GAME REPORTS
J.D. Burke: April 2nd, 2023 - Barrie Colts vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
I'm not sure I would characterize this as a bad game by Brown. He played big minutes for Hamilton in their top-six, generated his fair share of transition plays, and even finished with a goal, going to the net and snapping a rebound home. I'm not sure that I saw anything to suggest NHL upside though. Every one of Brown's tools looked about average to me. Start there. I'm not sure that I saw any high-level creativity with the puck or advanced reads in any part of the game either. Brown attacked in a straight line, at a single speed, often against pressure, and displayed no real sense of planning or problem-solving ability. I'm not sure that Brown is a pick for me.
Mitchell Brown: March 17th, 2023 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Flint Firebirds - OHL
Another really solid, projectable game from Brown. He's deceptive, patient, and never pushes play straight ahead needlessly.
As soon as the defender closes in, he cuts back or inside. Went under a defender's stick while cutting inside for a chance.
Manipulated a defender by setting up the deke at an angle for another look. Showed handling skill and manipulation ability, although his hands can be too slow to pull off more advanced moves. A hand-worker on the forecheck and backcheck, too.
There are blind plays and he's not quick, but he has enough skills to become an NHLer. Probably a depth player, but there's a chance for a bit more with his intelligent, proactive game.
Mitchell Brown: March 2nd 2023 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Barrie Colts - OHL
A power play hat trick for Brown. The last two were wristers from the slot, attacking the middle of the rush before firing. He's a bit unaware of backpressure at times, but fully reads front pressure. He exploits pass gaps by skating to the middle. He exploits passive gaps by cutting back and looking for the trailing option. He makes quick passing reads but can also draw out a possession and find a teammate sprinting the slot. Since he's not entirely aware of his surroundings, back pressure will occasionally force him into a bad pass or hastened decisions after cutting back. He's sluggish out of stops, which doesn't help.
The skating lacks depth and subsequently power in general. But he's fluid with the puck. He's a pick, especially because he already brings some defence through his backtracking and off-puck awareness. Could play bottom-six minutes and has the tools to score a bit in the right situation.
Mitchell Brown: February 26th, 2023 - Sudbury Wolves vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
Another solid game from Brown. He reads space and chooses the appropriate attack. He cuts inside when the defender's too close to the boards or passively gapped. He cuts back when space runs out. In one sequence, he used a two-foot stop and accelerated to the middle for a chance. Uses lateral passes to bypass defenders off the rush. Spaces the offensive zone and gets open between defenders. The shot looks like an NHL tool. Shot in-stride and hammered a clean one-timer off the post. Skating's a question. Edges are somewhat developed and achieves proper lower body flexion in brief moments, but his crossovers lack any sort of crossunder and the stride falls apart fast. He's an end-of-board candidate.
Mitchell Brown: February 25th, 2023 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
This was a completely different game than the last Fronts-Bulldogs game. Brown was everywhere. He grabbed a couple of early-game deflections by skating his routes and stopping in space, winning body positioning on the defender when necessary. He also flashed some manipulation ability. He worked laterally to bait the defender to push, then exposed the puck. As the defender reached, he passed under their stick to a teammate rushing the net. Connected with a look-off cross-slot pass off the rush to nearly set up another chance. Knew the next play upon getting possession. Didn't force plays ahead, preferring to cut back when necessary. Some of his ideas failed and he's not mechanically advanced. But he looks like a pick. Intelligence, deception, and some defensive ability.
Mitchell Brown: February 20th, 2023 - Kitchener Rangers vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
Another intriguing game from Brown. He's a refined defensive player already. He was always above the puck. From there, he anticipates, angles, and seals off the puck carrier. Anticipates passes and closes lanes. Supports down low. With the puck, he's a bit simple. He flashed a bit of weight shift ability and handling skill in a late-game rush, but mostly makes quick passes in transition. Off-puck's where he shines more. He gets open, rushes the slot at the right moments, and even stick-lifted a defender just as the puck came through, effectively using the opponent's stick to deflect the puck into the back of the net. It's not flashy, but he seems like a decent bet to play, and there's a bit upside here.
Mitchell Brown: February 19th, 2023 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
Searched long and hard for Brown in this game, and there wasn't much of note. He had major difficulty in transition. Lots of chip-and-no-chance-chase plays and turning back into pressure with better options. He has the ideas - cut back, pass laterally
- but nothing clicked. He's reasonably fluid and has some playmaking ideas, but everything's just simple plays. And he's not a space creator off-puck or an advanced player along the boards. Didn't look like a pick in this game.
Mitchell Brown: February 11th, 2023 - Peterborough Petes vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
Brown didn't achieve a ton this game, but he continued to show projectable habits. He doesn't force plays up the boards and uses his teammates effectively. Lots of strong defensive plays. Showed shooting and passing skill, including a look off pass to the middle. The shot's a clear NHL projection, a 5.5 at least. He can really rip the puck, he hides his release, and has a variety of releases. Curious to watch more. He looked like a mid-rounder in this game. Not dynamic, but smart.
David St-Louis: January 20th, 2023 - Sudbury Wolves vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
I didn't see a whole lot from Brown in this game. Only the size and skating combination. He can make some passing plays, but at lower pace. Ideally, he would be able to spot his options as he drove down the wing at full flight. But just that combination of speed and frame could get him drafted.
Mitchell Brown: January 14th, 2023 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Kingston Frontenacs - OHL
A fascinating game from Brown. It wasn't much of a creation performance, but rather one that showed NHL details. Instead of rushing the puck forward, he'd press the middle, then either continue if the defender relented or cut back if they stepped up. Quick passes to the middle led to opportunities, including his assist. Always tracked the play after passing, following up loose pucks and ripping away possession from opponents. His game was mostly quick, short plays and he wasn't manipulating opponents, but he showed enough skill and defensive ability to suggest an NHL prospect.
David St-Louis: January 13th, 2023 - Ottawa 67's vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
I didn't see much in terms of sense for Brown in this game, but the tools are interesting. He's 6-foot-3 and has the speed to play in the NHL. He's more of an offensive player at this stage, a solo driver and creator, but he has the handling and passing skills to develop as a playmaking. I liked his pace. He caught pucks in movement and attacked down the ice.
Mitchell Brown: October 8th, 2023 - Oshawa Generals vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL
Brown scored with a backfoot one-timer off the rush, beating the goalie across the crease. A really tricky shot, certainly an NHL one. This was more of a consistent game rather than a standout moments performance, however. Brown does a lot right. He gets open through movement and timing. He moves pucks east-west and delays at the right moments. Backtracks, gets above the puck, times his pokes. No playmaking shown, but just a solid all-around performance. Reasonably fluid, too. He could be a pick.
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