With leagues around the globe well under way, it’s time to take a look at some of the early season favourites of the McKeen’s staff. We asked members of the staff to give us some of their favourite 2027 prospects early on, a top re-entry candidate, and an NHL affiliated prospect who has taken a big step forward.
First up is McKeen’s Director of Scouting Brock Otten with his selections from the OHL.
2027 Draft Candidates
Bogdan Yakushevsky - Wing - Windsor Spitfires
6’0, 182lbs, Shoots: Left
A first year Import out of Russia, Yakushevsky was an immediate impact player for the Windsor Spitfires and has unquestionably been their best and most consistent performer this season. He’s a bull on the ice; it would not shock me to learn that he emulates his game after fellow countryman Alex Ovechkin. This power forward approach, combined with excellent offensive production is going to really draw the attention of NHL scouts.
First and foremost, Yakushevsky is skilled. He’s been able to manufacture his own scoring chances this year by playing up tempo and by escaping pressure thanks to soft hands and a creative approach. In a lot of ways, his offensive game has a lot of different layers, especially for someone whose default could very well be to drive straight through defenders in a linear style. However, he’s just as proficient working laterally and finding soft spots in coverage to settle into. He’s got a cannon of a shot and his goal scoring upside is fairly significant.
Physically, he’s a real beast. He looks to drive through opposing players to earn touches or to gain spacial advantages. He’s active in puck pursuit and he’s been diligent and efficient along the wall, proving that he’s willing to outwork the opposition. There’s a real hunger there for the puck. It’s part of why Windsor has been using him to kill penalties this year. He’s not massive and scouts may have concerns about durability or effectiveness playing this style at higher levels, perhaps similar to a guy like Brady Martin recently. However, you have to applaud his willingness to play that power game.
Of course, like any prospect, there are areas that Yakushevsky could improve upon. While he’s not a poor skater by any means, I do think that there is room for improvement in the efficiency of his stride and the ability to generate power quickly. Additionally, puck management will be an area of focus for him. He’s shown flashes of being a high end playmaker, but he’s also looked visibly frustrated at times and forced plays, perhaps due to the fact that Windsor’s offense has lacked consistency thus far.
But, Yakushevsky is a player that I have a ton of time for and I believe that he’s going to earn serious consideration for the top 50 by June.
THE CLIPS
Yakushevsky shows off his ability to drive the middle, getting inside leverage and lifting the stick of the Saginaw defender to earn a scoring chance.
What a rip as Yakushevsky takes advantage of the pick play cutting across the middle.
Yakushevsky is covering on defense and absolutely lays into top 2027 prospect Cooper McAslan.
Aleks Kulemin - Center - Kingston Frontenacs
6’4, 190lbs, