2008 Born for the 2024 OHL Draft

[OHL4Life]

Question for you OHL4Life about "big/tall kids playing midget who put up impressive point totals".

As a scout, how do you judge whether this midget player is dominating offensively because of his size advantage OR whether his skill level is likely to translate to the next level (OHL) too?
Maybe there are some kids who put up big numbers in midget owing to their size, but once they get to the O with more physically mature competition, they are unable to duplicate their midget success.
What are scouts looking for that would suggest a carry over from midget to the O?
Thanks.

sure you do, but those are more the thick 6ft guys. a kid that is 6'5 is still going to be massive at the next level as well. you generally can see the guys that matured early, they are usually much thicker, more phyiscally developed, stocky a bit, but if your 6'5, im not sure it really matters at that spot.

both waslynn and valentini are shorter, stocky kids, i would think that they are physically topped out as well, so what does that look like? i dont really worry about it with their abilities, but if you are less skilled with the same body frame, im not sure how well you transition.

 

[hotchips99]

sure you do, but those are more the thick 6ft guys. a kid that is 6'5 is still going to be massive at the next level as well. you generally can see the guys that matured early, they are usually much thicker, more phyiscally developed, stocky a bit, but if your 6'5, im not sure it really matters at that spot.

both waslynn and valentini are shorter, stocky kids, i would think that they are physically topped out as well, so what does that look like? i dont really worry about it with their abilities, but if you are less skilled with the same body frame, im not sure how well you transition.

I would ask the question; how will they be able to contribute to a bottom team?
Most of these kids never played for mid to bottom teams before.
How will they be able to step in and deal with the losing.

 

[nelli27]

sure you do, but those are more the thick 6ft guys. a kid that is 6'5 is still going to be massive at the next level as well. you generally can see the guys that matured early, they are usually much thicker, more phyiscally developed, stocky a bit, but if your 6'5, im not sure it really matters at that spot.

both waslynn and valentini are shorter, stocky kids, i would think that they are physically topped out as well, so what does that look like? i dont really worry about it with their abilities, but if you are less skilled with the same body frame, im not sure how well you transition.

Thanks. I probably didn't do a good job of wording that question; it was meant to be general, not relating to the 2008 cohort.
I was thinking the other day: "I wonder if there have been huge kids (6'4 and over) playing in the O who were just average players, but put up impressive point totals in midget, I'm talkin' dominated midget but never found that same scoring touch in the O".

 

[OHL4Life]

Thanks. I probably didn't do a good job of wording that question; it was meant to be general, not relating to the 2008 cohort.
I was thinking the other day: "I wonder if there have been huge kids (6'4 and over) playing in the O who were just average players, but put up impressive point totals in midget, I'm talkin' dominated midget but never found that same scoring touch in the O".

i can think of two right away, brett hargrave and damien bourne, but there were red flags on their game at the time, they where not the most physical.

I would ask the question; how will they be able to contribute to a bottom team?
Most of these kids never played for mid to bottom teams before.
How will they be able to step in and deal with the losing.

have you followed the ohl in the past? top guys are drafted to bad teams and help make bad teams good. happens every year. with all due respect, this 100 percent seems like a parent asking not really a hockey person. who was the last top 5 pick that played on an awful minor midget team?

 

[MH]

correct, its not public

So to my point the list identified by Hotchips99 is not official for any purpose other than the site that publishes it. Calling it official makes it sound important (clicks and purchases). I'm not saying it's bad. Just not "official".

 

[OHL4Life]

So to my point the list identified by Hotchips99 is not official for any purpose other than the site that publishes it. Calling it official makes it sound important (clicks and purchases). I'm not saying it's bad. Just not "official".

oh i agree on that.

i just find lots of dads hate on them suggesting kids pay to be on it, not the case for them and a few others, its a crutch when dad doesnt see his kid on the list.

 

[MH]

i can think of two right away, brett hargrave and damien bourne, but there were red flags on their game at the time, they where not the most physical.

have you followed the ohl in the past? top guys are drafted to bad teams and help make bad teams good. happens every year. with all due respect, this 100 percent seems like a parent asking not really a hockey person. who was the last top 5 pick that played on an awful minor midget team?

If you add a top 5 pick to a bottom team they will be less likely to be a bottom team the next year. Probably they played on a good team in MM because the team was good because they were on it.

 

[OHL4Life]

If you add a top 5 pick to a bottom team they will be less likely to be a bottom team the next year. Probably they played on a good team in MM because the team was good because they were on it.

exactly.

michael misa went first to the worst team, all of a sudden they are one of the best teams in the ohl. imagine that.

 

[hotchips99]

I understand how it works.
I'm talking about the mental side.
You go from playing 22-25 minutes every game, PP1, PK1, playing in deep in tournaments. Then you get thrown into a minimal role until they can contribute. Most these guys never watched the game from the bench. Playing with doubt at that level can really hit you hard.

