Friday, May 8, 2020

2020 NHL Draft Questionnaire With OHL Experts

It's certainly not a normal year for draft coverage with the abrupt end to many 2020 seasons and the question marks surrounding next year's start-up. With that in mind, I teamed up with some familiar collaborators and asked them some pressing questions in regards to the OHL talent available for the 2020 NHL Draft. Naturally, I also took part in the questionnaire. Whenever the draft happens to be, my aim is to make you as informed as possible.

Here were the participants in the poll:

Dominic Tiano - Writer for The 
OHL Writers (@dominictiano)
Dylan Galloway - OHL Scout for 
Future Considerations (@dylangalloway_)
Tony Ferrari – OHL Scout for Future Considerations and NHL Draft Writer for Dobber Prospects (@theTonyFerrari)
Grant McCagg - President of Recrutes Hockey (@grantmccagg)
Steven Ellis – Former Digital Content Creator for The Hockey News, Provides OHL Related Content at http://stevenpellis.com/ (@StevenEllisNHL)
Raine Hernandez - OHL coverage for OHLNetwork & social media/scout for the Oakville Blades (OJHL) (@BringerofRaine)
Mark Scheig - OHL writer for The Hockey Writers (@THWMark)

and of course...myself (@BrockOtten)

Here was the Questionnaire:

How would you classify this draft class for the OHL?
Brock Otten - I think that this could go down as one of the strongest draft classes from the OHL in recent memory. 2003 is always going to be the pinnacle, but then again it probably is for almost every league. 2008 and 2010 are other years that come to mind for the OHL with the first four selections, and seven of the top 10 in 2008 and the top three selections in 2010. This group has the potential to be mentioned in the same breath. Not inconceivable to see the league having five of the first eight selections and many other quality players in the top 100.

Tony Ferrari - I think this year’s OHL crop is very good. Probably one of the better groups we’ve seen in a while with four guys almost locked into the top-10 and another 1 or 2 with a chance to sneak in if teams really like them and decide to reach a bit.

Grant McCagg - Any time you have five players from one league that could go in the top ten, it is a banner year. One could argue that it's the best OHL draft class since 2010 when Hall, Seguin and Gudbranson went one, two, three and six went in the top 12. The only class of the past decade in the discussion is the McDavid one because...it had McDavid. Marner is no slouch either, and Strome/Zacha have had their moments. All in all, I'm comfortable saying it is one of the best two OHL draft crops of the past decade...with both quality and depth.

Dominic Tiano - After the embarrassment of last season, the worst ever for the OHL, 2020 is a breath of fresh air. I think it’s the best draft class from the O since 2003 and it is strong in top end talent and depth. If there is an area of weakness it’s in the crease after Nico Daws.

Mark Scheig - Outside of the obvious names, I think this is a strong class overall. Having a 50-goal scorer as most expert's fifth ranked player says everything you need to know. And that doesn't even get to names like Jacob Perreault. I also think that there will be a strong showing in middle rounds. After a couple of down years, the OHL is back in full force in 2020.

Dylan Galloway - This draft class is one of the best I’ve been able to cover. The top end talent is ridiculous with 5 players that could be considered for the top 10. Even past the top end talent, there’s a ton of OHL talent to be had throughout this draft.

Steven Ellis - This is a big step up from 2018-19, and it’s nice to see an OHLer in contention for first overall. The league has the best power forward, the top defenseman and the North American goaltender with the most intrigue. When you take into the fact that scouts are in love with this draft, and that there could be as many as four players taken in the top 10, that’s a strong year – and one we expected when these players were selected in the OHL draft.

Raine Hernandez - I believe that this class of OHL players entering the NHL Entry Draft is the deepest that we have seen in quite some time. At the top of the heat, there are names that have the potential of changing a franchise. While there are four or five names can become faces of their future NHL teams, there are also numerous players that will find themselves within the first 60 picks. With such a saturated group of OHL players in this class with little wiggle room between one another, many teams will have the opportunity to pick OHL players that may not have been available in the later round’s years prior.

How many OHL players do you see going in the first round this year?
Brock Otten - I would put the over/under at 7.5. I think we need to look at Byfield, Drysdale, Perfetti, Rossi, and Quinn as locks. After that, this draft is pretty wide open so nothing would surprise me. But there is a group of 7-8 guys after that who have a legitimate shot of being drafted on day one.

Tony Ferrari - I think we could be looking at anywhere from 6-8 in the first round. There is a real chance that the OHL dominates the top and bottom of the first round with the 14-23 range possibly featuring a lull in the OHL selections.

Grant McCagg - Anywhere between six and ten. I figure it will be seven or eight.  

Dominic Tiano - Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti are top 10 talents. Jack Quinn is bordering on top 10. After those five, there’s Jan Mysak, Martin Chromiak, Jacob Perreault, Ryan O’Rourke and Tyson Foerster looking to see their names called in the first round. So, there could be as many as ten, but I see eight as definite first round picks.

Mark Scheig - I have seven in my first round. Byfield, Drysdale, Rossi, Perfetti, Quinn, Perreault and O'Rourke.

