In two straight drafts (2019 and 2020), only three players ranked in this range have been selected.
Given the state of hockey in Ontario, I would expect that trend to continue.
Without further ado, here are the players ranked 31 through 50.
31. Avery Hayes - Center/Wing - Hamilton Bulldogs
An
October born 2002 forward, Hayes has two OHL seasons under his belt,
more than nearly any other Ontario based forward available this year.
The problem is that Hayes’ sophomore season was mired with inconsistency
and injuries. Just as he was heating up and finding his groove at the
end of December, an upper body injury kept him out for a few months and
killed all his momentum prior to the pandemic shutdown. Hayes, however,
did head to Slovakia with a bunch of other OHL players this year (Tag
Bertuzzi, Keean Washkurak, Donovan Sebrango, and Justin MacPherson) to
play for HK Levice in the Slovak second league. Hayes is like a swiss
army knife out there. He can play and excel in any situation asked of
him. Has the ability to play all three forward positions. Can excel as
F1 or handle zone entry responsibilities. I really like how he plays
through the middle of the ice. He uses his speed to attack and is
aggressive in trying to find his way to the net. He also possesses an
excellent shot, especially from the slot because of how quick his
release is. The one thing that I think has really been holding him back
thus far is a lack of strength, which is very apparent when he is asked
to play on the outside and on the wall. He just doesn't win enough of
those 50/50 battles and is easily separated from the puck when angled
off. This was especially evident in Slovakia, playing against men in the
second league. At the Erie showcase, he did show some improvement in
this area, while continuing to look to attack at a feverish pace. That
is why it is important to look at his strength improvements versus
players his own age. It should be noted that he was measured at only 5'7 at the event. But Hayes does possess the potential to be a
quality and
versatile middle six forward at the next level. 32. Nick DeGrazia - Wing - Sudbury Wolves
Man...this
guy can skate! DeGrazia isn't just one of the best skaters available
from the OHL this year, he is one of the best available period. He
accelerates to top speed within the blink of an eye and changes
direction effortlessly without sacrificing speed or breaking stride. The
ultimate question is, what kind of offensive potential does he have?
DeGrazia has yet to really play in the OHL, spending the previous season
in the NOJHL, with a few OHL games sprinkled in. A late born 2002,
DeGrazia was also able to get some action in this year with
Rayside-Balfour, as the NOJHL did play a bit this year. At 1.50 points
per game, he was one of the highest scoring players in the league. But
the NOJHL is not the OHL, and in limited sample size, his game hasn't
translated quite as well, struggling to create consistent offensive
chances at a higher level...and at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge
(where he won silver with Canada East). A high volume shooter, DeGrazia
will fire shots in from the perimeter if he is not able to penetrate the
middle with speed. While his shot is good, I would like to see him use
his speed to control the puck in the offensive zone and alter his pace,
rather than constantly just try to beat defenders wide. He will also
need to get stronger to be as effective on and off the puck at a higher
level, as he has had difficulty maintaining possession when pressured in the
OHL and at the World Junior A Challenge last year. However, his speed
does play well on the forecheck and on the penalty kill, making him a
versatile player for his coaches. In conclusion, DeGrazia has to be a
draft pick this year given how much of a weapon his skating ability can
be. However, I am also not sure if he has the offensive potential to be
more than just a high energy depth player at the NHL level.
33. J.R. Avon - Wing - Peterborough Petes
A
lot of really strong skaters in this grouping of players in my ranking
and Avon is another. Like Saganiuk or DeGrazia, Avon is an electric and
dynamic mover. North/South he is extremely quick and he catches a lot of
defenders flat footed in transition. The main issues causing his
consistency issues in his rookie year were a
lack of strength and a lack of confidence. If he was able to get the
drop on defenders and catch them flat footed, he would be aggressive in
cutting in to drive the net. If not, he was largely kept to the
perimeter and eventually angled off the puck along the wall or he would
settle for a low percentage, weak shot from the outside that would kill
momentum for the Petes. Additionally, for all his speed, Avon needs to
improve his strength on his skates and his ability to use his edges to
be better East/West, and more elusive. A high OHL draft selection, Avon
is no doubt skilled enough to be an impact player in the OHL. However,
there are just so many inconsistencies in his game. When he was dialed
in physically, he would start chipping and chasing
when cut off, allowing him to use his speed to try to establish
possession for Peterborough even when he was unable to beat defenders
cleanly. Developing the ability to use his speed for positive gains
without the
puck will also be key for his development. Again, this is an
inconsistent component of his game. At times, he is very active without
the puck in the defensive end and neutral zone, applying pressure to
passers and puck carriers. Other times, he is complacent. As mentioned
with a few other players, Avon is a kid I look at in the later half of
the draft because he does possess some elite qualities. The other areas
may never improve, but the upside is high.
