Brock
Registered User
Preseason Top 30 for the 2023 NHL Draft
Ah...normalcy. After having to make last year's preseason list based on U16 performances (because the larger part of the group had yet to pl...
ohlprospects.blogspot.com
Ah...normalcy. After having to make last year's preseason list based on U16 performances (because the larger part of the group had yet to play in the OHL), we can make this year's list based on actual OHL performance. This group of players has played in the OHL and we also have a Hockey Canada camp and a Hlinka/Gretzky Cup to base rankings off of. The only thing missing is the World Under 17 Challenge, which will thankfully return this year. As an FYI, here were last year's preseason rankings.
Heading into the season, I would classify this group from Ontario as very top heavy. I think it's a really strong group in terms of potential top two round selections. After that, I'm unsure of the depth. This is magnified by the lack of Imports currently slated to beef up said depth. Of course, that can change a lot over the year too. But, having a crop that is top heavy is not a bad thing either. I see several players that I think can challenge for the Top 10 (in a very strong draft year) and several others who could be Top 50 selections.
Here's my early list:
1. Cam Allen - Defense - Guelph Storm
I've alluded to Allen being my top ranked OHL player heading into the season a few times on social media. I've lobbed high praise in his direction by stating that I believe he was the best 16 year old defender in the league since Aaron Ekblad. Not only was Allen terrific for the Storm last year, but he was great as captain of Canada at the Hlinka/Gretzky. Quite honestly, I see a player that doesn't really have a weakness...or at least projects that way. He can quarterback the powerplay with his big shot and mobility/vision. He can lead the attack in transition with his quickness and skill. He is deceptive, but also intelligent in picking his spots. There might even be more room for him to take chances to jump up in the play. Defensively, he has an edge. He is physically engaged and is terrific at defending pace thanks to his strong four way mobility. I think that as he gets stronger, we'll see that physical element really ratchet up. He can struggle at times to win 50/50 battles along the wall and does need to do a better job of engaging and sealing his man more consistently. But, let's see how that develops this year. The defensive IQ is strong, though, and he has a great stick and instincts. Like I said, not really much in the way of a true weakness and a lot of areas that I would grade out as well above average. He's my number one because I think he has a chance to be a right shot, top pairing defender and could end up similar to someone like a Charlie McAvoy, who many would have as one of the top defenders in the NHL.
2. Calum Ritchie - Center - Oshawa Generals
I'm probably in the tiniest of minorities when it comes to having Ritchie ranked behind Allen, and there's a reason for that too...Ritchie is a great prospect in his own right. I thought his rookie OHL season had its ups and downs (connected with Oshawa's ups and downs), but he was very good for Canada at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He projects as the kind of top line center who can play in any situation and that is also a rarity. He can play the power game. He is skilled. His passing ability is a strength. His shot is also a strength, but he doesn't use it enough. That's a big next step for IMO. He needs to keep defenders honest. I think his decision making with the puck could stand to be a little more consistent too. He's a creative player...and a confident one. However, at times, some of those high risk passes end up hurting his team. I think all of that works itself out this year and, he too, becomes a prospect at the top end of the draft with very few weaknesses. For me, it comes down to the fact that I think finding that #1, right shot defender, is a little more difficult. Thus Allen entering the year at #1.
3. Colby Barlow - Wing - Owen Sound Atack
How could you not love what Barlow brought to that Canadian Hlinka/Gretzky team? His performance was, quite frankly, extremely eye opening. After posting a list earlier in the summer that had Barlow a few spots lower, a person in OHL management and I chatted and he let me know that I had missed the mark on Barlow's spot. He was correct. I was not. As an OHL rookie, I had wondered how Barlow's game would come together in a few years and the hesitation came from seeing some similar qualities to Owen Tippett (not a terrible young player by any means, but not someone I would take in that top 10 range). I still am very curious to see how Barlow develops as a more complete offensive player; more specifically how his playmaking and passing touch develops. However, there's enough there to make him a lottery selection already. He's big and quick. He was one of the better skaters at the Hlinka IMO. His shot and scoring instincts are great. And his work as a penalty killer and overall defensive presence was mighty impressive. Quite frankly, he projects similar to someone like Cutter Gauthier and we just saw him go in the top five in 2022. I have said this a lot over the years, but finding goal scorers whose zone starts and overall minutes do not need to be sheltered is very difficult.
4. Quentin Musty - Wing - Sudbury Wolves
Oh boy...is Musty going to frustrate scouts this year. His OHL rookie year was mired by some injuries, but also inconsistency. Most of that inconsistency stemmed from issues with his decision making with the puck and with playing through traffic. Playing for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky, we saw those same issues creep up. Now I say that he's going to frustrate scouts because he is incredibly talented. He combines immense skill and creativity with a big frame. For every poor read he makes with the puck, he makes a terrific play or read to set up a teammate for a scoring chance. His first step quickness needs to improve; in all directions (he particularly seems to struggle making quick directional changes). However, his top speed is pretty good for a bigger winger and when you combine that with his puck protection ability and skill, you have a player who can really create chances in transition. Really, the profile is going to be extremely enticing. But then you come to these holes in his game that make you question the likelihood of him reaching his extremely high upside. Is Musty going to have a draft year like Brandon Saad? All eyes will certainly be on the former first overall selection.