Dylan Galloway – 10

Steven Ellis - I'm going to go with six – Byfield, Rossi, Perfetti, Drysdale, Quinn and Mysak. It's more of a front-heavy draft in terms of OHL players going early, but that's better than having a bunch of late first-round picks instead.

Raine Hernandez - The big four (Byfield, Drysdale, Perfetti, Rossi) are guaranteed first round picks and most likely will be selected within the top-10. With this in mind, later in the first round we could see Sarnia’s Jacob Perreault, Barrie’s Tyson Foerster and Ottawa’s Jack Quinn and Hamilton’s Jan Mysak. Many mock drafts have been very different in regards to where Ryan O’Rourke finds himself, but he does carry an upside that’s big enough where he sees himself going in the first round (and personally I do), meaning if the right pieces fall into place, we could see a total of nine players selected in the first round.


Who is the most NHL ready player in this draft class from the OHL?
Brock Otten - I would say that despite him being on the smaller side, that Marco Rossi is the most NHL ready player from this OHL class. He may be small in stature, but his lower body strength is terrific and he is certainly the most polished two-way player in the group. Additionally, his later birthday has given him more experience to draw from than the others. With the improvements that he made to his skating this year, Rossi wouldn’t look out of place as someone’s third line center next year. Although I will also say that I don’t see the reason to rush him either. Let him play back home or in the AHL against men for a year to ensure that his size does not make him an injury risk, considering how hard he plays.

Tony Ferrari - The most NHL ready guy is probably Rossi because of his two-way game. His size doesn’t concern me because of his strength and the fact that he has those “Crosby thighs” that allow him to motor around the ice and stay upright. Byfield could also make the jump but I think he could benefit from another year of development, possibly overseas in Europe.

Grant McCagg - That is an excellent question. I think they could all probably use another year of hockey outside of the NHL, but if Byfield goes two or three, the recent tendency has been to keep players selected in the top three on your NHL roster. If Detroit ends up with Byfield he will play right away for sure because they don't have much quality depth at center. A team like Ottawa or New Jersey, though, has a little more young depth down the middle. Byfield is ready physcially in terms of his size and skating ability, but the team that drafts him may want to see him make the next step in terms of dominating physically at the OHL level before playing him for 82 games. Perfetti, Drysdale and Quinn need to get stronger. Rossi? He may stand as good a chance as any of them if the team that drafts him lacks depth at forward. I know his coach thinks he'll play in the NHL next season; we'll see. You don't see many 5-8 teenagers crack the NHL.

Dominic Tiano - I’m going to go with Jamie Drysdale here for two reasons: 1) his elite level skating and hockey IQ and 2) because he fills a spot on right defence that seems like every NHL team is looking for all too often.

Mark Scheig - It's Quinton Byfield and it's not close. I think Drysdale is one year away while everyone else is two or more years. Byfield has the size and the skill to make the immediate jump if he were to have a great camp. I don't think the others could handle the immediate jump.I could see Drysdale get up to nine games though.

Dylan Galloway - While I have my hesitations that the NHL is the best place for him next season, Byfield is the most NHL ready. He’s got the size speed and smarts to play with the big boys. He just needs to work on being able to play on the defensive side of the puck at a higher level so that NHL coaches can trust him on the ice and allow him to have the ice time to develop properly.

Steven Ellis - It’s easy to say Quinton Byfield, but I think you have to go with the player who can physically compete with the best players and can score at a high rate. Don’t let his slow World Junior Championship performance tell you otherwise – he can hang with the best (he was Canada’s best forward during training camp when he was playing with better players and given opportunities).

Raine Hernandez - There have been many that have been saying that he could play another year in junior, and while that may be true, Quinton Byfield still is the most NHL-ready prospect coming out of the Ontario Hockey League. Since being selected as the first overall pick in the 2018 Priority Selection, Byfield has had to go up against the opposing team’s top competition and has excelled immensely despite the talent around him. With his excellent blend of size, speed, and skill, Byfield’s game will translate instantly at the next level, with an opportunity to build on it under an NHL franchise 24/7.


Among the “big four,” (Byfield, Drysdale, Perfetti, Rossi), who are you the most confident in? In other words, who is the sure thing to become an elite NHL player?
Brock Otten - For me, that would be Jamie Drysdale. If I had to place a bet on one of them, it would be him. I just think that the combination of his mobility and hockey sense makes him the ideal NHL defender in today’s game. I also think that he has shown the ability to adapt and improve and that we have not yet seen the best from him. I think back to how he played at the World Juniors this year. At the start of the tournament, he looked timid. But by the end, he was one of Canada’s better defenders as a draft eligible. Not many 18 year old defenders have been able to play as well for Canada at that event as Drysdale did.

Tony Ferrari - My answer here is easy: Byfield. I could make the argument that he is the best of the bunch today but the reality is that he is in that discussion with Rossi at the moment. The difference between the two is that while I think Rossi has a chance to be a top-20 center in the NHL in his career, Byfield has a chance to be a top-10 player in the NHL. Byfield is the only player in this class, OHL or not, that rivals Alexis Lafreniere’s ceiling. Even if he doesn’t hit his insanely high ceiling, where ever he does ultimately land could be a top-15 center in the NHL.

Grant McCagg - I see at as a big five to be honest; there will be several NHL teams that have Quinn ranked ahead of Rossi, and don't be surprised if he is picked first. I don't think any of them are sure things to become elite players...for me it is Perfetti with the best chance of being an 80-point scorer, but in terms of confidence on who will likely be a first-liner...I will give the nod to Drysdale. The odds of him being a first-line defenceman on Detroit, Ottawa or New Jersey are higher than the others being first-line players where they are picked.

Dominic Tiano - That’s a tough one because all of them have the potential to become elite in the NHL but I will have to go with Byfield simply because he is the youngest and has the highest upside and if they all fulfill that upside; he will be the most talented.

Mark Scheig - Drysdale. He has the skating and can impact the game in so many ways. The others have legitimate questions in my mind for the next level. I'm not 100% sold that Byfield will become elite.

Dylan Galloway - While I feel all will have long and illustrious NHL careers, I’ve got to go with Rossi. He’s so well rounded and his senses are next level. He plays a pro game basically already and I think any coach is going to love tossing him over the boards in basically any situation and feeling comfortable.

Steven Ellis - I almost feel like there’s less pressure on Jamie Drysdale to perform at a high level, as you typically see from defensemen. There are opportunities for whoever drafts him to take their time and wait until he’s ready. Drysdale is a mature young man that can play heavy minutes and plays a better two-way game than any other defenseman in the draft. There’s a lot of Bowen Byram in Drysdale, and that’s a great thing.

Raine Hernandez - Despite the sub-par roster that has been around him in his two seasons in the OHL, Jamie Drysdale is my safest bet to become an elite NHL defenceman in the near future. Much like Byfield in Sudbury, Drysdale has managed to shine with a roster that is not among the OHL’s elites. Typically, with a player of that calibre that plays on a ‘weaker’ team, they’ll tend to create bad habits due to forcing to make something out of nothing to help generate plays for their team. It was rarely seen from Drysdale, who carries the complete package to be a complete top-pairing defenceman.


Conversely, among the “big four,” who are you the most wary of?
Brock Otten - Honestly, it’s probably Byfield. I know the conventional answer would probably be Perfetti because of his lack of extra gear, but his hockey sense and skill level should play well at the NHL level because of how he deconstructs defenses. Byfield is the least consistent of the four. And while his package of size, skill, and skating ability is impressive, there are times where I am left wondering if everything will come together the way that we hope it will. I'm also concerned that an NHL team will rush him and stunt his development. I don't think he is NHL ready right now. All that said, I would still take him and rank him first among the four because his ceiling is the highest. It’s just too much to pass up because even if his skills don’t quite come together, he’s still going to be an NHL player.

Tony Ferrari - While I am very confident in all of these guys, I think the one I tap the breaks on a bit is Drysdale. He is far and away the best defenseman in this draft class and I think that he will be a top-pair guy when he establishes himself. My worry with Drysdale would be someone rushing him into the NHL next year. He is the least ready of the four for the NHL and if he is forced in early, the chances that he stagnates or falters in his development becomes a bit higher.

Grant McCagg - NHL scouts keep telling me Byfield is most likely going to be a second or third-line center...so if you are asking which guy would I be most leery of becoming a first-line player out of the Big 5..it would be Byfield. I also think he may be the safest of the group too; if that makes sense. Byfield is going to help the team that drafts him in a lot of ways, especially if he adds more grit to his game. He's still just 17....twenty more pounds and he will be formidable if he uses it properly.

Dominic Tiano - You could probably throw Jack Quinn into this as well. But I am not leery of any of them to be honest. That said, I will throw it in a different direction and say Marco Rossi. I know there are concerns out there on whether he can handle the center position at the NHL level, so if you’re drafting him to play the middle and those concerns come to fruition, at least he could probably make it as a winger. So, Rossi would be the one I would be most leery of – at least at playing the position he’s most accustomed to playing.

Mark Scheig - I hate to say this but it's Marco Rossi. I think he will have a long and successful career but I do wonder if he can play center at the next level. I love his game and what he brings. But there aren't many 5-9 top centers in the league. If he's set on becoming a top center, I am leary. Otherwise I'm all in.

Dylan Galloway - You’re really not making these easy.. Out of the top 4, I’ll have to go with Perfetti but only because the others have potential to be super stars where Perfetti may just be a star. His skating needs improvement and could cause him some trouble transitioning to the next level over the other 3.

Steven Ellis – Perfetti. Obviously, scoring goals is huge, but it’s not uncommon for players with a natural goal-scoring ability to struggle once they crack the NHL. He doesn't have the explosive skating you'd hope for out for him, and I feel like he'd struggle in a third-line setting early in his career. I think whoever drafts him will want to get him into the top six as soon as he's ready. But having said that, you can't ignore how dominant offensively he is and how he took his two-way game to a whole new level this year, so my level of doubt is still quite low.

Raine Hernandez - I’ve been watching Cole Perfetti since his days when he was starring for a Whitby Wildcats team despite being a year younger than the rest of the competition. Now with Saginaw, Perfetti has exceeded expectations and has become one of the best offensive players in the CHL. At the next level, Perfetti won’t have the same situation that he has had in the past, not being in a position where he decides where to go like in minor hockey or the OHL draft where he committed to Michigan in order to go to an OHL franchise that he preferred. Perfetti will have to learn to adapt to becoming better defensively, and not with the best first step from a skating perspective, his development will be crucial to learning to use his high hockey-IQ playing at the next level.


Who is the OHL draft prospect who really swayed your opinion this year; the player who you were originally unsure of, but by the end of the year you were sold on?
Brock Otten - That has to be Zayde Wisdom. If you recall, I was a fan of his last year too and had him listed as an HM in my annual favourite OHL rookies piece. That said, I just didn’t expect this sort of offensive production from him. Sure, he plays with Shane Wright (and Chromiak later in the year). But he’s a driving force on that line too who consistently stands out for the right reasons. With every viewing of Kingston that I had this year, I came away impressed with his offensive skill set and I think his confidence really grew as the season progressed. Can we even say that his potential tops out as third or fourth liner anymore? It seems like every time Wisdom is sold short, he steps up and proves us wrong.

Tony Ferrari - Jacob Perreault is a player who I came into the year thinking was just a really good triggerman who has some skating issues and a lack of footspeed to make a difference. He has proved me wrong and he did it on a team that didn’t provide much help for him most of the year. His footspeed and skating improved by miles and the shot stayed high-end. What really impressed me was his ability to read the play in the offensive zone and become a bit more of a dual-threat. I still think his goal-scoring will be his bread and butter at the next level but his playmaking showed signs of growth. His teammates often left him out to dry and missed on good chances around the net.

Grant McCagg - I wouldn't say I am completely sold on him, but my opinion on Evangelista evolved as the season went on. He just kept making plays and earned time on London's top line; draft-eligible guys don't often get such a luxury in London..so if Dale Hunter likes what he sees...there is more there than originally met the eye. He's a very smart player, and you like what he does with the puck. If he can improve his game away from the puck, and where better to learn that than in London; he could be a pretty solid NHLer.

Dominic Tiano - I’m going to go with Luke Evangelista here. Teammate Antonio Stranges was the London Knight that got all the early attention between the two, but I always felt Evangelista had more to give and had the higher upside – at least he showed flashes last season. As this season progressed, it became more and more evident and NHL Central Scouting finally rewarded him ranking him ahead of his teammate.

Mark Scheig - Tyson Forester. I needed to see him before coming to any conclusions. He showed very well. I expect him to be one of the top goal scorers in the OHL the next year or two.

Dylan Galloway - Tyson Foerster. Wasn’t convinced of him at the start of the season. I still don’t love his skating, but I felt he did take steps at improving it through the season. His shot is fantastic, and he has excellent offensive instincts with an ability to use his wingspan for puck protection well.

Steven Ellis - Jack Quinn, easy. He had a strong year in the CCHL before going to major junior but didn't hit it off last year like I Was hoping. But a great start early in the campaign, followed by a Arthur Kaliyev-style goal-scoring campaign made me believe in his game. He scored in every live performance I saw him in, too. He has some minor deficiencies in his overall game, but Quinn has a tremendous skillset and should have no issue being a top-six winger.

Raine Hernandez - For some reason, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ottawa 67’s Marco Rossi, but after the show he put on display this season, no doubt it’s him. I had thought that since Rossi produced behind the likes of Sasha Chmelevski, Tye Felhaber, and Austen Keating, I needed to see another season in which he would be the main guy. Once he got the keys to the top line, he did not disappoint.


Who was the OHL player that you were most disappointed in this year? Someone that you had really high expectations for coming into the year, but they failed to meet those expectations.
Brock Otten - That has to be Antonio Stranges. Coming into the year, I was a huge fan based on his skill level and offensive potential. And he certainly still possesses that. He just didn’t have a great year. Some of the issues that plagued his game last year (decision making with the puck, play through traffic, engagement level without the puck, defensive abilities) just didn’t improve. He has gone from a potential first round selection to a fourth-fifth round pick in my eyes.

Tony Ferrari - I think the obvious answers for me are Will Cuylle and Jean-Luc Foudy. The Windsor duo under produced expectations and while I think Foudy may have been a victim of questionable deployment and his teammates not pulling their weight on chances he generated, Cuylle underwhelmed for much of the year. He increased his physicality but his goal-scoring that came into the year as one of the more dangerous weapons on Windsor’s team became ineffective and inconsistent. He was never a razzle-dazzle player but he really seemed to hit a wall this year.

Grant McCagg - Take your pick of Pytlik or Foudy - I guess I'll say Foudy. Is he the next Rico Fata? Skates like the wind..unfortunately he also has to play hockey while he's flying. I kept waiting for the second-half breakout like Liam had in his draft year, but it never came. I question his grit and his hockey sense.  

Dominic Tiano - I actually have a pair of Windsor Spitfires here in Jean-Luc Foudy and Will Cuylle. Both came into the season as potential first round picks and didn’t meet expectations or take the next step. That’s something a player can’t afford in their draft year. That said, they both have high potential, more so in Foudy’s case, so all is not lost. But their season was a disappointment to me.

