My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft - Part 2: 50-31

In three straight drafts (2019, 2020, 2021), only three players ranked in this range have been selected. The reality is that NHL teams are using mid to late round picks on European and College bound players more often these days because they get a longer signing window in regards to their rights. Longer shot prospects take longer to develop because they have more to work on. That longer window allows them a few extra years to see how they progress before they have to hand out an ELC.

That said, I do expect more than a few players to be selected from this group. The quality of this OHL crop is better than it has been in recent years. However, I will say that I expect there to be more second/third year eligible players selected (like Tucker Robertson who appeared in this section last year) than those ranked by me in this 31-50 range.

Without further ado, here are the players ranked 31 through 50.

 

31. Kocha Delic - Center/Wing - Sudbury Wolves

One of Canada's most impressive players at the U18's, it was actually a bit of a blessing for Delic that the Canadian coaching staff decided to separate he and David Goyette at the event (much to the surprise and disappointment of many). It allowed him to really stand out on his own and show that he can be the focal point of an attack because of his aggressive approach, skill, and motor. The aggressive approach gets him in trouble at times. He can be prone to undisciplined penalties (this was extremely evident at the U18's), but I have faith that he will be able to reign that in. As he gets a little quicker and stronger, he won't have to reach as much to apply the kind of pressure off the puck that he wants to apply. I'm not sure Delic possesses a ton of offensive upside as a pro, but I could see him having a long NHL career as a Brad Richardson type. I think he deserves a ton of credit for adapting his game to the OHL level by improving his commitment to playing off the puck and in the defensive end.  I would be advocating for my club to jump at selecting Delic if he is still available in the later half of the draft.

 

32. Evan Konyen - Wing - Sudbury Wolves

Speaking of the U18's, it was a real shame that Konyen was not able to get approval from the IIHF to play for Canada due to residency rules. Would have been great to see him at the event. Playing and developing with Goyette and Delic, Konyen is going to be a high end goal scorer at the OHL level. His scoring instincts and shot are both terrific. He consistently finds open lanes in the middle and finds a lot of success there despite lacking ideal size. Konyen is also a quick skater and confident on his edges, giving him that elusiveness that he needs as a relatively undersized attacking winger. The key for Konyen will be the development of his on puck play. He can be ridden off the puck too easily and his decision making will need to improve to play a top six role at the NHL level. I think that as he gets stronger, he will also need to develop more of a pest like mentality to find success at higher levels, similar to how a guy like Michael Bunting has emerged as a standout complementary piece for the Maple Leafs. 

 

33. Zak Lavoie - Wing - Mississauga Steelheads

Lavoie proved to be an extremely versatile player for the Steelheads this year. He played a lot with Owen Beck, but did slide up and down to be wherever he was needed. He is at his best when he is dialed in physically and aggressive on the forecheck. When he is outworking and outhustling defenders, he is also able to get himself open looks from the slot for him to use his wrist shot, which is one of the better ones in this age group in Ontario. If Lavoie can really work to get stronger and quicker, he not only has a decent ceiling as a goal scorer, but a decent floor as a high-energy attacker. However, he seemed to really fade down the stretch and the physical component to his game became very inconsistent. I don't believe he is innately skilled enough with the puck to be a primary play creator or someone who can truly drive possession metrics. So playing all out, all the time will be a necessary progression for him. 

 

34. Chas Sharpe - Defense - Mississauga Steelheads

I really liked the progression of this 6'2, right shot defender this year. He started the year playing on the third pairing, playing minimally, but worked his way up the lineup by the end of the year and was routinely seeing 20+ minutes a game in all situations late. He has a really well rounded profile. To an extent, that makes it hard to project him as an NHL player. "Jack of all trades" defenders at the junior level don't often translate unless they do a few things exceptionally well. However, I think that every single component to Sharpe's game improved over the course of this season, which suggests that he could continue to improve next year. Sharpe can quarterback the powerplay with good vision and puck poise when walking the line. His skating improved a ton, especially his quickness and four way mobility. He will take away space aggressively in the defensive end and could become a defensive standout with his improving mobility, reach, and physical approach. I'd have a lot of time for Sharpe in the later rounds because I like the upside at both ends.

 

35. Ryan Abraham - Center - Windsor Spitfires

Undersized, but tenacious center who is consistently noticeable for the right reasons. This is especially true for his play in the postseason for the Spits. Abraham is just a really annoying player to match up against because he never stops moving his feet. He'll apply pressure on the forecheck, but maintain that pressure through all three zones, consistently hounding puck carriers to take away their space. He forces a ton of turnovers in the offensive end and those turn into scoring chances because Abraham is also a skilled and intelligent playmaker. As a transitional attacker, Abraham relies on the "mohawk" stride, using his edges and four way agility to weave through traffic. The track record for this approach at the NHL level isn't terrific. Given his lack of size, that will be concerning to NHL scouts. I'm also not quite sure Abraham is skilled enough to create his own time/space consistently at the NHL level, meaning he probably profiles more as a bottom six guy. Not listed by NHL Central Scouting, I have time for Abraham because I think he plays the way you want undersized players to play.

 

36. Max Namestnikov - Center - Sarnia Sting

Tale of two seasons for Namestnikov really. The younger brother of NHL'er (and former OHL'er) Vladislav, Max struggled mightily in the first half, but really picked it up in the second half.  He's tiny too, but he is another player who plays with tenacity and without fear. Namestnikov is actually a pretty physical player, at least he tries to be. A strong skater, he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. He can lead the attack in transition. He can force turnovers on the forecheck. He looks confident as a playmaker along the half wall and his vision allows him to excel on the powerplay. But, when pressured, I do worry about his decision making. Turnovers are a problem as he just throws pucks away, rather than exhibit patience and poise in the offensive zone when defenders try to take away his time/space. Too many blind passes that just don't work and in fact, end up going the other way for odd man opportunities. His high energy approach is also not consistently applied in the defensive zone, as Namestnikov looks more focused on heading back the other way to be involved offensively. The skill and athletic tools are there as an undersized forward. The application of those skills and play style will need to change for him to be a successful pro player. Someone with a real confident development plan for him will likely take him, banking on the upside.

 

37. Aidan Castle - Wing - Niagara IceDogs

Castle is a strong complementary offensive player who had an up and down year on a rebuilding Niagara team. He's a true grinder in every sense of the word and I mean that as an endearing sentiment. He is very tough to separate from the puck along the wall and as he gets stronger, he is going to be one of the better players below the hash marks in the OHL. I think the thing that gives Castle promise is that he also has terrific vision and scanning habits with the puck. He is a way more talented playmaker than many give him credit for. He routinely makes passes from the wall that find his teammates in the slot for scoring chances, timing his passes perfectly as he draws in double coverage. The issue with Castle is his ability to play with pace at the OHL level. An average skater, Castle becomes less than that when tasked to carry the puck or receive passes at full speed. His ability to improve this and improve his overall athleticism will be the key to him playing at a higher level. If it happens, he does have the kind of traits you would look for in a middle six support winger.

 

38. Jackson Edward - Defense - London Knights

Edward will unquestionably go higher than I have him ranked. I'm fine with that. Good size. Good mobility. Physically aggressive. Plus, NHL scouting teams have a ton of trust in Dale Hunter's development model. That said, he's a late round gamble for me and not someone I take in the earlier rounds. I don't think his play with the puck showed much growth over the course of the season. Neither did his decision making at either end. His zone coverage reads are still quite unrefined and I thought he struggled when London asked him to play a larger role due to injuries (at times) this year. While London is a great place for him if he develops well, if he doesn't, he'll find himself on the outside looking in pretty quickly with the depth of the London organization. A player like Oliver Bonk will be pressing hard for his ice time next season. The raw physical tools are great, and that's why I'd take him late. But, I haven't seen enough at either end to suggest that those tools can be put to use the kind of way they would need to be for him to be a long time NHL defender.  

39. Rodwin Dionicio - Defense - Niagara IceDogs

Dionicio could be a real nice project pick for an NHL team. I've said it a few times, but I see a lot of former Barrie Colt Tyler Tucker in Dionicio. He manages to have a positive impact on the game despite being a rather limited mover. His forward mobility is alright. He can lead the attack out of the defensive zone with his feet because his hands are good and because he can get up to a decent top speed. However, his lack of four way mobility really hurts him in the defensive end, and his lack of first step quickness can make it tough for him to separate from forecheckers. His physicality can be an asset when going up against slower forwards, or when defending below the goal line, however it could be put to better use if his footwork improved. I also understand that Dionicio has not played defense all that long, so some of his question decision making can be attributed to that. As a late round pick, Dionicio will very much be a boom or bust pick. However, he does have NHL upside.

 

40. Colton Smith - Wing - London Knights

Smith got off to a blazing hot start, establishing himself as a skilled net front presence for London...especially on the powerplay. The son of former OHL bench boss (and current Ottawa Senators coach) D.J. Smith, Colton then faded hard down the stretch. His success at the beginning of the year was no fluke. He can score. He also shows good understanding of how to play without the puck in the offensive end. The kind of player the puck gravitates toward. As the pace increased over the course of the season, he tended to disappear. Improving his skating and quickness will be key for him. Additionally, I'd like to see his physicality without the puck become a more consistent element of his game. To an extent, I think this is tied to his speed and quickness, as he finds himself just a step behind, but given the style of play he needs to utilize, it will be important none the less.  

 

41. Brice Cooke - Wing - Niagara IceDogs

I think Cooke's upside is actually higher than his teammate Castle, who I ranked a few slots higher. Cooke is the better athlete. He has the kind of size and length you would look for in a middle/bottom six forward today. His linear quickness is pretty good too. He can look good driving the net wide and can beat defenders one on one to cause defensive zone breakdowns. However, Cooke is way more inconsistent. His off puck play is not as strong. His physical intensity wavers. He needs to improve his four way agility and confidence on his edges to allow him to work his way to the middle more consistently. In a lot of ways, Cooke is a bit of a one trick pony right now. If he can't beat you in a straight line, he can be kept to the perimeter. However, Cooke shows just enough in flashes to suggest that he could have high upside as a scoring line winger with size and reach. 

 

42. Sam Alfano - Wing - Peterborough Petes

Alfano came into the year with fairly lofty expectations. He had played well at Hockey Canada's combined U18/U0 summer camp and his size and skill package was sure to be attractive to scouts. However, the pace of the OHL proved to be too much for him to start and he had trouble standing out. The 6'3, 200lbs winger has some intriguing tools. He has good offensive instincts, something that not all big wingers have (because they can run through people at a young age). He has good vision with the puck, making him an equally effective playmaker. He can hit and hit hard, especially in puck pursuit. However, his lack of mobility hinders him in a big way right now. This is especially true of his first few strides, which lack both power and grace. This limits his ability to create separation from defenders. If Alfano can really work hard to become even an average mover, I think his upside is still quite high.

 

43. Zander Veccia - Wing - Mississauga Steelheads

Veccia's versatility makes him a very intriguing player. He showed the ability to do a lot of different things well this year. He can play in any situation. He is active on the forecheck and the backcheck. He can lead the attack in transition with good speed. He can crash the net and win loose puck battles. He played everywhere from the fourth line to the first line for Mississauga this season. However, that versatility has also clouded his true upside and NHL projection. Does Veccia have any true standout qualities, or qualities that have the capability of being elite? Or does he project as more of a quality energy guy at the OHL level who will play his years in the OHL and then move on to the CIS? 