 

[OHL4Life]

I understand how it works.
I'm talking about the mental side.
You go from playing 22-25 minutes every game, PP1, PK1, playing in deep in tournaments. Then you get thrown into a minimal role until they can contribute. Most these guys never watched the game from the bench. Playing with doubt at that level can really hit you hard.

ok? but whats your point? the overall point stands, guys are drafted to bad teams and the teams get better, its been that way for years, not just the ohl, the q, w, nhl, etc. they seem to figure it out, and to be honest, most top 5 picks dont sit.

misa had a point a game at 16, do you think he sat on the bench picking up assists?

EDIT: i looked up the ice time for the top 07s

schaefer - 22:47 a game
roobroeck - 18:48 a game
martin - 13:57 a game
hopkins - 12:16 a game
czata - 15:12 a game

im very confused on your overall point here.

 

[the dog]

ok? but whats your point? the overall point stands, guys are drafted to bad teams and the teams get better, its been that way for years, not just the ohl, the q, w, nhl, etc. they seem to figure it out, and to be honest, most top 5 picks dont sit.

misa had a point a game at 16, do you think he sat on the bench picking up assists?

EDIT: i looked up the ice time for the top 07s

schaefer - 22:47 a game
roobroeck - 18:48 a game
martin - 13:57 a game
hopkins - 12:16 a game
czata - 15:12 a game

im very confused on your overall point here.

Where do u find minutes played at site

 

[OHL4Life]

Where do u find minutes played at site

you dont, you need instat

 

[dsanchez1973]

Question for you OHL4Life about "big/tall kids playing midget who put up impressive point totals".

As a scout, how do you judge whether this midget player is dominating offensively because of his size advantage OR whether his skill level is likely to translate to the next level (OHL) too?
Maybe there are some kids who put up big numbers in midget owing to their size, but once they get to the O with more physically mature competition, they are unable to duplicate their midget success.
What are scouts looking for that would suggest a carry over from midget to the O?
Thanks.

I'm not OHL4Life but I'll give my thoughts as well.

You ever hear all those complaints about "player X runs after the gamesheet guy getting second assists added"? They're always immediately followed by "if you think the scouts care about stats, you're wrong". The truth is more in the middle - there's a reason scouts go to games and watch players instead of just checking gamesheet after and deciding "player x averaged 2 points a game, there's our first round pick".

When a player puts up stats, they're going to get watched more closely. Scouts are watching how they score their points - what kind of shots, what kind of locations. Skating is also going to be heavily scrutinized - what's their stride look like, do they have enough speed, how are their edges? What's their compete level, how do they look when they have to face speed, what do they look like when they have to face similar size opposition? Can they still dominate? Some things translate really well to the next level and some things don't.

There's always going to be a natural bias towards size, but enough teams have been burned drafting coke machines who can't skate that they know what boxes they want a big kid to check off. However, sometimes, as with any drafting of a 16 year old...there's a crapshoot element to it.

 

[AAAdad]

How much impact does the OHL U16 combine have on the draft? If I'm not mistaken, I think it's typically held a week before. I have heard that not all top players attend....and I have seen some players go but end up not getting drafted at all.

Also, why would those considered top-end not go? Fear of dropping in rank or just because, to them, it's not necessary?

 

[HockeyPops]

A lot of players on the top teams are still nursing injuries at that time of year and not 100%. You can still play if you are banged up, but attending a combine? Good luck.

 

[dsanchez1973]

How much impact does the OHL U16 combine have on the draft? If I'm not mistaken, I think it's typically held a week before. I have heard that not all top players attend....and I have seen some players go but end up not getting drafted at all.

Also, why would those considered top-end not go? Fear of dropping in rank or just because, to them, it's not necessary?

Minimal impact. Might be a little more interesting for the goalies since they'll face consistently strong opposition after many of them coming from powerhouses where they faced few shots most games.

For top players, there's little to gain and only really downside. All of these players have been seen multiple times, no 3 on 3 game in the middle of summer is going to change anyone's opinion, except to the negative (eg, a kid looks slow and the assessment is "not putting in the work in the offseason").

 

[MH]

Just saw this:

The 2024 OHL Priority Selection will once again be conducted online beginning with Rounds 1-3 on Friday, April 12th at 7:00pm followed by Rounds 4-15 on Saturday, April 13th. You can follow the entire process online at www.ontariohockeyleague.com and streaming live on OHL Live

OHL Priority Selection Process - Ontario Hockey League

In 2001, the Ontario Hockey League conducted the annual Priority Selection process by way of the Internet for the first time in league history. The new process allowed for eligible players and their families, as well as fans across the league to follow the process in real time online. The 2025...

chl.ca

OHL Cup ends March 30. If there is a combine it would have to be April 5 weekend.

