murray do not grow on trees. Picking outside of the second
round, you'd be hard pressed to find a kid who possesses as much
potential as him.” - Brock Otten
Keean Washkurak –
Forward – Mississauga Steelheads
Total Votes: 2
Highest Ranking: 9th
(1x)
Comments:
“He's a pretty good
skater, he's skilled, he competes his butt off. He's an August 01 so
he may fill out and get even quicker. I think he's got a chance to be
a 3rd/4th line type.” - Anonymous
“A guy who will find a
way to play in the NHL. Will be a bottom 6 guy but he has tremendous
leadership skills, a genuine toughness & an ability to think the
game. His play away from the puck has been good & he will be a
future captain.” - Mark Seidel
Nick Porco – Forward –
Saginaw Spirit
Total Votes: 1
Highest Ranking: 10th
(1x)
Comments:
“Speedy, agile goal
scorer. Though he doesn't necessarily have explosive speed in his
first few steps, once he hits full stride he has impressive speed
that makes him hard to catch through transition. In addition he
possesses solid mobility with and without the puck making him a
fairly well rounded player. Porco also possesses some good creativity
which enables him to beat players one-on-one and get to the inside of
the ice and into the dangerous scoring areas. He needs to work on his
vision a bit more as he can keep his head down and over skate the
puck rather than utilizing his teammates more.” - Dylan Galloway
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