 

44. Brody Crane - Wing - London Knights

Crane is another young forward who got buried on London this year. This happens year after year, and every following year there are one or two who break out in a big way. Is that player going to be Crane next season? This year, he showed value as a physical forechecker. He can cross the line physically at times and ran into penalty problems, but the aggressiveness could play well at higher levels, especially when combined with his quickness. Crane also shows flashes of being a quality goal scorer with the skill and creativity to create his own chances in transition. The one thing that was really tough to ascertain this year, given his ice time, was how well Crane thinks the game. I'd probably wait to see how Crane performs next year before looking at him as a serious draft pick, but I could see why a team would use a later pick on him this year.

 

45. Simon Slavicek - Center/Wing - Flint Firebirds

Part of me wonders if Slavicek had come over at the start of the OHL season, would his performance this year have been better? Entering the season, he and fellow Czech Matyas Sapovaliv were on pretty equal footing as potential NHL draft selections. One started the year in the OHL and flourished. The other did not, came over late, then had trouble breaking into a deep Flint lineup. It took a while, but Slavicek actually started to look pretty decent before he was allowed to leave to play for Czechia at the U18's. Unfortunately, Slavicek was pretty invisible at that event...pretty much the only chance he had of saving his draft stock. I still see a player with NHL upside. That doesn't disappear in a year. He can be effective in all three zones. He can play multiple forward positions. He is active in puck pursuit and shows skill playing through traffic to get shots off. But the skating needs to continue to improve and he needs to regain his confidence. I really hope he returns to Flint next year or at least stays in the OHL with another team. I think he could do well in his second year in the league.

 

46. Nolan Collins - Defense - Sudbury Wolves

Collins is a right shot defender with good size and mobility. That alone is going to put him on the scouting radar. He had a solid rookie season with the Wolves and actually earned a spot on Team Canada at the U18's, where he played a depth role for the Canadians. Collins' projection is that of a quality defensive defender. His game is not flashy, but it can be effective. To be an NHL defender his defensive reads will need to improve. The same could be said for his reads with the puck and ability to make a clean exit pass. He is at his best when he can use his feet to help him clear the defensive zone, but when forecheckers close off those lanes, it can lead to turnovers. Right now, the raw physical and athletic tools are intriguing, but the application of those is inconsistent. It would not shock me to see him selected not unlike Chandler Romeo last year. I can see the intrigue.

 

47. Andrew Oke - Goaltender - Saginaw Spirit

Ranking this year's OHL goaltenders is tough. But, Oke may have emerged as the league's top option for the draft. With Tristan Lennox banged up, Oke stepped in admirably for the Spirit, seeing a ton of rubber. He had quite a few rough nights. But, he also had quite a few standout performances. His athleticism and puck tracking abilities are impressive. It's why he was able to make the highlight reel more than a few times this season. The finer technical components of his game will need to tighten up. He has a habit of scrambling a bit and this can take him out of position. Additionally, he can make life tough on himself with some weaker rebound control. Patrick Leaver would be my first goaltender off the board from the OHL, but among first time draft eligibles, I'd give Oke the nod. 

 

48. Nolan Lalonde - Goaltender - Erie Otters

Lalonde emerged as the starter for the Otters this year thanks to the injury to Aidan Campbell and he had some really strong performances for Erie. This earned him the back up role for Canada at the U18's. Again, it's not a strong year for netminders, so how many get drafted remains to be seen. I think Lalonde's best asset is his athleticism. He is very quick post to post and this strong agility allows him to be aggressive in challenging shooters. However, his play tracking ability, rebound control, and positioning are all inconsistent. He had some really strong stretches this year, but with a weaker defense in front of him, stringing strong performances together was tough. An NHL team may see upside in his athletic tools.

 

49. Domenic DiVincentiis - Goaltender - North Bay Battalion

I know he has some fans in the scouting community and his standing with Hockey Canada is pretty strong. The argument could certainly be made that he is the top draft eligible netminder from the OHL too and that's why I have he, Oke, and Lalonde ranked consecutively. For my money, I don't think he tracks the play as well as Oke does and I don't think he's as gifted athletically as Lalonde. His attributes are pretty well rounded, but is he elite in any one area in the crease? I just feel a little more confident at this point in Oke and Lalonde, but it truly is a toss up.  

 

50. Noah Van Vliet - Defense - Hamilton Bulldogs 

A long shot to be drafted, but I felt the need to include Van Vliet as my final player ranked. There is a reason why he was called back up for the playoffs and had been playing over Jorian Donovan at times. I really don't think the offensive upside is significant at all. However, he does do a good job of taking care of the puck and helping to clear the defensive zone. Just don't expect him to be leading the rush or quarterbacking the powerplay. He will make his money in the defensive end with his size, mobility, and physicality combination. I think he has the potential to be one of the better stay at home defenders in the OHL by the time his graduation from the league occurs. He has been very impressive in limited action this year.

My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft - Part 1: Honorable Mentions

It has been great to have the OHL back this year and to have a fairly normal scouting season. I say fairly normal and not completely normal only because we didn't have a few large scale international events that would normally occur (Canada's participation in the Hlinka/Gretzky, the WJAC, the Under 17's Challenge), and because there are still very clearly some players whose development was stunted by the lost season last year. 

As per the usual, my top 50 will be released in four parts: Part 1 - Honorable Mentions, Part 2 - Prospects 50-31, Part 3 - Prospects 30-11, and Part 4 - Prospects 10-1.

Just for clarification, for my top 50 ranking, I haven't included any players eligible for draft re-entry, such as Tucker Robertson or Lucas Edmonds. This has been consistent all the way through my lists. Instead, I did a list of the top 10 draft re-entries, which can be found here.

Also for clarification, this list is MY list of the top 50 OHL prospects, as if I were drafting for my own team. In other words, this isn't a list of where I THINK or believe players will go, but a ranking of my own opinion on the top players eligible for this draft based on my viewings this season. If you want a draft projection and information about players outside the OHL, be sure to check out McKeens Hockey. I am now the scouting director for McKeen's and our draft guide will be released extremely soon (purchasing information is available on the linked site).
 
This first part includes the Honorable Mentions of my list. These are the players who received consideration for my top 50, but who fell just short. There are 19 in total. Last year, two players were taken from my HM's (Pasquale Zito and Chandler Romeo). This year, I could see a couple being drafted again. While all of these guys most definitely have potential, they remain long shots who need to put in a lot of work to be serious NHL prospects.

Here are my HM's (in alphabetical order)...

 

Gavin Bryant - Center - Owen Sound Attack

Really wanted to find a spot for Bryant in my top 50, but his lack of high end physical tools kept him out. An intelligent playmaker, Bryant is the epitome of what makes Owen Sound consistently successful. He plays all three zones effectively. His positioning and anticipation without the puck are excellent. He shows good poise with the puck, and is excellent when working down low, showing great scanning habits to find streaking teammates in the slot, even under the face of pressure. However, the skating is only average overall. He's not really a physical player. He can still be muscled off the puck and doesn't win quite as many 50/50 battles as you'd like to see from a high IQ/two way center. Really curious to see how he grows over the next few years and it's very possible that if those athletic tools can improve some, he could find himself very firmly on the pro radar.

 

Thomas Budnick - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs

Stay at home defender who moved up and down the lineup for the Frontenacs this year. Struggled a bit in the playoffs, but how many Frontenacs players had good playoffs? He combines decent mobility with physicality to take away time and space from opposing forwards. The puck skill is rather limited and he can struggle with turnovers in the defensive end. His ability to use his feet to clear the forecheck, or his ability to get his head up to make a quicker exit pass will need to improve. An NHL team could see him as a potential depth defender down the road.

 

Ben Bujold - Center/Wing - London Knights

On merit, Bujold probably doesn't deserve to be listed here. But I still believe he has the potential to be an impactful OHL player. He got buried this year in London and really struggled with the pace and strength of the OHL game after the year off. It's odd that he seemed to struggle with pace because his skating ability is his biggest strength. But the hands and brain need to catch up with the speed he can play at. Could easily see him breaking out next year...or I could easily see him out of the league in a few years. There may not be a middle ground.

 

Caeden Carlisle - Defense - Soo Greyhounds

Carlisle is a defender who seems to be trying to figure out what kind of OHL player he wants to be. He shows occasional flashes of being a strong puck mover, which is something he was known for as a U16 player with the Mississauga Senators. He can lead the attack. He also has decent four way mobility and a strong understanding of how to defend in transition. He can play physical too. But what is he? Can his play at either end elevate further to make him a standout offensively or defensively? Can the skating improve further? 

 

Justin DeZoete - Wing - Peterborough Petes 

Really liked DeZoete early on in the year and he was one of my favourites from his draft class. But as the year went on and Peterborough's struggles as a team magnified, DeZoete faded. I think that he will eventually develop into a quality, high energy scoring winger at the OHL level. However, his ability to skate with the puck, his four way agility, and his strength on/off the puck really need to improve for him to be considered a quality pro prospect. Thought he was right there with the likes of Stonehouse, Van Steensel, and Jelsma before, but it's clear those three separated themselves physically.

 

Kyle Downey - Goaltender - Windsor Spitfires

It just hasn't come together yet for the former highly touted netminder and goes to show you how difficult it is to assess goaltenders at a young age. After the Spits acquired Matt Onuska, Downey even went down to the GOJHL to get starts (and did perform well). He has good size. He has good instincts in the crease and tracks the play well. However, the four way agility needs to improve for him, and he just needs to gain confidence at the OHL level. Way too early to give up on him, but he's a long term play as of now.

 

Zach Filak - Center - Sarnia Sting

Filak finished the year well for the Sting, which is a great sign for his development as an OHL player. Consistency was an issue all year though. I think he has a lot of potential to be an impact player in the league. He shows well as a two-way player. He shows well as someone who can counter attack in transition. He wins battles down low and near the crease. I guess the question is, is he skilled enough to be a consistent offensive contributor? There's certainly a chance that his tools could make him a quality bottom six forward at the next level, but the lack of consistency puts him behind some other similar types. Also think he will need to upgrade his quickness to play that role effectively.

 

Ethan Larmand - Center - Sudbury Wolves 

This competitive, attacking center started the year well but fell down the lineup as the season went on. A late born 2003, he wore a letter with the Wolves and it's obvious that Sudbury values his character. If Larmand can continue to improve his vision and decision making with the puck, and his speed, he could easily develop into an Andrew Shaw kind of player in the future. Right now, he will need to prove that he can be a consistently impactful offensive player first.

 

Andrew Leblanc - Center/Wing - Kitchener Rangers 

Had high expectations for Leblanc coming into the season. He was one of my favourites from his OHL draft class. However, his athletic tools just did not get to where they needed to be in order for him to be an impactful OHL player. Still like the sense and awareness in all three zones; he's a high IQ player. However, he desperately needs to get quicker and stronger to take advantage of this. He did look better in the last few months, however let's see if he puts in the work this offseason to take his game to that next level.

 

Alec Leonard - Defense - Niagara IceDogs

Hard to standout consistently on a weak team as a defender due to how often you're forced to play in your own end. That said, Leonard improved a lot over the course of the year. Love his physical intensity level and his defensive awareness. I think he will develop into a standout defensive player in this league at some point. Just not sure the mobility or offensive touch will improve to the point where he could be considered a high-end two-way defender or NHL prospect.  

 

Jonathan Melee - Center/Wing - Peterborough Petes

Really thought that he would take off a bit with more ice time in Peterborough following the trade from Hamilton, but that wasn't the case. Melee stands out with his strong defensive awareness already; he's already a great penalty killer. He also shows well when he can get the puck down low as he can be tough to separate from the puck in the cycle. However, the quickness, speed, and agility all need to improve. Also not sure the puck skill is high end enough for him to be a quality pro. Tons of room for development as a goal scoring, two-way power center, but he's still a little ways off.

 

Cedricson Okitundu - Defense - Owen Sound Attack

Okitundu really caught my eye early in the year. He looked good at both ends and I loved his competitiveness in the defensive end. He's got a really strong and low center of gravity that makes him tough to get around in the defensive end. However, I found his confidence with the puck decreased significantly in the second half, especially after he returned from his injury. As such, without elite four way mobility, it's tough projecting him as more than a quality OHL player. 

 

Jacob Oster - Goaltender - Guelph Storm

Probably the player from this HM list with the best chance of being drafted this year. I think NHL scouts will  like how technically composed he is already. Challenges shooters. Fights for sight lines. Reads the play well. Already controls rebounds well. He just needs to become a more athletic netminder, improving his agility and quickness to really take that next step. Without improving his athleticism, he probably tops out as a quality OHL netminder and CIS player, but NHL teams may like how refined he is.

 

Nathan Poole - Center - Kingston Frontenacs

I love this player as someone who watches a lot of OHL hockey. He is already one of the most physically engaged players in the league as an 18 year old. He just never seems to give up on a play at either end of the ice. Has a chance to be a very strong defensive center. However he needs to get quicker and he needs to stay healthy. At this point, it's tough imagining him as a high end offensive player. However, I had to mention him because I love how he plays.

 

Teddy Sawyer - Defense - Ottawa 67's

A late born 2003, Sawyer has the makings of being a strong stay at home defender in the OHL. Solid mobility. Sturdy and balanced, he applies himself physically and makes life difficult down low for opposing players. Will block shots and do anything to help his team win. However, he doesn't have the kind of size/reach that you want from a stay at home type at the next level and his offensive tools just didn't improve a whole lot this year. He's going to be a standout OHL defender at some point, but did not play himself onto the NHL scouting radar this year IMO.

 

Kai Schwindt - Center/Wing - Mississauga Steelheads 

If you saw his brother Cole come through the league, you'd immediately know that these guys were related. Kai is all limbs. His length can be very disruptive in all three zones and as such, he projects well as a defensive forward at the very least. The athletic tools are not as good as Cole's though. Already a late born 2003, Kai needs to improve his quickness and his strength to truly become a strong two-way threat and consistent offensive contributor. Cole was a bit of a late bloomer too and his skating improved a ton over his OHL career, maybe Kai can do the same.

 

Landon Sim - Center/Wing - London Knights

The son of former NHL'er Jon Sim, Landon plays a similar kind of game. It's all about pace and energy. A strong forechecker, Sim found ways to be noticeable despite limited ice time on a lot of nights. A late bloomer physically, Sim has solid top speed and he shows well as a North/South attacker, with and without the puck. With a lack of true playing time, it's just tough projecting Sim. More of a strong complementary piece, can he be the focal point? Does he have the skill to create his own chances consistently, or better yet, the vision and creativity to create for his teammates? Is he a center or a wing long term? I'd want to see a little more from him to throw a draft pick at him. But the bloodlines and athletic tools are interesting. I could see him drafted.

 

Connor Toms - Defense - Soo Greyhounds

I think Toms has a lot of potential to be an impactful offensive defender and puck mover at the OHL level. He shows flashes of being a real standout with the puck on his stick and I think his composure inside the offensive blueline gives him a projection as a powerplay QB at some point. However, his overall skill/sense package is very raw. His quickness and four way mobility will need to improve. His physical intensity level in the defensive end needs to be more consistent. His decision making with the puck in the defensive zone and neutral zone needs to improve. I have faith in the Greyhounds development program, especially on the back-end. Could be a quality re-entry candidate next year. 

 

Dalyn Wakely - Center/Wing - North Bay Battalion 

The shot is high end. The application of all the other tools is wildly inconsistent. A bit of an early maturer, Wakely once was able to dominate physically as a U16 player, but since arriving in the OHL, many of his age equivalent peers have surpassed him. The key for him moving forward will be the improvement of his athletic tools. Like many listed in this HM list, improving his quickness in all four directions is key for him. This would help him get to those openings quicker so that he can get better looks to use his shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings

NHL Central Scouting has released their final rankings for the 2022 NHL Draft. You can find the midseason rankings here. Below is a breakdown of how OHL players were ranked. 

Skaters:

1. Shane Wright (1)

2. Pavel Mintyukov (6)

3. Luca DelBelBelluz (8)

4. Owen Beck (10)

5. David Goyette (13)

6. Matyas Sapovaliv (23)

7. Michael Buchinger (30)

8. Ty Nelson (32)

9. Bryce McConnell-Barker (34)

10. Danny Zhilkin (35)

11. Vinzenz Rohrer (42)

12. Hunter Haight (44)

13. Matthew Poitras (45)

14. Christian Kyrou (48)

15. Paul Ludwinski (49)

16. Gavin Hayes (51)

17. Isaiah George (53)

18. Servac Petrovsky (58)

19. Cedrick Guindon (59)

20. Jake Karabela (62)

21. Pano Fimis (75)

22. Spencer Sova (80)

23. Jorian Donovan (81)

24. Evan Konyen (85)

25. Beau Jelsma (88)

26. Amadeus Lombardi (94)

27. Matthew Maggio (103)

28. Lucas Edmonds (104)

29. Kirill Kudryavtsev (108)

30. Liam Arnsby (115)

31. Rodwin Dionicio (118)

32. Kocha Delic (122)

33. Jackson Edward (123)

34. Tnias Mathurin (126)

35. Zak Lavoie (134)

36. Samuel Mayer (139)

37. James Hardie (148)

38. Ruslan Gazizov (149)

39. Aidan Castle (151)

40. Brady Stonehouse (152)

41. Nolan Collins (153)

42. Kyle Jackson (158)

43. Tucker Robertson (162)

44. Gavin Bryant (179)

45. Brice Cooke (183)

46. Braeden Bowman (194)

47. Kai Schwindt (196)

48. Sam Alfano (207)

49. Max Namestnikov (211)

50. Landon Sim (215)

51. Kasper Larsen (220)

52. Kirill Steklov (221)

53. Roberto Mancini (222)

54. Caeden Carlisle (223)

Goalies:

1. Andrew Oke (9)

2. Nolan Lalonde (14)

3. Patrick Leaver (16)

4. Jacob Oster (18)

5. Josh Rosenzweig (22)

6. Domenic Divincentiis (24)

7. Marco Costantini (29)

8. Brett Brochu (31)

Differences Between Midterm and Final Rankings:

Biggest Risers:

Christian Kyrou (from 179 to 48)

David Goyette (from 35 to 13)

Beau Jelsma (137 to 88)

Amadeus Lombardi (from not ranked to 94)

Matthew Maggio (from not ranked to 103)

Kocha Delic (from 200 to 122)

Tnias Mathurin (from 152 to 126)

James Hardie (from 204 to 148)

Nolan Collins (from not ranked to 153) 

Patrick Leaver (from 29 to 16 among goalies)

Biggest Fallers:

Vsevolod Gaidamak (from 121 to not ranked)

Colton Smith (from 129 to not ranked)

Stuart Rolofs (from 142 to not ranked)

Ruslan Gazizov (from 62 to 149)

Liam Arnsby (from 66 to 115)

Tucker Robertson (from 109 to 162)

Jackson Edward (from 75 to 123)

Jorian Donovan (from 39 to 81)

Spencer Sova (from 38 to 80)

Tyler Savard (from 183 to not ranked)

Brody Crane (from 188 to not ranked)

Matthew Poitras (from 23 to 45)

 

General Comments

 

Barring some outlandish playoff performances, I believe my own final rankings are close to being set. I plan to get those written and published after I finish work on the McKeen's Draft Guide. When we look at my rankings versus NHL Central Scouting, there are certainly some differences. The big ones will be Michael Buchinger, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Christian Kyrou, Brady Stonehouse, and the unranked Owen Van Steensel.

I just can't fathom how Van Steensel is left off this list. He's basically Brady Stonehouse (who is also criminally under-ranked). One is 152 and the other is not listed? Van Steensel worked his way up North Bay's lineup this year and was a very versatile and effective player for them. It is easy to see him becoming a long time bottom six NHL player. Many similar (and less effective) players are ranked. He is not.

 

Props to Central Scouting for moving Goyette and Beck into that first round range. Both players deserve to be there IMO. They are my third and fourth ranked OHL'ers this year behind Wright and Mintyukov (who are a real tier above).

 

Some people might be shocked to see Ty Nelson ranked where he is, but remember a) Central Scouting had him 25th at midseason and b) he struggled in the second half. He's a second round graded prospect for me now too.

 

Full rankings can be found here.

 

Sunday Top 10 - 2022 NHL Draft Re-Entries

 

It's that time of the year for my annual (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 2020 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.

Because we haven't done this in two years, let's look at the last two seasons of re-entries. Two years ago, four re-entries from the OHL were drafted (Daws, Solovyov, Oksentyuk, and Yetman). Last year, only one (Ethan Cardwell) was. But, as you know, without the OHL playing last year, it would have been tough for players to show that their growth warranted a selection. This year, I think that number will be significantly higher. I am going to guess that we'll see 6-7 of these guys drafted. It's a very strong group led by Tucker Robertson and Lucas Edmonds, who should be top 100 selections.
 

Without further rambling, here's my list:

 

1. Tucker Robertson - Center - Peterborough Petes

After a strong showing at the Erie showcase before last year's draft, the signs were there that Robertson had taken some great steps forward. But without an OHL season, an NHL team just wasn't willing to take a chance on Robertson, who was only a high energy fourth liner for the Petes as a 16/17 year old. Fast forward to this season and he's become one of the best two-way centers in the OHL. His 41 goals were third most among 2003 born players and his 81 points were fourth. That's ahead of a few high NHL draft picks. Robertson is just such a well rounded player. He works his ass off without the puck. He uses his speed well to be relentless on the forecheck. He is aggressive physically and works hard to earn his touches. However, he also has underrated skill with the puck and a laser of a wrist shot. It is very easy to see Robertson becoming a middle six option at the NHL level who can have a long career as a penalty killer and high energy support player. IMO, he should be a top 75 selection this year.

2. Lucas Edmonds - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs

I've seen some rankings with Edmonds as a first round pick. Personally, I think that's a bit of a stretch considering some of his limitations physically. However, there's no doubting that he is a worthy NHL draft selection. Some may be confused by Edmonds' eligibility, given that he is a 2001 born, OHL overager. However, NHL Central Scouting considers him a "Euro" prospect for eligibility purposes and thus he receives an extra year of eligibility for the draft. Edmonds stands out because of his creativity and IQ. His hands are among the best in the OHL. He makes defenders miss routinely with subtle fakes and moves, which work to give him extra time to survey the ice for options. He's also the kind of player that the puck gravitates to magnetically in the offensive zone, which points to how intelligent he is. He just consistently finds those soft spots and times his cuts perfectly. A late bloomer physically, Edmonds still has room to add bulk and that should help him bring the best out of his skill set at the next level. His skating is not likely to ever be an asset for him. His explosiveness and top speed are average for the OHL level, meaning that they would be below average for the AHL and NHL levels. Hopefully adding more strength and power to his lower half helps him gain quickness, because he will need that moving forward to continue to succeed as a scorer. However, his skill and sense impresses greatly. You have to take a chance on him to see what your development team can do with him.