34. Connor Punnett - Defense - Barrie Colts
I
think Punnett is a real wild card this year, given how little ice time
he received at the OHL level last year (split between Saginaw and
Barrie). I felt like he was one of the best defenseman at the 2019 World
Under 17's, living up to his hype as a former OHL first round pick.
However, at the OHL level, we only saw bits and pieces; fragments of his
potential. I think he is an extremely well rounded player who projects
as a two-way defender at the NHL level. He is a strong skater and
possesses a powerful point shot, giving him some weapons to utilize from
an offensive perspective. He is a very physically intense competitor in
the defensive end, with the penchant for delivering the big hit and
stepping up on attackers near the blueline. At the very least, I think
he has the skill set to develop into a rock solid, stay at home type
given his mobility, decent size, and tenacity. The key to unlocking his
offensive potential will be in his ability to improve his decision
making with the puck and his ability to start the breakout cleanly. The
precision of his passing was a noticeable weakness in his rookie OHL
year, especially under pressure. And this led to a fair share of
turnovers in the face of the forecheck. Punnett needs to trust his
skating ability can create space for him to open up those exit lanes,
taking better angles to loose pucks and shoulder checking more
consistently before approaching retrievals or accepting passes. Getting
that puck off his stick quicker is a necessity. I will say that I was
disappointed with his play in Erie, as I felt some of the other draft
eligible defenders at the event over shadowed him. I didn't see a ton of
progression from him offensively. But the bare bones are there for him
to develop into a real dynamite OHL defender. Again, go back and watch
the U17's and you'll see what I mean.35. Isaac Enright - Defense - Niagara IceDogs
Unlike Punnett, Enright saw a ton of ice time in his rookie
season with the IceDogs. However the IceDogs just were not a great team,
especially post trade deadline and that forced Enright to play probably
more than he should have. There were certainly struggles. However, with
the right mindset, this can help players evolve and improve and like
almost everyone else on this list, we were not able to see those
improvements this year. At the heart of Enright's game is his strong
skating ability. He is one of the more mobile defenders in the age group
and he uses that to his advantage at both ends of the ice. Enright is
also a pretty physical defender, something that I expect to continue to
become a more consistent part of his game as his confidence grows and he
gets stronger. That means his projection is, at least, that of a strong
defensive player at the OHL level and perhaps beyond. However, he had
some bad defensive habits as a rookie that will need to be cleaned up
(getting caught flat footed, getting caught watching the puck, etc). As
an offensive player, it's tough because as a rookie, he played a very
safe game. Hard to judge just how skilled he is and how the offensive
side of his game develops further. If an NHL team bites, it is because
they believe that his skill set could make him an effective third
pairing type, with the potential for his confidence to grow with the
puck, allowing him to take better advantage of his skating ability.
36. Braden Hache - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs
This
is another kid that I really liked in his U17 season with Kingston.
