Here's part two of my rankings release: the players ranked from 30 to 11.
11. Carter George - Goaltender - Owen Sound Attack
Heard NHL Central Scouting's Al Jensen talking about George recently on a podcast and he mentioned how George's consistency this year was remarkable and I couldn't agree more. For an 18 year old goalie, George's workload was considerable this season; Hlinka/Gretzky Cup starter, 3rd most starts in the OHL regular season, a round of the OHL playoffs, and then starter at the U18's. Through all of that, it was rare to see George off his game. His mental toughness and compete level are so good for a young netminder. As are his positioning and play reading. It's rare to see him out of position. He's so calm in his movements; nothing wasted. He comes out to challenge shooters and has his angles perfectly covered. Considering that he's not the biggest netminder out there, this is so important. His athleticism/quickness should improve. His rebound control will continue to improve. But the margin of error is different for him with his lack of size and the fact that he is so detail oriented makes it more likely that he finds success at the NHL level IMO. Last thing to mention, George's puckhandling is a real asset in an era where it's rarely noticeable for netminders. George really helps out his defenders with his confidence in making passes and coming out of his crease. Why isn't George higher? I guess I'm just uncertain of the high-end NHL upside without that elite athleticism/size combo. There are times that despite his terrific attention to detail, that he can lose sight of the puck and is not able to get sight lines. He's my favourite goaltender in the entire draft class (based on my work with McKeen's), but I just wouldn't use a top 50 pick on a goalie this year.
12. Luke Misa - Center/Wing - Mississauga Steelheads
There seems to be a disconnect regarding Misa currently. The disconnect is between the general amateur scouting community and the NHL scouting community. I see Misa ranked in the first round or close to it on a lot of public lists. Yet, he's consistently been ranked low by NHL Central Scouting and I've heard that this reflects where the NHL community has him too. So why the disconnect and why do I agree more with the NHL community on this one? It's a great question, but I'd rather focus on why I actually like Misa a lot first. The skating and tenacity will play in some regard at the next level. He has positional versatility. We're looking at someone who could easily play a Casey Cizikas type of role in the NHL for many years. That has value. But where I agree with the NHL community is that I'm just not sure I see the kind of skill level that would make Luke a high end scorer at the next level. As a late 2005, he has less runway for development and I see him as more of a polished product currently. I think his offensive game is a bit one note and I believe that he'll be less effective as a carrier at the NHL level when pressured more intently. He'll succeed as an F1 with his speed and energy, but I don't think his hands and vision are above average. Compare him to someone like Jett Luchanko and it's obvious that Luchanko's game has more layers to it offensively. I still like Luke as a top two round selection. Again, if you can draft high end bottom six players and PK'ers, it helps you in the long run. Ask the teams who give up assets at the deadline for them.
13. AJ Spellacy - Center/Wing - Windsor Spitfires
No offense to Beckett Sennecke and his amazing playoff run, but Spellacy was easily the most improved draft eligible player from the start of the year to the end IMO. Much of that had to do with getting healthy and confident again following knee surgery last year. By midseason, it was obvious that he had his legs back and the difference it made in his game was remarkable. The big center is an absolute load to handle once he builds a head of steam. Big, powerful strides just chew up ice and he circles the zone at will, controlling the play in a way that I did not envision he was capable of heading into the year (and I say that as someone who really liked Spellacy last year). His hands really caught up to his feet late in the year and it allowed him to be a real play driver. Think the way that Easton Cowan's hands caught up to his feet late last year. Throw in the fact that Spellacy is a physically intense player who is an excellent penalty killer and you have someone who projects to be a versatile pro. Simply put, he checks a lot of boxes. Similar to Misa, I'm not sure I see a high end offensive player at the NHL level. If he's not beating you with speed, he can be neutralized. The shot and vision are only average too. However, I do see someone who can be a long term NHL player. I have a ton of time for bigger forwards with athleticism and Spellacy oozes it.