3. Samuel Mayer - Defense - Peterborough Petes

There's lots to like about this 6'3 defender who was initially passed over in his OHL draft year. A U18 pick, Mayer came into Petes camp anything but a lock to crack the team. However, it was obvious right from the get go that he would play a prominent role. Emerging as Peterborough's top defender, Mayer is a true minute eater at this level. He anchors the penalty kill, closing gaps quickly with his reach, physicality, and more than adequate four way mobility. He also quarterbacks the powerplay well, armed with a big point shot and improving instincts/vision with the puck. He can lead the breakout. He can be on the ice in any situation. Mayer has quickly emerged as one of the top 2003 born defenders in the OHL. I do believe that there may be some skill limitations. He can struggle with turnovers when pressured or when lanes close off on him. He doesn't have the hands or creativity to have truly elite escapability. However, he has a well rounded enough profile to be a longtime NHL defender. This is another guy who should be a lock to be selected this year.

4. Patrick Leaver - Goaltender - Oshawa Generals

Leaver missed being first time eligible this year by only a few weeks (with a September 4 birth date). He forced his way into Oshawa's plans this year with his play early on while overager Paputsakis was attempting to make a pro roster/battling injury. While Leaver certainly faded later in the year, his overall body of work was fantastic. He's not big (6'0), but he's extremely athletic and has shown an ability to steal games with how quick he is and how well he reads the play. There are components of his game that will need work in order for him to become more consistent (his tendency to overcommit/rely on his athleticism and his rebound control), but he looks like someone who should be selected to me, especially in such a weak year for netminders. But...we know how size bias for goaltenders impacts draft odds.

5. Matt Maggio - Wing - Windsor Spitfires

Maggio has had an absolutely fantastic year for the Spits, as the former highly touted HEO prospect finally broke out. Playing alongside fellow breakout star Wyatt Johnston, Maggio proved that he can play between the dots and do the dirty work. This shift in focus by Maggio has made him one of the best goal scorers in the OHL. Maggio's edgework and agility are also among the best of any forward in the OHL, which makes him so difficult to pin down, with or without the puck. Armed with great hands, elusiveness, a high end wrist shot, and an improved ability to play through traffic, Maggio has emerged as an NHL draft prospect. I would actually be shocked to see him go unselected late in the draft this year. 

6. Logan Morrison - Center - Hamilton Bulldogs

You have to give it up to Morrison. He put in the work during the extended OHL hiatus to really improve some of the things that were holding him back from being an elite player in this league. He looks stronger on the puck. He's made his off puck play and physical engagement level more consistent. And, most importantly, he looks quicker. That has resulted in him being one of the highest scoring players in the league on a downright dominant Bulldogs team. His bread and butter will always be his vision and IQ, but other tools have caught up a bit. He'd still be a below average skater in the NHL, so there's more work to be done. This year's OHL playoffs will be key for him. If he can continue his dominance into the postseason and help Hamilton capture an OHL title, I think he gets drafted late.

*EDIT - I have moved Morrison up on this list after his remarkable playoff performance for Hamilton. He proved that he can put this team on his back and on a lot of nights, he was better than Mason McTavish. 

 

7. Amadeus Lombardi - Center - Flint Firebirds

Easily one of the league's most underrated players. He had barely played above the AAA level before this year, but came into Flint, locked down a top six role and finished as the team's second leading scorer. Really love how he sees the ice. Just so calm and composed in the offensive zone. As he gets stronger, I think he has a chance to be one of the league's best playmaking centers. His vision and poise with the puck is a standout quality. His playoff performance likely dictates whether he gets drafted and thus far, he's been excellent.

8. Gavin White - Defense - Hamilton Bulldogs

One of the best skating defenders in the OHL, White has been a standout for the Bulldogs this year. Believe it or not, it was White's first full year in the OHL, even as an '02. His footwork is phenomenal and a true standout quality. While his top speed is probably only a little above average, his lateral quickness and confidence on his edges makes him nearly impossible to pin in the defensive zone. Similarly, he walks the offensive blueline so well and really helps to breakdown coverage with his ability to force help defenders to him. His ability to defend remains a bit of a work in progress, but it has made strides. I think he's going to have a tremendous overage year next year when the keys to the defense are fully his. Better jump on him now.

9. Kyle Jackson - Center - North Bay Battalion

Like Maggio, Jackson is a former highly touted HEO prospect who had yet to live up to the hype. However, like Maggio, he's had a real breakout season in North Bay, even though he's battled some injuries. Jackson has become the typical Battalion pivot. He is responsible at both ends. He has improved his physical engagement. He makes great decisions with the puck and slides in and out of coverage well. Only thing missing is high end skating ability. If he could get just a little quicker, it would help with his NHL upside. As is, you have to be encouraged by the progress he has made.

10. Kirill Steklov - Defense - London Knights

Steklov returned to the Knights following the halted WJC's a completely different player than the one we saw a few years ago that struggled as a rookie in his original draft year.  His skating ability looks more powerful, crisp, and balanced. He had that baby deer thing going on at times as a rookie, but now looks completely in control at all times. His ability to protect the puck through rushes is very impressive. He's still not the most creative player, but he doesn't have to be with his size and quickness. Defensively, he's dialed in physically and his combination of reach and mobility makes him very difficult to beat one on one. I'm still not entirely sure the upside is significant, but I could see him being a third pairing defender for a long stretch in the NHL. I think he gets a look this time, pending teams aren't scared off by his heritage (what happens with all Russian players at this draft remains to be seen).

Honorable Mentions:

Goaltenders

Max Donoso - Ottawa 67's

Donoso was absolutely fantastic for the 67's in the final months of the season. He absolutely looks like the starter of this franchise moving forward and has proven himself capable of stealing games. But, was that smaller sample enough to see him drafted? 

Matteo Drobac - Hamilton Bulldogs

Tough to really evaulate Drobac this year. The Bulldogs back-up was fantastic when called upon, but was also sheltered a bit. Drobac was once thought to be one of the best '03 goaltenders in this Ontario crop, so the potential is there. He's exceptionally quick in the crease. One had to wonder if the Bulldogs move Costantini next year in order to hand the starting gig to Drobac. 