Mark Scheig - Antonio Stranges. I came in thinking first round. I wouldn't take him in the first three rounds. There is talent. There is intrigue. But he is someone who couldn't consistently go up in the London lineup and left so much to be desired. He has time to fix things but he was a major disappointment for me.

Dylan Galloway - Lleyton Moore. I was excited from my viewings last year, especially when he was in Niagara. I was hoping to see more of the offensive upside I came to expect from him. While he still shows some decent offensive upside, his defensive game is questionable at best.

Steven Ellis - I've been a believer in Will Cuylle since his minor bantam season and was hoping he'd take a big step in his game this year. Instead, he improved by just one point and didn't show his dominant offensive edge he had with the Toronto Marlboros. Most scouts I talked to around the OHL draft two years ago said he was as major junior-ready as they came. He had a good rookie year, but his lack of improvement wasn’t lost on me.

Raine Hernandez - Dealing with the off-ice distractions to get to Windsor, Will Cuylle showed tremendous upside in his rookie season with the Spitfires, and on multiple occasions, showcasing one of the greatest release’s that I had seen at the Minor Midget level. In his second season, I was hoping to see a massive jump in improvement from him, and it seemed that he just couldn’t get over that hump.


Who is the most underrated OHL player in this draft class; the player that you have ranked higher than others?
Brock Otten - I would give that moniker to Ryan O’Rourke. Because he doesn’t possess the raw athletic package of other projected stay at home defenders in this class (Guhle, Schneider, Barron, etc), he just doesn’t seem to get mentioned as much. IMO, he deserves to be right there with them because of how well he thinks the game and because his offensive skill set is undervalued. I believe that he has more to offer as a two-way defender and when you combine that with his leadership capabilities and physically intense style, you have someone who could be a solid top four defender for years to come. IMO, he deserves to be mentioned as a potential first round selection more than he has.

Tony Ferrari - Martin Chromiak is a guy that I don’t think gets the respect he deserves because he played with Shane Wright since he arrived around the mid-point of the season. He may not be a line driver on his own but he is a player who can play with elite talent, keep up to their pace of play and create chances for his teammates and himself. He can finish the plays the Wright generates and he can help set up Wright for good chances as well. Not every player can play with a star, Chromiak can.

Grant McCagg - I honestly don't look at a lot of public lists, so I'm not sure I can properly answer that question. I guess if you think there is a Big 4 and I have a guy ranked higher than one of those four...it must be him. :-) Jack Quinn is still underrated in some circles. An NHL scout told me he saw him after 15 on a couple of lists; I can't agree with that, Quinn has no real faults to his game. Speed, size, sense, shot, puck skills, defence and competitiveness are all above average - he is as safe a pick as any in this draft after Lafreniere. You know at the very least he will play third line, PP and penalty kill and score 20+ goals...that's a 17-18 -minute per night forward as your downside. On the other hand - he may be a 40-goal scorer on your top line, PP and PK. So that's pretty valuable.

Dominic Tiano - I’m going to go with a draft re-entry here and say Billy Constantinou. He was ranked 58th by Central Scouting a year ago and went undrafted and has not been on any of their lists this season. I think he was in a bad situation in Kingston a year ago and when he was traded early in the season to Sault Ste Marie, I think it suited him better and he showed his worth. I could also throw James Hardie of Mississauga or Logan Morrison of Hamilton on here as well.

Mark Scheig - Ryan O'Rourke. He is my 20th ranked player overall. You get so many things with him that won't crack the scoresheet. He's a natural leader. He leads by example. He's an in your face defenseman who gives you everything he's got. While he has things to work on, he's proven this season that nothing is too big for him. Being a captain at 17 proves that. He has that intangible of making everyone around him better by leading them through adverse situations. O'Rourke is by far my favorite player outside of the lottery.

Dylan Galloway - Evan Vierling fits the bill I think. The gap in the season didn’t help his case at all, as well as his slow start. But once he got to Barrie, he just looked so much more comfortable and back to the player I watched a year ago. I’d look to take a chance on him in the late second, early third.

Steven Ellis - Jean-Luc Foudy was a favorite of mine in 2018 and felt like he'd be a steal for Windsor. He didn't put up big numbers, but I think he's got significant value outside of putting pucks in the net. At the very least, he's a good energy guy with a good playmaking skillset.

Raine Hernandez - With the likes of Jaromir Pytlik and Ryan O’Rourke being the focus of scouts when watching the Soo Greyhounds this season, Rory Kerins would be the player that would catch their eyes by the end of it. Kerins enjoyed a great sophomore campaign with the Greyhounds, notching 30 goals and 29 assists. What Kerins may be lacking in foot speed, offensively, Kerins has a great playmaking touch and nose for the net, with a great mind for the game for a 200-foot player.


Who is the most overrated OHL player in this draft class; the player that you have ranked lower than others?
Brock Otten - Tough, but I would probably say that Jaromir Pytlik is that player for me. I still see him ranked in the upper part of the second round on some lists, but for me he is more of a third or fourth round selection. He plays a pro style game. One hundred percent, I do see him as a potential NHL player. However, I do wonder if he has enough dynamic qualities to his game. He’s an intelligent two-way player, but is his skating good enough to play that role in the NHL today? I would rate the majority of his skills as average which really puts him in danger of being that tweener type.

