OHL Draft Selections

Keep up to date with the latest news, rankings and insider information throughout the day. We will be showing every drafted player including commentary, team, position and the prospects star rating (1-5) all for free. Subscribers will be able to see the players’ OHL Draft Rank along with evaluations and reports from every major tournament and event. Many of these players have been evaluated by NZ’s scouting staff since they were Bantams. Enjoy!

Round #1

Commentary:

Ty Nelson was our top rated defenseman in the draft class and arguably the most OHL ready in the draft. Pano Fimis is Nelson’s teammate with the Toronto Jr. Canadians and clearly their best forward. Max Namestnikov was NZ’s highest rated US player not on NTDP; high end skill forward goes to Sarnia right across the US/CAN border. Bryce McConnell-Barker was our top rated player outside of Adam Fantilli who signed a USHL tender with Chicago in the USHL last week. Paul Ludwinski is arguably the most skilled forward in the draft with great speed and overall pace to his game; led Toronto Marlies this past season. Donovan is a high ceiling, tall athletic defenseman out of Ottawa. Lavoie is the best pure goal scorer in the draft class with exceptional scoring touch and rapid release. Sova played this past season in Detroit, well-rounded 2-way defenseman who can really skate. Haight has all the tools; he’s got size, he’s got skill, he’s a graceful skater; total package prospect. Guindon rounds out the top 10; versatile prospect out of Ottawa, honest centerman, soft hands, can score and has proven himself against older competition in the HEO this past year. Goyette coming off a highly successful season with South Kent where he shined at the Marlies tournament creating for himself, protecting the puck and making plays below the dots. Poitras is a high IQ prospect, sees the ice very well and has the hands and skill to make every play. Castle is a good-sized, three-zone multi-dimensional winger who has gotten better and better each season. Abraham is another US born prospect, one of the highest ranked non-NTDP prospects in the draft with great burst of speed and a great processor. McCoy is a mobile, mature defenseman who played some games up in the OJHL this season and wasn’t out of place at all. Gavin Hayes is the younger brother of Hamilton Bulldog Avery Hayes; but Gavin has more size and more versatility to his game as he can play a skilled game or a power game. High ceiling prospect who can play up and down the lineup. LeBlanc centered one of the top lines this year in Ontario with Southern Tier and he stirred the drink; he’s smart, he’s got great puck control, he can slow it down and pick defenses apart or he can jump up and attack the net. Adam Fantilli falls to #18, the best prospect in the draft, the only 5.0 star this year (other 5.0 star prospects in this draft have included Shane Wright, Jack Hughes and in WHL Matthew Savoie). Fantilli is a rare talent who has an OHL ready body; he can fire the puck, he has deceptive speed and burn by defenders on the rush and he’s got an excellent size/skill combo that makes him a tough matchup. He left Ontario this past season to go down south of the border and play prep hockey with his brother Luca and was one of the best players in the league despite being one of the youngest. Ben Bujold goes to London, an “A” grade at the HEO Midget AAA showcase as one of the preimer power forwards in the league; he protects the puck and plays with jam and deceptive skill. An immediate impact type player for the Knights. Moldenhauer has good speed, he has good size, well rounded prospect with soft hands and an explosive release. That concludes our first round!

Round #2

Commentary:

Melee starts off the second round a prospect who moved from Toronto Titans to Rockland and has a lot of upside; tall, smooth skater with soft hands. Edward could be a steal at #22 as he has an OHL ready body at 6’2″ 195, he’s got a two-way game, he’s mean around the net and has the versatility to play any role on their backend. Alfano is another high ceiling prospect who has great length and reach, soft set of hands and goal scoring touch but will need to improve his footwork to reach his true potential. Buchinger is a savvy, puck possession defenseman who can run a power play, can break pucks out of his end and has real command when he’s on the ice. Smith is in the same mold as Bujold who London took in the first round; big body, power forward, strong edges and plays an honest, tough, two-way game. Stonehouse is a steal this late in the draft as one of the fastest skaters in this class. He played on the wing with Haight (#9 overall) this past season with Elgin and he has exceptional burst and speed and he has the skill to make plays and control the puck at top speeds. Leonard is a strong-base, tough to play against defenseman who has some offense to his game and has great zip on his first pass. Delic was selected to the Canadian Youth Olympic squad and he’s a talented, puck possession player with poise and balance to make plays both in open ice and in the trenches. Beck is a power forward who has deceptively quick hands and can finish; he plays a high-compete, hard-nosed game and never quits on a puck battle. Back to back Quinte prospects taken with Wakely next up; he’s a relentless forward who has a potent shot and high hockey IQ. Jovanovic is a great value at this stage in the draft; pure skating, two-way defender who makes plays in all three-zones, has tight gaps and active in the offensive zone coming off the blue line to open up passing lanes. Karabela is a prospect on the rise; smart, great vision, uses his teammates and makes everyone around him better. Clever and creative. Cooke is another Toronto Jr. Canadiens prospects (the most represented team so far in the draft) and he’s got excellent puck touch and awareness. He can handle, he can dangle and makes plays along the boards. Morden is a tall, strong, mobile defenseman who can carry and make plays up ice and tough to play against in his own end. DeZoete is an explosive forward who can make opponents miss with his fast and shifty footwork or with his quick, elusive stick skill. DeAngelis is a really tough defenseman who gaps well, stands up opponents in the neutral zone and plays an honest, hard to play against style that will translate the next level. Bryant is a dependable, two-way centerman who is physical on the forecheck, goes to the dirty areas and has plenty of skill to make plays. Christy is highly skilled, elusive playmaker who was dominate at the OMHA playoffs. He can create, he can finish and overall just a really dynamic puck possession style forward. Downey is the first goaltender off the board and no suprise; he’s long, athletic, excellent rebound control and poise between the pipes. Last pick of the round 2 was Lucas Ross out of Pittsburgh Penguins Elite but actually born in Ontario. He’s a speedster who can pull away from opponents in the neutral zone, has the stick skill to beat defenders 1v1 on the rush and can turn on a dime and accelerate the other way making him dangerous in the transition game.

Round #3

Round #4

Round #5

Round #6

Round #7

Round #8

Round #9

Round #10

Round #11

Round #12

Round #13

Round #14

Round #15

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images