14. Lukas Fischer - Defense - Sarnia Sting
I like Fischer way more than the average guy that I have ranked 14th. He's still very much a second round selection for me. I just felt that some other guys finished the year stronger and showed a little more from a development perspective. He still has a ton of upside at both ends and is one of the youngest players eligible this year. I don't think Lukas is done growing. He could very well end up being 6'5, 220lbs-ish when all is said and done....similar to his father Jiri. Lukas' main issue is just consistency. A lot of that has to do with Sarnia being a rebuilding team in the OHL. He was asked to do a lot this year on a younger team that found themselves hemmed in their own end a lot. This magnified some of his current flaws. Defensively, I want to see him use his size more effectively. He can be too passive, especially in terms of defending in transition. He lets players/attackers dictate pace and it causes Lukas to have to scramble too often. Yet, there are times where he absolutely blows things up with his reach and strength. Why don't we see this more often? Lukas' footwork can also be inconsistent. At times, he looks mobile and covers ground well, allowing him to have a positive impact on the game at both ends as a rush attacker and defender. But, there are other times where his lateral and backwards mobility look sluggish and he struggles to defend pace. As a pure offensive defender, it's the same sort of tale of two players. He flashes great creativity and skill, but on other shifts, he struggles to confidently handle the puck and make quick decisions under pressure. The most realistic scenario probably sees Lukas developing into a similar defender as his father Jiri as he fills out and gains confidence. But, there's upside as an offensive player too that could see him become a more intriguing two-way, all situations type. Patience will be key here.
15. Jacob Battaglia - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
Battaglia really grew on me this year. He's a bit like a Liam Greentree-lite. I think his small area skill is impressive. He protects the puck well and extends plays with his hands, especially along the wall. He also is a really intelligent player on and off the puck. He draws in pressure well and then always seems to find the open man. He's not likely to be a primary play driver at the next level, but he could end up being a really solid complementary piece to dynamic and creative offensive players in the top six. The strong IQ also translates to the defensive end where he has great positioning and anticipation. A couple things make him more of a 3rd rounder for me. One, I wish he were just a little more physically engaged. I think his outlook as a pro would be a little better if he could increase the physical intensity a little bit. Two, the skating is only average. He's actually got good edges and moves well East/West. But the quickness needs work and it holds him back from being a more dynamic player with the puck. All that can be improved.
16. Kevin He - Wing - Niagara IceDogs
I have to give He a ton of credit for coming into this season and improving several areas of his game. He came into the year as a speedy scoring winger with a fairly one dimensional game. He exits the year a much more complete player after adding some serious tenaciousness to his game. For my money, He is one of the OHL's best forecheckers. He uses his speed well and was always dialed in physically, no matter whether Niagara was facing a blowout or not. The improved consistency in puck pursuit and the development of him as a pest had to impress NHL scouts. Now it's just about the further introduction of other layers to his game. He's a pretty straight forward North/South guy right now. That means he can be easily neutralized by mobile defenders with reach. Additionally, his playmaking ability, vision, and decision making leave some to be desired. He'll attack wide and then his tunnel vision can prevent him from truly creating anything of substance. Later in the year, I think we did see some improvement here, but it's still a work in progress. But because of the increase in intensity level and off puck improvement, I have a lot of time for He as a potential top three round guy. It will be interesting to see him develop around the collection of young forward talent that they have accumulated.
17. Luca Marrelli - Defense - Oshawa Generals
Luca is someone whose game I really grew to admire over the course of the year. It required some serious extra views; it's very understated. He's certainly not someone that I would label as "flashy." However, he's very intelligent. He's also quite mobile. A strong four way mover, he's able to buy a lot of time for himself to allow the ice to open up in front of him. His patience/poise with the puck is one of his best assets. Marrelli is also a sound defensive presence. I wish he were a little tougher to play against below the goal line, but his reach and mobility give him good upside as a pro defender in some capacity. Do I still have some projection concerns? Yeah, he's a little too much of that "jack of all trades" type that I've learned to be cautious of. This is especially true because he's a late birthday 2005. I don't think he's anything more than a versatile #5, but I do really think that he has a chance at a long NHL career.
18. Ryerson Leenders - Goaltender - Mississauga Steelheads
I know there are a lot of people who have Leenders as the top goalie out of the OHL this year over George, and I can see why. He's a better athlete than George. They're similarly sized, but Leenders is quicker post to post and better in scramble mode. One school of thought would tell you that this gives him more upside as he learns to harness his athleticism by being more technically sound. However, I just love how refined George's game is and I believe that his athleticism can be improved. Whereas, can Leenders' positioning and rebound control improve in the same way? It certainly can, but for "smaller" goalies this is so important. Look at the struggles that Devon Levi has had in the NHL the past year. And he's such a good play tracker and athlete too. Leenders just has a lot of work to do IMO. I don't agree with the massive drop from NHL Central Scouting; he's still a top five goalie in this class for me. However, I do see the concerns and the justification.
