It's that time of the year for my annual (2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009) list of the top second and third year eligible OHL players for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. NHL teams continue to draft re-entry players in increasing number. This is mostly because drafting a second or third year eligible player gives NHL teams a lot of flexibility in their development under the CBA. Plus, a lot of these guys have been having success in recent years (Andrew Mangiapane, Tanner Pearson, Sean Durzi, and Colin Miller as legitimate NHL players are great examples from the OHL), which basic psychology tells us that other NHL teams will try to mimic.
Just to clarify, yet again, for those with limited understanding of the NHL draft system; North American players have either two or three years to get drafted, depending on their birth date. For those born from January 1 to September 15, they will go through three NHL drafts. For those born from September 16 to December 31, they will go through two NHL drafts. The players on this list are a mix of those having been passed over once or twice already.
Also, do not confuse this list with players drafted in 2022 who will re-enter the draft should they fail to come to a contractual agreement with their NHL team by June 1 (and whose birth date still allows them to be eligible). Quite often those too are referred to as draft re-entries. But this list does not contain them because it is not yet known who those players will be.
Last year's re-entry crop from the OHL is yielding terrific early results. Rodwin Dionicio emerged as one of the OHL's best defenders for the Memorial Cup hosts and recently signed his ELC. Dylan Roobroeck, Jacob Julien, and Florian Xhekaj all took massive steps forward to emerge as high end OHL players and all three look like potential NHL players in some capacity. This year's crop? I think it's a strong group that sees 4-5 draft picks, in addition to another two or three free agent signings in the future.
Without further rambling, here's my list:
1. Anthony Romani - Wing - North Bay Battalion
Without question, Romani is this year's top re-entry from the OHL. He essentially came out of nowhere to emerge as a Red Tilson candidate and top OHL scorer. He's only one year removed from being first time eligible too. The line of Romani, Wakely, Van Steensel was consistently one of the league's best and the three have tremendous chemistry that will continue to build into next year when they all return to North Bay. The real standout trait for Romani is his IQ. He's one of the OHL's most intelligent players. I was talking to another scout about him recently and we both mentioned how he was one of the "quietest" OHL leading scorers in recent memory. He's not necessarily a consistent play driver. He's not flashy. But, he has such a clear and advanced understanding of how to play without the puck and how to make quick decisions with the puck. The puck is on and off his stick quickly in the offensive zone and he rarely turns it over. He times his cuts so well and his anticipation as a goal scorer is terrific. Of course, the development of his shot and release have also helped take his game to another level as he has become a prime time finisher. Moving forward, the key for Romani will be the continued improvement of his skating and off puck play outside the offensive zone. If he finds success at the NHL level, it will be in a complementary offensive role and in order to do that as a wing in today's game, you need to be quick and you need to be tenacious. IMO, Romani ends up getting selected somewhere between 80-120. Too bad he battled injuries throughout the playoffs, as it would have been great to see how a healthy Romani faired in that environment.
2. Beau Jelsma - Center/Wing - Barrie Colts
Going to keep hyping my guy. I've been on the Jelsma train the last few years (dating back to his original draft year) and I'm not hopping off. If he doesn't get drafted this year, I just won't get it. Does his game have some holes? Absolutely. His decision making with the puck isn't always sound. He's also one of those guys with a lot of high end qualities, but nothing truly elite, which makes his projection (future role) a bit murky. However, you could do a heck of a lot worse in the back half of the draft. I mean, Beau had three points in four AHL games to end the year with Wilkes-Barre on a PTO. Simply put, he's a gamer. The skating and tenacity combination is solid. He's one of those guys who wants the puck on his stick and who works tirelessly to earn touches. He plays the game at a feverish pace and consistently applies pressure to opposing defenses North/South, either by attacking wide or by chipping and chasing. I think he has enough skill and sense to be a middle six guy, so long as his game keeps improving. If not, he could be a great depth option and AAAA player. I'm really excited to see him become one of the OHL's elite players as an OA next year (assuming he's back).
3. Trent Swick - Wing - Kitchener Rangers
Easily one of the OHL's most improved players this past season. I felt like one of the main reasons for that was an upgrade to the big man's skating ability. The 6'7 winger now skates quite well for someone his size and he can be a real load to handle because of it. He doesn't necessarily have the high end puck skill to make the most of it from a play creation perspective, but it makes him such a tough cover without the puck as he beats defenders to spots and becomes an immovable object. Swick is also an intense physical competitor. Previously, I found him a little too hesitant to use his size, but this year he took that to a whole other level, establishing himself as one of the OHL's most physical forwards. He rarely seems to lose a battle along the wall or near the crease. Are we looking at a high upside player? No. I don't believe so and I mean no disrespect by saying that. But, I do believe that Swick's rapid improvement has put him in a position to be an NHL regular in a bottom six role.