Even as a 16 year old, he was one of the most physically consistent
defenders in the OHL. As he continues to gain confidence and gets
stronger, just how physically dominant could he become? He is just such a
suffocating presence in the defensive end already, in a way that
reminds me of how Kevin Bahl looked as an OHL rookie. I guess the
concern is that he's not as big as Bahl and did not have the opportunity
to show us this year that his skating had taken the necessary next
steps the way Bahl's did in his NHL draft year. So while he has a chance
to be a dominant stay at home defender at the OHL level, are we talking
Kevin Bahl or are we talking about Zach Bell? Additionally, how much
potential does Hache have as an offensive contributor? He showed flashes
of being able to lead the rush and make clean breakouts as a U17
player, but he also struggled with his decision making in the face of
defensive pressure, with turnovers becoming more likely the further he
got from his own end with the puck. I would have loved to have seen how
his skating improved this year (especially his lateral and backwards
fluidity and transition from backwards to forwards stride), in addition
to his play with the puck. All that said, this is also an impressive
young man who is already quite the philanthropist. He was the only U17
player nominated for the Dan Snyder Humanitarian of the Year award and
his work with Hockey Fights Cancer and Hockey Gives Blood should be
applauded. He also took home the Dayna Brons Award thanks to his contributions to blood and stem cell awareness. It certainly speaks volumes about his character. Hard to see
him not becoming the captain of the Frontenacs at some point. 37. Max McCue - Center - London Knights
Tough,
two-way center who played well in a fourth line role for London two
seasons ago. McCue loves to throw the body on the forecheck and brings
energy at both ends of the ice, helping to force turnovers. As an
offensive player, he shows well as a playmaker, with the ability to
alter the speed of his attacks and a comfort level when he has the puck
along the wall. Because of his strong processing ability, skating
ability, and physicality, he projects to be, at the very least, a
quality middle six center at the OHL level. The question is, how much
upside does he have from an offensive standpoint? It was really tough to
evaluate that based on limited minutes in London and limited minutes
with the Canadian U17 team. His finishing ability did not inspire a ton
of confidence at the OHL level last year, and as part of that role he
was asked to play in London, he was rarely tasked with carrying the puck
for prolonged stretches, instead playing a dump/chase, North/South
attacking style. I know of a few that really love his game though.
38. Artem Guryev - Defense - Peterborough Petes
Big
(6'3, 200lbs), physical defender who split last season between
Peterborough and Lindsay of the OJHL. Coming out of U16 with the Toronto
Marlboros, Guryev was billed as one of the most physically intense
players available, in addition to possessing some untapped offensive
potential due to a big point shot and adequate puck skill. In spot time
at the OHL level in 2019/20, Guryev was a tough player to get a read on.
He seemed hesitant to really throw some of those big hits that he is
known for, fearing that he would mistime it or take himself out of the
play, so he kept things simple, minding his gaps, using his stick, and
rarely leaving the net front area in the defensive end. Offensively, he
struggled with his breakout passes when he did attempt them, and seemed
to get himself bottled up a lot. But, I don't believe we have seen the
best of Guryev, not even close. He actually skates pretty well for the
type of game he plays and this gives him a lot of potential as a
defensive player. Anything he is able to add as an offensive player
would then be gravy. At this point, I am just not sure we have seen
enough of him to truly list him highly. However, there is no doubt that
NHL scouts will be keeping an eye on him in the near future.
39. Maddox Callens - Left Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
Callens
is just my type of player. You know what you are getting each and every
night with him. Not often are U17 forwards able to be consistent
physical presences, but Callens was just that. A high energy player, he
never seems to stop skating and it makes him so effective away from the
puck. He forces turnovers on the forecheck. He forces turnovers on the
backcheck. 100% effort every shift. Offensively, his game is simple.
Attack North/South and beat defenders to the puck. And you know what? He
actually got himself a ton of high end scoring chances as a rookie, he
just couldn't finish on them. Is that lack of finish a representation of
his skill limitations? Was it bad luck? Was it inexperience and nerves?
Could honestly be all three. But, I could not help the fact that
Callens reminded me so much of watching Zayde Widsom in his rookie year
with the Fronts. Obviously, he was able to bury more of those chances in
his second season and has become a quality NHL prospect. I just see someone in Callens who could profile as the ideal bottom six player at the
NHL level. He's quick. He's energetic. He's physical. He's consistent.
And as long as the finishing ability improves, some of those limitations
in his individual puck skill can be overlooked. I would love to see
Callens play with Shane Wright or Paul Ludwinski next year and be that
perfect compliment to their quickness and creativity.
40. Matthew Maggio - Right Wing - Windsor Spitfires
A
late born '02, Maggio has been a bit of a disappointment in the OHL
thus far with both Ottawa and Windsor. A highly touted offensive player
before entering the league, Maggio was not strong for the Spitfires the
last time the OHL played, even ending up a healthy scratch at times.