19. Riley Patterson - Wing - Barrie Colts
Patterson was a totally different player in the second half, for all the right reasons. Earlier in the year, he was really struggling with his decision making, coupled with the fact that he was too easily separated from the puck. I always liked the two-way effort and awareness, but the struggles offensively left me concerned about his pro upside. In the second half, we saw some great progression. He really transformed himself into an excellent off puck player in the offensive end, in the same kind of way that Anthony Romani in North Bay plays. He exploits gaps in coverage by timing cuts well and showing great anticipation in the o-zone. Couple that with great finishing ability and precise passing through traffic and Patterson is a dual threat. There's still a need to improve his on puck play, especially as he looks to attack with pace. He's a strong skater, but we haven't seen him push pace the way that he did at the OJHL level last year. Simply put, he needs to get stronger on the puck and play through traffic more consistently. I'm not entirely confident that he's ever a primary play driver, but he's shown enough to suggest that he could be a great complementary piece as his game rounds into form further. The strong finish to the year has vaulted him into the top three round range for me.
20. Jakub Fibigr - Defense - Mississauga Steelheads
Fibigr was one of my early season favourites from this draft class. He came out gangbusters for an upstart Mississauga team, not an easy thing to do for an Import making a ton of on ice and off ice adjustments. I think Fibigr has a lot of really interesting qualities. He's a strong four way mover; he's got great edgework and he builds speed well out of pivots, allowing him to escape pressure and join the rush. He's a willing physical combatant, especially in his rush defense. He loves to play aggressively. He flashes creativity and skill with the puck. I mean, there's a lot to like. But the pieces just don't fit together all the time. The application of his skill set is wildly inconsistent IMO. His over aggressiveness gets him in a lot trouble at both ends. When he plays in control, he's generally more effective. I think we saw that at the U18's for Czechia. However, the trade off there is that when he's more refined and cautious, he's also not as dynamic and impactful. How will it all come together for him? Are there limitations in his IQ? He's a top three round guy, but I wonder about the overall upside.
21. Nathan Villeneuve - Center - Sudbury Wolves
Villeneuve has been a tough guy for me to evaluate this year. I'm going to fully admit that. I see the allure. Strong skating, power center. Plays a physical game. Can be really effective on the forecheck. Shows a ton of promise as a two-way, defensive asset. As an offensive player, I think his shot and scoring ability shows the most promise. Application wise, his decision making with the puck can leave some to be desired. He's at his best driving the middle as a North/South attacker, and when pressured I'm not sure that he's creative enough to be a high end playmaker. All that said, his role with Sudbury this year may have hidden some of that talent. What's he going to do with more ice time and better linemates? I could see his development taking a lot of different routes. Of course, the elephant in the room is also his lengthy suspension for the incident involving Barrie and the "bounty." When you factor in everything, I still feel very confident in Villeneuve being drafted, however, I think we'll see him more in that 80-120 range, which is where I'd have him ranked.
22. Luke Ellinas - Center - Kitchener Rangers
One of the most improved draft eligible players from the OHL this year. From start to finish, he showed terrific improvement in almost all areas. Part of me is concerned about his projection at the next level given that many areas of his game are average at best. But the other half of me loves how much he improved over the year and how effective he is in close quarters. It's almost as if Ellinas is most effective in traffic, compared to when he has more time and space to operate. He excels near the net. He has great hands and underrated scoring potential. He controls the wall and cycle well. He competes in all three zones. Having such a mature small area game, and improving as a skater really makes me think he could end up carving out a role. That will depend on his ability to handle the puck, play with pace, and make quicker decisions with the puck as a playmaker. I think that there's a chance that he could end up a Jason Dickinson type of player in the NHL.
23. Ethan Procyszyn - Center - North Bay Battalion
Procyszyn is a pretty similar player to Spellacy, but I think AJ showed more growth over the course of the year. In reality, their upside as NHL players are likely pretty similar. However, I don't think Ethan is at quite the same level as a puck carrier and overall play creator. That said, there's a lot to like. He's one of the most feared physical forwards eligible for the draft this year. He's excellent on the defensive side of things. He has a heavy shot that should become more of a weapon as he improves his release, works to find soft spots better, and increases his confidence. Is the offensive upside significant? I'm just not sure that I see it. He's a top 100 candidate because he could end up being a really good shutdown, 4th line type. That has value in that third round range because you know you're getting someone who has a high chance of playing for you and being a playoff contributor.