5. Carson Rehkopf - Center/Wing - Kitchener Rangers
Rehkopf is a big forward with a real projectable frame/skill combination. It's easy to see him becoming an NHL player in some capacity. I think we'll learn a lot more about his offensive potential this season in Kitchener, but as of right now, he needs to be ranked highly as a potential first round pick. The big, power forward skates well. He plays through defenders but possesses enough skill to also play around them. He protects the puck well down low and consistently finds his way to the net. He can play in any situation. The questions that I have this year are; a) is he a center or wing long term? b) can his shot and shooting mechanics develop further? and c) can he elevate the players around him as a playmaker? The Rangers should be pretty good this year and I'm hoping Rehkopf can find his way into an integral role amongst that deep group.
6. Ethan Miedema - Wing - Windsor Spitfires
Miedema was probably the biggest disappointment for me at the Hockey Canada U18 camp this summer for the Hlinka. I thought that he would be a near lock going in, but his performance at camp was quite underwhelming. And I say this as someone who really believes in Miedema as a prospect. It is not too often you find a big winger with the vision and offensive awareness that he possesses. As he continues to add strength and becomes more difficult to separate from the puck, he is going to be lethal down low with how he sees the ice. I think the skill level and creativity are also quite high. What I'm now concerned with is his skating ability and his aforementioned strength. Those were the two areas that he really needed to improve upon this offseason, and at that HC camp, those were the two areas that held him back from performing better. If he can show growth, I think his offensive upside is high enough for him to be a first round selection. If not, he probably slips a great deal because of concerns over his mobility hindering his NHL potential.
7. Beau Akey - Defense - Barrie Colts
I was really disappointed that Akey end up getting injured at the Hlinka camp and was unable to participate. I thought he had a great chance of making the team. Few 2005 born players improved over the course of last year the way that Akey did. His mobility is a real asset for him. He's a naturally gifted skater. Due to his quickness and agility, he can lead the attack and push deep into the offensive zone with control, something we saw him start to do late in the year last season. However, I also like Akey's sense and feel in the defensive end. A potentially mobile two-way defender, I think he has great upside and I think that if he has a good year, he'll end up a potential first round selection in a weaker draft pool for defenders. I just hope that the injury he suffered is minor and does not linger this season because he should play a key role for the Colts.
8. Matthew Mania - Defense - Sudbury Wolves
Maybe a bit shocking to some to see Mania ranked this high considering his production was mediocre. However, I am a big fan of his game. Among the defenders on this list, his offensive upside is the highest. He is electric leading the attack. His ability to blend skill with quickness to evade checks is impressive and I think he can be a big time point producer on the back-end. How will his defensive game develop this year? Will he be more consistent? Will he be more confident? So many questions, but I just can't ignore the upside here. In many of Sudbury's games last year, Mania would be fairly quiet except for a few dynamic plays every game. It's those dynamic plays that lead me to believe that he can do those types of things on the regular with more experience.
9. Coulson Pitre - Wing - Flint Firebirds
The top late born 2004 from the OHL (at least currently IMO), Pitre is a skilled power winger. He's consistently dialed in physically and is excellent in puck pursuit. He's not the biggest (6'0, 165lbs last year), but he is scrappy as all hell. If he had a good offseason conditioning program, he could be a very, very good OHL player this year with added strength on the puck and the chance to finish on more of the chances that he is creating. The skating is good. It could get better. The offensive ceiling remains a bit of a mystery. However, these are the types of players that I really like (if you know anything about me) and I have high expectations for Pitre this season.
10. Denver Barkey - Center - London Knights
There is a good group of talented, but slightly smaller forwards in this 2005 Ontario crop and I think Barkey has a chance to be the best of the bunch. He was actually really impressive through the first two months of last year, but then he hit a wall and found himself buried on a deep London team. When he played later in the year, it looked like he had lost confidence in his ability to create; the same confidence that was impressive early on. However, he had a very strong Hlinka/Gretzky for Canada and I hope that really gets him going heading into this season. The Knights won't be quite as loaded up front as usual, so there's an opening for him to grab a top six spot. As he proved as the Hlinka/Gretzky, Barkey is tenacious. He's quick. He's intelligent. However, he's also more skilled and creative than he showed while playing that PK, high energy role. I'm very excited to see how Barkey plays this year. Is he a low key candidate to lead the Knights in scoring?
11. Nick Lardis
12. Matthew Soto
13. Oliver Bonk
14. Alexis Daviault
15. Donovan McCoy
16. Alex Pharand
17. Luca Pinelli
18. Angus MacDonell
19. Carey Terrance
20. Adam Zidlicky
Be sure to check the link for the rest of the top 30 and HM's.
As always, happy to answer any questions!