4. Owen Allard - Center - Soo Greyhounds
Early on in the year, I would have thought Allard would be ranked number two here and someone who could push for a spot in the Top 100. He was such an effective role player for Canada at the WJC's with his speed, tenacity, and net front ability. However, I found his game really leveled off post WJC's with the Greyhounds. He was still an effective player, but the positive development that we saw early on didn't really continue. If it were a graph, it would have a sharp curve the first few months, followed by a straight line. I particularly worry about Allard's skill and touch with the puck. I find plays can die on his stick, especially when the Hounds are trying to attack with pace. His skating ability could be such a weapon, but he can struggle with handle/accept passes at full stride. There are definitely major limitations to his game offensively. He reminds me of former Greyhound Tyler Gaudet in a lot ways, and while he proved to be a solid depth piece, he never found a way to become an NHL regular. All that said, I could also see Allard becoming a Mackenzie Entwistle type who can play a solid fourth line, PK type of role. Again, we saw the effectiveness at the WJC's.
5. Mitch Young - Defense - Sarnia Sting
Not a guy that a lot of people are talking about, but they should be. He went from a guy not even guaranteed to have an OHL roster spot this year to someone who was one of the team's top defenders. And he's an '05 to boot. Young's game is still pretty immature. The application of his skills is wildly inconsistent. His decision making can leave some to be desired, even if he's trying to be aggressive as an offensive defender. However, he simply can not be ignored on the ice with the way that he can change the balance of a game with a big hit or a creative play with the puck. He's extremely skilled. He could have had double the amount of points he had this year if Sarnia had more finishers. I felt like anytime I saw Sarnia this year, he found a way to make a few outstanding plays with the puck to create scoring chances. I like that he's aggressive in working his way to the middle of the ice too. Young is also a very physical player, especially in the open ice. Try to beat him to the outside, and he'll plaster you to the wall. He steps up in the neutral zone and at the opposing blueline to stop attackers in their tracks too. Does he chase the hit and play a little recklessly? For sure, it goes with the theme of application. Lastly, Young is a strong four-way mover. He's good on his edges. He builds to a solid top speed. Wouldn't call him a high end skater, but he's solid with the potential for it to be a plus skill eventually as he improves his strength/conditioning further. I was tempted to put Young higher, but the IQ is a bit of a mystery to me. How will his game become more refined? In a lot of ways, he's similar to Rodwin Dionicio, who was a re-entry pick last year.
6. Sam Hillebrandt - Goaltender - Barrie Colts
Great story here. Free agent signing by the Colts that pretty much saved their season this year with his strong second half play. And because a few other players declined an invite, he became the U.S.' third goalie at the WJC's. I feel like Hillebrandt is just scratching the surface of his potential. Do I wish he were a little bit bigger? Obviously. But, I think he's a good athlete. He's quick post to post. He's quick in and out of the butterfly. As he fills out, he'll become a bit better at holding his posts. His positioning and reads aren't always the most consistent. But, I love his compete level. He never gives up on a play. He fights for sight lines. His rebound control and overall positioning improved a ton over the year. Personally, I thought he was a top five netminder in the OHL in the second half of the year. Again, he's only an '05 too. These are the types of guys NHL teams should be taking chances on late in the draft.
7. Jacob Oster - Goaltender - Oshawa Generals
I mean, the OHL's goaltender of the year has to be included here right? Like Hillebrandt, Oster was just so good in the second half of the year. Really felt like things clicked for him finally as he's always been one of those goalies who has flashed high end potential in the league (previously with Guelph) because he's got good size and he's a good athlete. I think his best quality is his play reading ability. He really tracks the play well through traffic and he makes a lot of "highlight reel" type saves because of his outstanding anticipation in the crease. Over the year, his rebound control and positioning became way more consistent, especially in terms of the control of his pads. I'm sure you could make an argument for him to be ahead of Hillebrandt, but that extra year is important to me.
8. Finn Harding - Defense - Mississauga Steelheads
Harding is a strong skating, two-way defender who really came into his own this year, emerging as a leader for the Steelheads on the blueline. The right shot defender is one of those jack of all trades types who has developed into a very versatile and dependable player. Love how he defends pace with good footwork and an active stick. Really like Harding's instincts and poise in the offensive zone. He holds the blueline well and gets pucks on net. He's not a high skill guy. He's not a bruiser physically. But, there's a lot of runway left for development given that he's only an '05 who took some serious steps forward this year. NHL teams are going to really like his combination of decent size + mobility from the right side.