Tony Ferrari - Jack Thompson from the Sudbury Wolves. I think he is above average in the offensive zone but his defensive zone play is a bit of a mess at times. His offensive game didn’t take a real step this year as some had hoped and because of that, his defensive flaws can’t be ignored like other skilled offensive defensemen. I’ve said it since about the halfway point in the year, I don’t even think he’s the best draft-eligible defender on his team. I think Isaak Phillips holds that mark.

Grant McCagg - I would have to say Stranges. I don't like the way he plays, and I don't see pro coaches liking it either. This year's Ho-Sang without the production? I wouldn't consider him before the middle of the third round.

Dominic Tiano - I’m not sure this is going to be a popular choice but I will go with Pavel Gogolev of the Guelph Storm. I am always leery of ranking third time draft eligible players too high. Sure, injuries derailed him a year ago. And he did put up fantastic numbers for the Storm this season. But this is his draft plus 2 year and that is to be expected. He’ll be in my top 50, but not as high as some others have him ranked.

Mark Scheig - Stranges. He's not in my top-100.

Dylan Galloway - Antonio Stranges. He’s got the skating and some good offensive instincts but I haven’t been convinced he’s going to translate those skills well enough to the next level to justify taking him with a top 40 or 50 pick.

Steven Ellis - I honestly have little faith in Antonio Stranges becoming an NHLer. Stranges was invisible in my live viewings and if he wasn't using his electric speed to blow past defenders, he wasn't doing much else. He's more of a one-dimensional player, in my opinion.

Raine Hernandez - Jean-Luc Foudy – Windsor Spitfires: Elite playmaking ability but lacked the confidence to create for himself and size to bang with the best in the Ontario Hockey League. Foudy still has a long way to go but can still become a great offensive player at the next level.

Alright, give me your two favourite “sleepers.” One player that you really like for the middle rounds and one for the later rounds that have the potential to be quality NHL players.
Brock Otten - Evan Vierling comes to mind, but I actually expect him to be a top 75 selection, so I’m not really sure he qualifies. So the two names that I’m going to provide are Mitchell Smith and Cameron Tolnai. Smith is a mobile defender who played a variety of roles for the Spirit this year. Early on, it was as a puck mover. Later on, it was as Bode Wilde’s stable defensive partner. I think he possesses a lot of potential that we haven’t quite seen yet. Where as Tolnai, he was supposed to be one of the better players from this Ontario age group. Later in the year, we started to finally see what he was capable of. If the OHL playoffs had actually occurred, I think he could have had a chance to be a point per game player during an OHL Championship run. Given his size and power game down the middle, that could have made him a MUCH more coveted player.

Tony Ferrari - A player who I like in the mid-rounds that could out-perform his draft stock is Ty Tullio. I’ve been on this bandwagon all year but I think he has a real shot to be a middle-six scorer who can play on a top-powerplay and penalty kill. He has shown effectiveness in all three zones and his offensive creativity and raw skill is impressive. His shot is good but can stand to get a bit stronger but his playmaking is smooth and crisp. He sees the ice really well and if he can get on a line with a skilled center, he can make some magic at even strength. As for a later round player that I think could make a jump, I’ll go back to the Sudbury Wolves best draft-eligible defender, Isaak Phillips. He won’t blow you away but his defensive play is sturdy and stable, his shot is heavy from the blueline, and he makes a good first pass and can transition with his feet. He is an excellent skater, especially for his size. Die to the fact that he doesn’t put up a ton of counting stats, he doesn’t get the love of some other guys but I think he is a safe, NHL-upside pick in the later rounds.

Grant McCagg - I don't have any guys ranked in the later rounds that I think will be NHL players; I can't predict where these guys will go...so I'm not going to give you the name of a player I think will both go late..and be an NHL player...the odds of that are likely below 10 percent. Zayde Wisdom may go in the middle rounds, and he may end up playing. He has the strength, character and desire to play an NHL energy role if he keeps improving his skills. I like him more than Chromiak as a potential NHLer, which I realize isn't a popular opinion. I think his game will translate better.

Dominic Tiano - My first choice here is Zayde Wisdom of the Kingston Frontenacs. He plays the game the right way, can score, make plays and has a motor that never quits and bring a lot of energy. I think by the time his career is over, he could be one of those players we’ll be saying he should have been picked earlier. My second choice is a goaltender that is not even ranked and probably won’t get drafted in 2020 but will re-enter the draft in 2021 and turn some heads, Tucker Tynan of the Niagara IceDogs. What he did in Niagara before suffering a devastating injury that ended his season and could have ended his life – well we haven’t seen in quite some time. Was it enough? Probably not. I am hugely disappointed that Central Scouting didn’t at least tag him as a limited viewing.

Mark Scheig - Middle rounds, I like Donovan Sebrango in Kitchener. He's a great skater and has shown a nice growth in his defensive game. In the later rounds, Erie goalie Aidan Campbell is going to surprise a lot of people. He's 6-5 and a great athlete plus he's expected to be the number one for the Otters in 20-21. After a bit of a rough rookie year, I expect him to show why there was a lot of promise about him when he first came over.