24. Frankie Marrelli - Defense - Ottawa 67's
I don't think he ends up being drafted very high, but I do think he has a chance to be a longtime pro. If he were 6'3, we'd be talking about him as a potential top 50 pick. If he were as mobile as a guy like Brock Faber, we'd be talking about him higher too. That's not to say that I think Marrelli is a poor skater. Not even close. It's just that guys at his size, who end up developing into high end defensive players are almost always near elite movers. Marrelli can lose the odd foot race to the puck. His crossovers and transitions aren't always the cleanest, causing him to give ground. Elevating his overall four way mobility to the upper echelon has to be the focus for him. Ditto for continuing to improve his confidence with the puck. He shows flashes of being capable of more; good holds at the line, rushes deep into the offensive end, smart pinches. However, he's mostly a pretty safe guy who is happy to defer to his partner to create chances. It's why he's worked so well with Henry Mews. The good? Marrelli is an intense competitor. He makes you compete for every inch of ice when he's out there; he never takes a shift off. He has great defensive instincts too. He blocks shots. He deflects passes. He is largely a very effective rush defender because of how aggressive he is. I mean, those who watched the U18's this year got to see how valuable he can be in his own end. It's just a matter of whether that translates to the next level. If it does, I see him as a Nick Jensen type. But, there's risk because few guys like Marrelli do end up becoming long time pro defenders. Look at the likes of Markus Phillips and Joey Keane in recent years.
25. Gabriel Frasca - Center/Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
Early in the year, I thought that Frasca could end up pushing to be a top 50 pick. When he first returned from injury (he got a late start to his draft year), he was playing some great hockey and was rightfully receiving a lot of hype in draft circles. But, his game just never found it's footing from a consistency standpoint this year. Too many games where he was "just there." I really like the hockey sense. I think he's a smart player, just as his brothers were/are. His attention to detail defensively is impressive. However, everything else is just average right now. He's a good skater, but there's room for him to improve his quickness to help him be more of a consistent difference maker. He's not a perimeter player, but he's not a consistent physical threat either. If he were harder on pucks, he'd be an even better defensive player and penalty killer. If he were stronger on the puck, he'd be more consistent playing through traffic and through the middle of the ice. Frasca flashes a great shot thanks to a quick release, but he's not finding those soft spots to get himself consistent looks. He has trouble shaking coverage currently. Is he a center or a wing long term? Can he hit a growth spurt like his brothers? Right now, there are just more questions than answers and that scares me a bit. I do still really like Frasca because I'm always willing to bet on intelligent players getting better. But, he's a back half of the draft guy for me now.
26. Owen Protz - Defense - Brantford Bulldogs
Protz is a defender with some really interesting tools. How those tools come together remains to be seen; I don't think we truly know what his upside or future role is going to be. That's why he's a round 4-7 guy and not earlier. However, there are some pieces here that are going to be very alluring to NHL clubs. First, his aggressiveness defensively is great. He takes the battle to you and rarely sits back. He has a penchant for the big hit and he is strong as an ox down low. At 6'2, 200lbs, he's already got pro size. Second, his four way mobility is solid. He can play that aggressive game because he can close quick, but also recover when required. He is tough to beat one on one. Thirdly, Protz flashes some puck moving skill, especially as a transition leader. He can clear the defensive end with his feet and lead the counter attack. However, the application of all of these skills is inconsistent. His overall defensive effectiveness can be a bit erratic. His reads and coverage do need tightening. The same could be said for his reads with the puck and ability to handle the pressure of a forecheck. Realistically, Protz probably best projects as a third pairing, stay at home type. There are a lot of similarities between Protz and former Bulldog Riley Stillman at the same age.