 

[ohloutsider]

Just saw this:

The 2024 OHL Priority Selection will once again be conducted online beginning with Rounds 1-3 on Friday, April 12th at 7:00pm followed by Rounds 4-15 on Saturday, April 13th. You can follow the entire process online at www.ontariohockeyleague.com and streaming live on OHL Live

OHL Priority Selection Process - Ontario Hockey League

In 2001, the Ontario Hockey League conducted the annual Priority Selection process by way of the Internet for the first time in league history. The new process allowed for eligible players and their families, as well as fans across the league to follow the process in real time online. The 2025...

chl.ca

OHL Cup ends March 30. If there is a combine it would have to be April 5 weekend.

Have friends that have a son in this age group and they were told likely is April 4th for the combine.

Edit - sorry meant that would be the day they travel and report for the combine.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Updated the ranking for February: I think I’m starting to feel more and more comfortable with this class.

2024 OHL Draft Ranking - Elite Prospects

User submitted ranking at Eliteprospects.com - 2024 OHL Draft Ranking

www.eliteprospects.com

For those that were wondering, Adam Valentini has a comfortable cushion on the scoring lead in the GTHL, Over goal per game and 2 points per game.

Wassilyn is around 1.8PPG on the season, but his only help has been Cali and Neice - super impressive statline considering the supporting cast.

The Vaughn Kings are such a well rounded team, think of a player and they’re at or near point per game. Hage, Di Iorio and Bowen are leading the way with Hage and Bowen hovering near 1.5PPG. Gage Brandon is also near a goal per game for them.

 

[Section5Petes]

Updated the ranking for February: I think I’m starting to feel more and more comfortable with this class.

2024 OHL Draft Ranking - Elite Prospects

User submitted ranking at Eliteprospects.com - 2024 OHL Draft Ranking

www.eliteprospects.com

For those that were wondering, Adam Valentini has a comfortable cushion on the scoring lead in the GTHL, Over goal per game and 2 points per game.

Wassilyn is around 1.8PPG on the season, but his only help has been Cali and Neice - super impressive statline considering the supporting cast.

The Vaughn Kings are such a well rounded team, think of a player and they’re at or near point per game. Hage, Di Iorio and Bowen are leading the way with Hage and Bowen hovering near 1.5PPG. Gage Brandon is also near a goal per game for them.

Adam Valentini will sure look good in Maroon and White!

 

[mapleleaf979]

Updated the ranking for February: I think I’m starting to feel more and more comfortable with this class.

2024 OHL Draft Ranking - Elite Prospects

User submitted ranking at Eliteprospects.com - 2024 OHL Draft Ranking

www.eliteprospects.com

For those that were wondering, Adam Valentini has a comfortable cushion on the scoring lead in the GTHL, Over goal per game and 2 points per game.

Wassilyn is around 1.8PPG on the season, but his only help has been Cali and Neice - super impressive statline considering the supporting cast.

The Vaughn Kings are such a well rounded team, think of a player and they’re at or near point per game. Hage, Di Iorio and Bowen are leading the way with Hage and Bowen hovering near 1.5PPG. Gage Brandon is also near a goal per game for them.

I dont see him going that high. He is very disengaged without the puck and also tends to do things to much on his own, forces the issue. Smith should be a top 3 pick. Nyman also can contend for 1st overall, imo.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I dont see him going that high. He is very disengaged without the puck and also tends to do things to much on his own, forces the issue. Smith should be a top 3 pick. Nyman also can contend for 1st overall, imo.

Don’t see him going top 3? What Wassilyn has done for an average Majors squad is crazy no matter which way you slice it. Has nearly double the point as his next closest teammate.

 

[Petes]

Updated the ranking for February: I think I’m starting to feel more and more comfortable with this class.

2024 OHL Draft Ranking - Elite Prospects

User submitted ranking at Eliteprospects.com - 2024 OHL Draft Ranking

www.eliteprospects.com

For those that were wondering, Adam Valentini has a comfortable cushion on the scoring lead in the GTHL, Over goal per game and 2 points per game.

Wassilyn is around 1.8PPG on the season, but his only help has been Cali and Neice - super impressive statline considering the supporting cast.

The Vaughn Kings are such a well rounded team, think of a player and they’re at or near point per game. Hage, Di Iorio and Bowen are leading the way with Hage and Bowen hovering near 1.5PPG. Gage Brandon is also near a goal per game for them.

Are you down on Petes Fitzgerald and Mitchell? What round do you think they go

 

[OHL4Life]

Are you down on Petes Fitzgerald and Mitchell? What round do you think they go

top 30/40

 

[Petes]

top 30/40

That’s kinda what I had heard as well. Thanks