When he is at his best, the 5'10 winger plays an up tempo, attacking
style and shows good vision in the offensive end, especially when
working down low and driving time of possession with his quick feet. But
the consistency just has not been there for him, with turnovers and
lackluster defensive zone play creeping into his game. He went overseas
this season to play with Logan Mailloux in the HockeyEttan with SK Lejon
and had a pretty good year. He was able to showcase some of his
offensive talents, demonstrating the capacity to create scoring chances
for himself and his linemates...even if SK Lejon spent a large chunk of
their time defending their own goal (they weren't very good). No doubt
Maggio would have been given a chance to secure a top 6 role with
Windsor this year had they played and it will likely be the case again
next season. At the Erie showcase, Maggio's skating talents were on
display. His edgework truly is terrific, as he starts and stops on a
dime to create separation. He was good at the event and it certainly
gave me more hope that he would hit his potential, as at least an OHL
player.41. Paul Christopoulos - Defense - North Bay Battalion
Anyone
who reads my work or follows me on social media knows that I am a huge
fan of this player. He was one of my favourites to watch in U16 as part of
that dominant Don Mills Flyers team. Christopoulos is a highly effective
puck mover and play creator from the back-end because of his four way
mobility, vision, and big point shot. Even though he had one of the
worst plus/minus ratings in the OHL two years ago (-41), his season was
obviously not that bad since he was named to the OHL second all rookie
team. So I guess the million dollar question is...if I like the player
so much why is he ranked 41st? I guess the answer to that is...I am not
quite sure if Christopoulos' skill set will translate well to the NHL
level, or if he ends up becoming just a really good OHL defender. While
his four way mobility is impressive and Christopoulos is great with his
pivots and lateral movement when holding the line, his North/South
quickness may not be as good as you would like to see from a 5'10
defender. Additionally, Christopoulos did struggle mightily in defensive
zone coverage two years ago, especially when it came to defending the
slot and net front. So what we have is, an undersized defender who
struggled defensively, but who also did not light the world on fire from
an offensive perspective either due to some limitations in physical
tools. Ranking him was probably the hardest thing I had to do this year,
based solely on what we saw two years ago. I know he would have looked
better in 20/21, but how much better and in what areas? So tough.
42. Lawson Sherk - Center - Hamilton Bulldogs
A good
sized (6'1, 180lbs) power center, Sherk made an immediate impact in the
OHL as a rookie, centering Hamilton's third line and earning secondary
powerplay time as a net front presence. Sherk has good hands in tight to
finish and supports the play well in all three zones, bringing an
occasional physical element too. As a U16 player with Halton, Sherk was a
very dangerous player in transition because of his blend of size, power
skating, and skill. However, at the OHL level two years ago, Sherk had
some trouble creating when the pace increased, occasionally struggling
to make skilled plays with the puck when at full speed. This limited his
effectiveness as a driver of the play from the middle, forcing him to
be more of a complimentary, dump and chase player. I have the utmost
confidence that Sherk can develop into a good OHL player, but I do
wonder about whether he is skilled enough to progress further than that.
He is definitely a player NHL teams should be keeping close tabs on
though.
43. Pavel Cajan - Goaltender - Kitchener Rangers
One of
those Import players that I mentioned was being included, Cajan
committed to Kitchener but did not play a game this year. So how do we
rank him or evaluate him? Part of it is talking to some European scouts
who have seen him more. Part of it is watching limited video available
from two years ago. As a late '02, Cajan does have a little more
experience. He was a backup at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. He started at the
Five Nations. There is some International pedigree and as such, there
was significant hype that he could come in and be the starter for the
Rangers this season. At 6'2, Cajan does have the size. And he is clearly
an athletic netminder who moves well post to post. He is definitely
more refined in his approach than a guy like Nick Malik, who was more of
a scrambler. That said, some of the finer technical components need to
improve. His rebound control looks fairly weak. He also seems to
struggle with finding pucks through traffic consistently, something that
he would have really needed to improve to find success in North
America. But the bare bones are there and scouts will have notes on him
from some International performances where he performed admirably.