27. Anthony Cristoforo - Defense - Windsor Spitfires
I feel bad for Cristoforo. It wasn't a terrific year for him or his development. This is a guy who won Gold with Canada at the Hlinka/Gretzky in the summer, but then they didn't even bring him in for the U18's in April. That could have been an opportunity for him to save his draft stock a bit, but c'est la vie. Look, Windsor just wasn't good this year. Part of that comes from a guy like Cristoforo not taking that next step, but he also didn't have a ton of help. Playing so much in his own end magnified some of the weaker components of Cristoforo's game. If he were on one of the better teams in the OHL, we're probably not talking about whether he gets drafted or not. But again, c'est la vie. I think my biggest concern is that I felt Cristoforo's skating somehow looked less dynamic this year. He's not a big defender, so that's really important. He's certainly not a poor skater, I'm not insinuating that. It's more that I felt his pace lagged behind at times. Maybe offseason strength training took away some of that explosiveness, but it had a negative impact on his offensive game. That needs to be the focal point for him moving forward, to find that next level as a skater the way that Parekh, Mews, and Danford have. The other concern is his defensive play. Again, his strength deficits, intensity level, and overall effectiveness were magnified because he was tasked with playing in the defensive end so much on a poor Windsor team. But that doesn't change the fact that they are present and need to be improved. At this point, he doesn't project as someone who could defend at the NHL level. Now...all that said, I still have hope for Cristoforo. He was previously one of my favourite defenders in this class because of how he processes the game as an offensive player. He's got terrific vision and he understands how to manipulate defenders to create time/space (deceptiveness, patience, timing). He's going to be a top flight powerplay QB and offensive defender at the OHL level. It's why he should definitely still be drafted. However, the risks currently outweigh the positives.
28. Kieron Walton - Wing - Sudbury Wolves
Along with Frasca, the player in this crop who fell the hardest thanks to a poor second half. Including the playoffs, Walton scored in only ONE GAME in the last 40. Yes, it was a hat trick against the Saginaw Spirit, but three goals in the final 40 games of the year is just not good enough. If Walton wasn't 6'6 and 200+ lbs, we wouldn't be talking about him as a serious draft candidate. But...he is, and we are. The allure is that Walton has more skill and is a better skater than the average 6'6 forward. He can be a really effective North/South player because of his ability to drive the net. His shot, believe it or not (considering his goal drought to end the year) is good and gives him great potential as a goal scorer. But the lack of consistency is concerning. Even more concerning, this has been an issue for Walton dating back to his minor hockey days; it's why he was the 28th overall pick in the OHL draft and not earlier despite his physical gifts. Without an increase in physical intensity, Walton just won't reach the upside that he possesses. Additionally, I wonder about how well he thinks the game as an offensive player. To be 6'6 and to not get consistent looks in the slot or near the net speaks volumes about a lack of anticipation and awareness, just as much as it does about his physical intensity. Early in the year, it looked like he was turning a corner. Later in the year, it was the exact opposite.
29. Jack Brauti - Defense - Barrie Colts
Honestly, Brauti was the unsung hero of the Barrie Colts' season. Yes, it was a disappointing year for them overall. But it could have been way worse if not for guys like Brauti (and Sam Hillebrandt). When Beau Akey went down to injury, Brauti was the guy who stepped up and by the end of the year, he was arguably the team's second best defender behind Kashawn Aitcheson. Not ranked by NHL Central Scouting, Brauti should have been. Yes, I know that he's only 6'0 and projects as more of stay at home type, but the same could be said about Frankie Marrelli. Similar to Marrelli, I just love Brauti's awareness and intensity in the defensive end. He's slight, so he's not winning every battle down low, but the effort is there. He's going to be a monster once he bulks up. Brauti has a great stick in the defensive end too; he's always breaking up passes and making great reads. I felt like Brauti's skating really improved over the year too. His transitions looked cleaner at the end of the year and we even saw him start to take chances carrying the puck, flashing some speed bursts as he lead the charge in transition. His offensive upside is tied to his shot, which I would classify as above average. He's likely to develop into a solid triggerman at this level. Look, Brauti's not going to be a high end NHL defender. But, his strong play and development this year in Barrie deserves mention. Teams could do a lot worse than Brauti with a later round pick.
30. Cole Davis - Winger - Windsor Spitfires
Compete. Compete. Compete. Davis is one of those players who is constantly around the puck. He's an absolute demon on the forecheck. And he needs to play that way. He's not the most innately skilled. He's not the quickest. He's not the biggest. So in order to be effective, he needs to outwork the opposition and it's great that he has a clear understanding of that already; he has a clear identity. Davis' offensive game really improved over the year, especially his on puck play. We saw him gain confidence in his carrying ability as he created his own chances by attacking with speed, looking to play through the middle of the ice. Davis' top speed is good. I think his explosiveness needs work, especially for a smaller player, but he can build to a solid top speed. Overall, I like Davis as a potential late round pick, I'm just not sure I'd take him earlier. Most players like him top out as quality junior players and then struggle to adapt at the next level. I look at a guy like Keean Washkurak as a great example, and I think he was a better skater than Davis is.
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