9. Dalyn Wakely - Center - North Bay Battalion
Yes, he took a massive leap this year as a dominant two-way force, but I think NHL teams are going to be most impressed by how he took a banged up Battalion team to the Eastern Conference finals this year. He's worked really hard the last few years to change the narrative around him regarding his consistency away from the puck. He's competitive. He's strong on the puck. He drives the middle and plays hard North/South. He has the skill and creativity to excel as a playmaker. He's worked hard to improve his skating, even if it still has to improve further to be a quality pro. Do I have some concerns over his projectability? For sure. I'm not sure he's an eventual fit in a top six role at the NHL level and I'm not sure he's a strong enough skater to be a high end bottom six guy. That said, the improvements that he has made thus far in his OHL career have him in the draft conversation, and rightfully so.
10. Ruslan Gazizov - Wing - London Knights
Felt pretty confident about the top nine here, with number ten being any number of guys (including all the HM's). I went with Gazizov, because I think he has the highest upside of this group of players. Gazizov has always been on the draft radar because of his high end skill and playmaking ability. However, he's worked really hard to improve both his skating and the consistency of his off puck play under Dale Hunter. The added tenacity to his game this year, as a forechecker, as a crease crasher, as a penalty killer, all really helped to make him a more consistent point producer. Does the explosiveness and pace still need to improve if he wants to be a scoring line player in the NHL? Absolutely. And even with the improved consistency of his physical play, I'm not sure he's an ideal bottom six guy at the pro level. However, as mentioned, he's really the only guy of those remaining with significant NHL upside.
Honorable Mentions (alphabetical order):
Sam Alfano - Wing - Erie Otters
Former junior hockey teammate of Trent Swick, Alfano had a really strong finish to the year. I felt like his game really found another level in the second half of the year. Playing under Stan Butler, his all around game has really improved. Big 6'4 forwards with a soft touch near the crease and good two-way instincts don't grow on trees. Key for him is to keep improving his skating. Don't think he gets drafted this year, but if he can play all of next year the way that he closed out this year, he'll be a serious ELC candidate as an OA.
Matt Buckley - Wing - Oshawa Generals
Buckler has excellent upside as a goal scorer. Wouldn't shock me at all if he's a 40+ goal scorer in the OHL by the time he graduates out. His shot is a plus weapon. He has a great one timer, but also a heavy and accurate wrister. He'll eventually be a huge powerplay weapon for the Generals. But right now the skating ability isn't pro quality. He's got pretty heavy boots. If he can work hard to get quicker, he's going to score a lot of goals and he's going to get serious consideration from NHL teams.
Pano Fimis - Center - Erie Otters
I'll give Fimis a ton of credit, he's worked hard to make his game more well rounded since the deal to Erie. I think he had a really good year under Stan Butler, who elevated his two-way game massively. A strong faceoff guy. A tenacious player in puck pursuit. A strong penalty killer. Fimis has become way more than just a creative playmaker. Another guy that I don't think gets drafted, but who is getting closer to being a pro prospect. I'd expect him to have a monster OA year next season.
Marco Mignosa - Wing - Soo Greyhounds
Mignosa is a high IQ winger who is an excellent complementary piece. He's kind of like Anthony Romani without the high end shot and the ability to work inside consistently. He makes quick plays with the puck. He extends plays down low. He competes in all three zones. But, without a true standout skill, he remains on the periphery of the NHL draft radar. The new age Austen Keating in a way.
Spencer Sova - Defense - Erie Otters
It was kind of an interesting year for Sova. The production dropped, but I don't think he was any less effective as a two-way player. The mobility is still plus/plus. The defensive play continues to improve. But, I think NHL teams are still waiting for him to truly takeover with his skating ability. If he is a near PPG defender in his OA year, he's getting signed. No question.
Luke Torrance - Wing - Oshawa Generals
Big winger deserved mention here IMO. Don't think he gets drafted, but I could see NHL teams having interest if he can improve his offensive production next year as an OA. He's an excellent defensive player. He's one of those true warriors on the ice who does anything to help his team win, blocking shots, crashing the crease, winning puck battles. Dime a dozen junior player or someone with a chance to be a role player at the pro level?
Owen Van Steensel - Wing - North Bay Battalion
Probably the guy I debated the most at #10. I really liked him two years ago as a later round candidate and he had a great year playing with Romani and Wakely this year after a disappointing post draft year. Love the energy he plays with. He's got quickness. His play with the puck has improved a ton. His shot has improved a ton. Brady Stonehouse earned an ELC and he's a pretty similar player. Wouldn't surpise me either way.
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