44. Deni Goure - Center/Right Wing - Owen Sound Attack
Coming out of U16, Goure was billed as one of the top goal scorers available to OHL teams, but it may have been his playmaking ability that shone the most as an OHL rookie. Goure is the kind of player who alters his pace to manipulate defensive coverage, and shows well already protecting the puck and negotiating traffic. There were times that he showed off that great wrist shot last year, but he didn't seem to have the kind of confidence yet to really open things up as a U17 player. He certainly projects as the kind of player you can use in that half wall spot on the powerplay because of how well he sees the ice and how good his release is. NHL scouts will probably have some concern over his pace though, as for a smaller player (5'10), his skating ability is not quite as dynamic as you would like. When he builds speed, he can attack and create in transition. However, his first step quickness will need to improve, as will his lateral quickness and comfort level on his edges. Part of why he was not able to transition his goal scoring talents was that he had some difficulty evading coverage in the slot area and getting himself the type of time and space he needed. I also found him to have had a pretty disappointing performance at the Erie showcase even before he got hurt (which is really unfortunate). Just like he did as an OHL rookie, he had difficulty getting that separation in the middle of the ice to get himself those good lucks consistently. That said, Goure is a very talented kid and one who does have a pro level skill set if it develops properly.
45. Ethan Burroughs - Right Wing - Hamilton Bulldogs
Burroughs may not be big (5'10, 165lbs), but he is strong on
his skates and strong on the puck. He is already very good at
protecting the puck through traffic and really does well to recover
loose pucks and drive time of possession in the cycle. He also profiles
well as a goal scorer because of a good wrist shot and scoring
instincts, especially in that slot area. Like former Halton teammate Sherk, Burroughs struggled
at times playing with pace, especially when it came to receiving passes
or making skilled plays with the puck in the attack. Burroughs also
faded hard in the second half of the season, with his ice time cut in
Owen Sound down the stretch. I don't read much into that other than
fatigue over the course of his first year. Some U17 players get better
and some fade out depending on usage and conditioning. I would have
loved to have seen Burroughs this year with Owen Sound just to see if
his first step quickness had improved and if he was able to capitalize
on more of those scoring chances he was earning. At the Erie showcase, I thought his skating definitely looked improved. However, I did see some of the same issues with his ability to finish and create with pace, in particular his ability to receive passes and maintain possession through contact in open space (not along the wall).
46. Tucker Robertson - Wing - Peterborough Petes
A player who finds his way into my Top 50 with a strong performance at
the Erie showcase. He brings a ton of energy and really keeps his feet
moving in the offensive end. I like how he protects the puck in traffic
by altering his pace and putting defenders on his back to make sure he
maintains possession. I think he became more comfortable as the Erie event went on with being creative with the puck and creating more in transition. At the OHL level he has proven that he can be a change of pace, high energy attacker, but can he consistently drive time of possession down low with skill? I am just not sure what the high end upside is as
an NHL player. I feel pretty confident based off of his OHL rookie year
and his performance in Erie that he will become a quality OHL
contributor. But can the speed continue to improve and does he have the
hands and finishing ability to excel in that energy role at the NHL
level?47. Giancarlo Chanton - Defense - Niagara IceDogs
I
thought Chanton struggled in his rookie season with the IceDogs. He
came to the OHL with a fair amount of hype, but the pace of play and the
strength of opposing players really seemed to give him trouble. Playing
advanced minutes on a rebuilding team that was constantly hemmed in
their own zone didn't do him any favours either. It was certainly trial
by fire. However, having broken down his game overseas this year for an
earlier article for McKeen's, he has had a much better year in
Switzerland. This included a strong performance for Switzerland at the
WJC's, where he was arguably one of their better players. Chanton's
biggest strength lies in his transitional abilities from an offensive
perspective. He makes a real clean exit pass and has excellent vision up
ice, while also possessing the skating ability to escape pressure and
clear the zone with a strong push up ice. Speaking of Chanton's skating,
it looked much improved this year in Switzerland, both more fluid in
all four directions and more explosive moving forward, allowing him to
make those occasional successful jaunts up ice. At this year’s World
Junior Championships, Chanton was among the
defensive leaders in controlled exit percentage, a testament to his
ability to find that open man down the ice. However, there are other
areas that remain a work in progress. While he has become more effective
in defending transitional attacks, he still loses too many battles down
low and needs to get stronger, especially if he wants to find success
in North America. Additionally, I do wonder what the overall ceiling for
him is. He is clearly an intelligent puck mover. But, I have some
reservations about him being a high end offensive contributor.