Dylan Galloway - Yevgeni Oksentyuk. Overager who I really like for the middle rounds. Late 3rd or 4th. He’s slick and skilled and was simply under covered in Belrus last season. Lots and lots of upside in his game. Ethan Cardwell. Can really let his shot go when he gets the chance. Decent speed through transition and incredibly aggressive and competitive on the forecheck.

Steven Ellis – James Hardie and Jake Murray. Through minor midget and major junior, Hardie has found ways of taking his linemates to a whole new level and upped his own scoring output in a big way this season. There was enough overall improvement from year one to year two to suggest he has the potential to take his game to a higher level than anyone expected prior to joining Mississauga. For a late-round sleeper, Jake Murray didn't have a great transition to major junior after being a dominant force of the Oakville Rangers organization for many years. That shows how important those two years of major junior can be, but he's got the size to compete for an NHL spot and if given more opportunities on the power play, Murray would have better numbers to show for. Being stuck on a bad Kingston team didn't help, but there's still potential there.

Raine Hernandez - Evan Vierling, Barrie Colts – After a strong start with Flint, Vierling spent some time away from the team for personal reasons, and was then traded to the Barrie Colts where he was able to regain his confidence in Barrie, showing why he was the second overall pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.

James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads – When Hardie had the puck on his stick, he was absolutely electric, tallying 34 goals and 29 assists for a Steelheads team that resurrected themselves following a rough start to the regular season.

With eyes on next year’s NHL Draft. What does your top 5 look like right now from the OHL? Give us one sentence to describe each player.
Brock Otten
1. Brandt Clarke - Most polished 16 year old defender that I’ve seen in the league since Ekblad.
2. Mason McTavish - Dynamic goal scorer who will be given more room to be creative next year.
3. Franceso Pinelli - Skilled transitional forward who plays with intensity and can score.
4. Daniil Chayka - Raw physical package from the back-end who improved a ton this year.
5. Brennan Othmann - Pro ready winger who is extremely well rounded.

Tony Ferrari
1 - D Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts: A skilled defender who played better in his own end as the year went on. Had the season not been cancelled, he likely would have reached the 40-point marker as a 16-year-old in the OHL, a mark that top defensive prospects hit. His production really took off after the coaching change as he was given more powerplay time and his leash at even strength was lengthened, allowing him to make mistakes and grow. 

2 - C Mason McTavish, Peterborough Petes: One of the best shooters in the 2021 draft class, McTavish scored 30 goals in his age-16 season and was fourth across the CHL among 2021 draft-eligibles in primary points per 60, leading the OHL. His ability to put up points is impressive and the shot is special. 

3 - LW Brennan Othmann, Flint Firebirds: A silky smooth winger who creates plays on a regular basis. Everyone that played with him this year seemed to benefit from his offensive prowess. Othmann routinely pushes the puck to the middle of the ice and when he gets his shot off, it’s dangerous from anywhere. 

4 - C Francesco Pinelli, Kitchener Rangers: A true dual-threat, Pinelli is the player I expect to rise on this list the most because of his improvement as the season went on. His ability to play a strong game in all three zones and dominate at times when the puck is on his stick as he weaves through the neutral zone and gets creative in the offensive zone.  

5 - C Brett Harrison, Oshawa Generals: Between Harrison and Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires), this spot was tough as both players were among the top 16-year-old producers post January 1st. Harrison has a bit more finish and flash in his game though which gives him the edge.

Grant McCagg - I honstly don't watch underagers very much; I more than have my hands full scouting draft eligible guys each year, and that is always my focus. Because of their Ottawa-area connections..the only guys I paid any attention to this season were McTavish, Enright and Clarke. I like McTavish and Clarke a lot. McTavish is a goal scorer, and he plays with some jam too...pretty smart, pretty tenacious. Clarke could be a stud defenceman....he has the whole package.

Dominic Tiano
I don’t usually rank players this far out and take a page out of Central Scouting with a player to watch list. These are the players who are most intriguing and should keep eyes on during the 2020-2021 season. In no particular order:

Brandt Clarke – Barrie Colts: Fantastic skater who has shown he can control a game. Superb passer with a high-level hockey IQ. Is in the mold of a Jamie Drysdale.

Mason McTavish – Peterborough Petes: McTavish seems to score goals at will. Got off to a tremendous start to the season but found himself being bounced around the lineup as the Petes gathered depth to make a run. It’ll be his team next year.

Francesco Pinelli – Kitchener Rangers: Pinelli already saw some time on the top line with the Rangers and he is expected to take on a bigger role for next season. Already plays a solid 200-foot game at a young age.

Daniil Chayka – Guelph Storm: A defender who plays in every situation and eats up huge minutes and takes on a leadership role is hard to find, and Chayka is just that. Possesses and excellent shot and is an agile skater for his size. Has played a ton of hockey this season.

Brennan Othmann – Flint Firebirds: Possesses an absolutely lethal shot. Has good vision and soft hands. Playmaking skills were much better than I anticipated. Skating is excellent and even at his young age showed the confidence to take on defenders one-on-one.