Brett Brochu - London Knights

There's no question that Brochu is one of the best goaltenders in the OHL. There is a reason he was named to the Canadian WJC team. However, he had a pretty up and down year where he struggled with injuries and consistency. When he's on his game, he's nearly unbeatable with how well he tracks the play and how quick he is. 

Defense

Mitchell Smith- Saginaw Spirit

I'm not sure Smith gets a look this year considering how bad Saginaw was, however he's an impressive player. He impacts the game on so many different levels because of his high-end mobility. His confidence with the puck seems to grow with each season. When he returns as an OA next year (likely, whether drafted or not), I think he could be a sneaky candidate for the Max Kaminsky.

 

Nikita Parfenyuk- Oshawa Generals

Another Generals player who narrowly missed being first time eligible this year (with an early September birthday). The offensive upside isn't high, but the defensive upside is. Good combination of size and mobility on the back-end. Really like how aggressive he is defensively. As he gets stronger, he is going to be a tough player to match up against.

Sam Sedley - Owen Sound Attack 

From start of the year to the end, Sedley was one of the most improved defenders in the OHL. He was, simply put, an anchor for the Attack, especially on the powerplay. A confident mover, Sedley has terrific vision and poise with the puck. He's really filled out to better handle battles in the defensive zone too. He was in serious contention for a spot in the Top 10.

Kasper Larsen - Mississauga Steelheads

A first year defender from Denmark, Larsen was terrific for the Steelheads this year. He formed a great partnership with Ethan Del Mastro on Mississauga's top pairing and also quarterbacked the powerplay. The 6'6 Dane has good offensive instincts, which is what makes him a capable powerplay QB. His footwork really improved over the course of the year too. While he's a big guy and can play a physical game, he's truly more of a puck mover and stronger in the offensive zone currently. Which would probably surprise people given his profile. Wouldn't shock me at all to see him selected this year and I'd approve of that.

Forwards

James Hardie - Wing - Mississauga Steelheads

Every internet scout's favourite re-entry. Hardie has his strengths. His shot and scoring instincts are great. He's worked hard to improve his skating and his engagement away from the puck. I'm still not sure his skill set translates. Even as a 20 year old, he remains a pretty impulsive player with the puck and I'd still like to see him take over games more often, rather than be a passenger. I think back to Pavel Gogolev's final draft eligible season and how he completely took over games and still didn't get drafted. 

Vsevolod Gaidamak - Center/Wing - Ottawa 67's

A first year import, Gaidamak was solid in a variety of different situations for the 67's this year. He has a real well rounded skill profile. However, he also fell down the lineup a bit as the year went on. What he is at the next level is a bit of a question mark.

Nolan Dann - Wing - Sarnia Sting

Quick strike offensive player who can be a real difference maker on the counter attack. Dann manuevres through space really well because of his quick hands and quick feet. He will be a big part of this team moving forward and I'd probably wait to see how his game fills out next year, when Sarnia could be a sneaky contender for the West.

Braeden Bowman - Wing - Guelph Storm

Bowman is a big winger who scored 27 goals this year on the strength of being a solid net front and slot presence. He has a quick release and does possess solid goal scoring potential. I think I'd want to see how the skating and skill components of his game continue to improve as his role with Guelph increases in the future.

Avery Hayes - Wing/Center - Hamilton Bulldogs

Hayes took great steps forward this year with Hamilton. It actually looks like he grew a bit and most definitely added strength that helped him play through contact more effectively. One of the few OHL'ers who relies heavily on that mohawking, 10/2 stride (along with Stranges and Ryan Abraham). I'm still not sure how his skill set translates, but you can't say he didn't progress in areas that he needed to.

Joseph Serpa - Center/Wing - Kitchener Rangers

After how good he looked at the Erie showcase late last year, I don't think anyone was surprised with how good Serpa looked this year for Kitchener. His intensity and motor are always noticeable, even if he's not hitting the scoresheet. I think there is probably a place in pro hockey for Serpa in the future. He could easily be groomed as a PK'er at the NHL/AHL level. If he returns to the OHL as an overager next year, he could be a candidate for a contract with a great offensive season.

Deni Goure - Center - Owen Sound Attack

The leading scorer of the Attack this year, Goure really took positive steps forward this season. Unquestionably, he looked a little quicker and it allowed him to really use his high end sense more effectively. Goure is sneaky skilled too and manipulates traffic well. He's not big, but he makes a living through the middle. Would he be a classic tweener moving forward though? 

Ryan Humphrey - Wing - Hamilton Bulldogs

One of the hardest working players in the OHL, Humphrey is just a relentless player in all three zones. He will play through you to make a play and his finishing ability and confidence with the puck really grew this year. He was the perfect complementary player for Hamilton. Not much offensive potential at the NHL level, but there's a chance he could carve out a career as a high energy guy. He has a lot of the characteristics that teams look for.

 

Stuart Rolofs - Center/Wing - Oshawa Generals

Started out his Generals career like gangbusters. He looked great early on for Oshawa and was playing with the pace and energy we expected out of him in London, but never truly got consistently. But, much like the rest of the Generals, Rolofs' play dipped significantly in the final months. He really seemed to be gripping the stick and turnovers became a bit of an issue. That said, I think he might have done enough to get a look from an NHL team. His skating ability is a major plus and I still think he has significant goal scoring upside. Whether it's this year, next year, or after his OA year, I think Rolofs eventually gets a look from an NHL team. His weaker second half pushed him just outside the top ten of this list for me. 

Dean Loukus - Wing/Center - Saginaw Spirit

The Spirit pulled Loukus out of Michigan high school hockey this year and man was he a bright spot for the team in an otherwise miserable year. He is a really skilled player with the puck. Consistently makes his first defender miss, but occasionally gets himself in trouble by overhandling or failing to identify lanes. There's just something about Loukus. I think the offensive potential is really high. He's someone to keep an eye on moving forward.