Additionally, I am not sure if he projects as the type who can play more
of a safe, defensive role. If an NHL team drafts him it is because they
like the IQ and want to see how the physical tools continue to evolve. 48. Colby Saganiuk - Center/Wing - Erie Otters
There's
undersized and then there are players like Alex Debrincat and Colby
Saganiuk. Look at the type of production Debrincat had to put up just to
get a look and now he's one of the NHL's elite goal scorers. Now, I'm
not comparing the two stylistically. I'm just saying that it will be
tough for Saganiuk (measured at 5'4 in Erie) to draw the kind of attention I think he
deserves without having played this season. He left the US NTDP to play
in Erie after falling down the lineup with the U17's later in the
2019/20 season, but never got a chance to show what he could do in the
OHL with significant ice time (which he would have received). I think
Saganiuk has to be considered one of the elite skaters in this draft,
which is obviously going to be key for him given his lack of size.
However, with a low center of gravity and really explosive edges, he
generates speed so quickly and effortlessly. When he is given space in
transition, look out. I also really like that Saganiuk is far from a
perimeter player in the offensive zone. He will take a hit to make a
play or drive/crash the net. For all the puck skill he possesses, he had
a really tough time finishing in the USHL last year though. Chance
after chance generated, but his shot really lacks power and polish.
Additionally, he struggled mightily in the defensive end, making him a
fairly one dimensional player. That said, if I am looking at which OHL
players to draft in the mid to later rounds this year, it is players
like Saganiuk, who are elite in one or two areas of the game. Then you
hope that other things round into form and improve around that. I do
feel that the number one key for him is improving that shot...on top of
obviously getting stronger to help overcome his height and reach
deficits. At the Erie showcase, his lack of size and strength really
hurt him as he was continuously knocked off the puck in his attempts to
drive wide. 49. Alex Geci - Center - Sarnia Sting
Another Import who was supposed to be sign, sealed, and delivered, but was robbed of the opportunity due to the pandemic. Geci did not even play back home in Slovakia this year or at the U18's because Slovakia did not qualify this year. A potential power center at 6'2, Geci stands out playing through the middle of the ice and driving the net. He also possesses a heavy shot that could make him a high end goal scoring option. Strong skating, power centers who can put the puck in the net do not grow on trees. That said, from watching video on him, there were areas of concern. The first was his overall engagement level and involvement without the puck. Given how much power he plays with when he has the puck, it was disappointing to see him lose so many battles along the wall and be disengaged in all three zones without it. There were certainly flashes of strong forechecking ability and two-way game, but it appears to be very inconsistent. It would have been very interesting to see him play in the OHL this year with Sarnia as his game does seem to be tailored to playing in the OHL and in North America. I doubt NHL scouts have seen enough of him to say that they feel comfortable enough in their assessments to draft him, but given his potential, I did feel it necessary to rank him inside the Top 50.
50. Kaleb Lawrence - Center - Owen Sound Attack
6'8 and nearly 220lbs center is an absolute load to contain down low. He had a really strong performance at the Erie showcase, showing an ability to control play in the offensive zone with his strength on the puck. He can play the middle and near the crease with his size and hands, finishing off plays with defenders on his back. However, he also has the puck skill to keep plays alive along the wall and spin off checks to make passes to set up scoring chances in the slot area. I guess my concern is his ability to play with pace. He was certainly much less noticeable in transition and his skating does appear to me to be a limiting factor (a reason why I had him outside my top 50 prior to the showcase). But I am definitely convinced that he has the skill and size combination to be a top six power forward at the OHL level. However, an NHL team will need to be convinced that they can work with his skating to improve it so that he can play that same role at the next level.
2 comments:
Just one correction on your list. Nick Degrazia is listed NOJHL Rayside Balfour Canadians on the 2021 Draft Prospect Rankings not OHL Sudbury Wovles.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=1&sort=finalRank&year=2021&pg=2
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