Mark Scheig
1. Brandt Clarke: He's the best defenseman by a mile and should pace the top of the rankings all of next season.
2. Mason McTavish: McTavish does so many things well and will be a terror to play against.
3. Francisco Pinelli: Enjoyed an excellent rookie season for the Rangers and could give McTavish a run for his money as the best forward available for the '21 draft.
4. Chase Stillman: While Byfield got all of the attention, Stillman quietly enjoyed a good rookie season and is ready to take the next step.
5. Brennan Othmann: He had a hand in helping Flint to its best season ever and is primed to help continue that trend.

Dylan Galloway
1 - Brandt Clarke - the offensive defenceman is absolutely lethal on the rush. He’s smart, fast and incredibly skilled. Can’t see anyone taking over top spot in the 2021 draft from the OHL.
2 - Brennan Othmann - Don’t get in the way of his shot because he’ll put it right through you.
3 - Mason MacTavish - The skilled power forward has an excellent shot and while he had a successful rookie season in the OHL with 29 goals in 57 games, I think there’s even more to give offensively.
4 - Francesco Pinelli - He’s flashy and skilled and just getting started, needs to work on his consistency and defensive game but that should come with maturity. 
5 - Danill Chayka - Good sized defender who’s a fluid skater and is already playing big minutes in Guelph. He loves to jump up on the rush and possesses a good and smart puck moving game.

Steven Ellis
    1 - Brandt Clarke, D (Barrie) The top competitor to Owen Power to be the first defenseman chosen in 2021 – but I have faith Clarke will be the best prospect from the class when it's all said and done.
    2 - Mason McTavish, C (Peterborough)One of the best pure goal-scorers available, McTavish is a smart kid with many pro-level qualities. Putting it all together consistently will help him push up a whole new level.
    3 - Francesco Pinelli, C (Kitchener)
    Pinelli will have no issue putting pucks in the net at the next level. He has everything you want out of a skilled, two-way centre.
    4 - Brennan Othmann, LW (Flint)Othmann's rookie season left a lot to be desired, but when he plays against the best, he's among the best. He's ready for a breakout.
    5 - Daniil Chayka, D (Guelph) A big Russian defender who was once a dominating force in minor midget. As an older player, Chayka needs a big third season to boost his stock.

Raine Hernandez
1 - Brandt Clarke (Barrie): Want to know what a game-breaker looks like from the backend? That’s Clarke every time he steps onto the ice.
2 - Mason McTavish (Peterborough): 29 goals as a rookie in the OHL as a rookie? A gifted offensive center with the ability to play a 200-foot game.
3 - Brennan Othmann (Flint): High-octane winger with an excellent ability to put the puck in the net.
4 - Francesco Pinelli (Kitchener): After a productive season in his first year, Pinelli will be taking the reins from Riley Damiani, poised for a huge season in 2020-2021.
5 - Chase Stillman (Sudbury): Reminds me a lot of his father Cory Stillman, has a high level of skill and smarts from the wing, and if Byfield comes back, get ready for Stillman’s sophomore season.

Tell us where people can find your work and what sort of upcoming projects they can expect from you and your crew.
Brock Otten - Obviously you can find my work here and on twitter (@BrockOtten). I’ll be releasing my final top 50 rankings in the near future. I’ll also be doing my annual media/scout poll to close the year. I’m also part of the team at McKeen’s Hockey and we’re gearing up for the draft. We are working on our Draft Guide as we speak.

Tony Ferrari - You can find me on Twitter at @theTonyFerrari and at Dobber Prospects! The majority of my work is at Dobber Prospects where you can find my weekly Ramblings every Monday where I take a look at different prospects around hockey and my monthly Draft Report where I deep dive a number of topics, profiles players and put together a “Team of the Month” like the All-Defensive team or All-Shorty team!


Grant McCagg - You can find my work at recrutes.ca. I have a draft guide coming out in a couple of weeks if I don't get hounded too much by any more guys looking for opinions on CHLers. ;-)


Dominic Tiano - Founder of ohlwriters.me I mostly stick to covering draft eligible players. With the cancelation of the season, I am going back and watching a lot of tape and currently working on profiles of players eligible for the draft. Will have my final ranking in early June.


Mark Scheig - I can be found on Twitter @markscheig and at thehockeywriters.com. As for current projects, we are in the midst of getting ready for the 2020 NHL Draft as we continue filling our draft guide to get everyone ready for the big virtual event whenever that will be. Also I am keeping close tabs on the Blue Jackets so fans will see stuff about them and perhaps their candidacy as a host city should the season resume. And we will watch for a potentially busy offseason for the Erie Otters while making some plans for a podcast sometime next season.


Dylan Galloway - You can always find me pumping my own tires on Twitter (@dylangalloway_). For rankings and articles you can read those at futureconsiderations.ca where I’ve posted articles on Byfield and Perfetti. Plus keep your eye out for our 2020 NHL Draft Guide which is in the works now.


Steven Ellis - You can follow me on Twitter, @StevenEllisNHL. I also write about prospects on my personal website, StevenPEllis.com, and have some cool stuff planned for the near future.


Raine Hernandez - Follow me on Twitter (@BringerOfRaine) and OHLNetwork (@network_ohl) for updates and feature articles with some of the best that the OHL Draft has to offer.





1 comment:

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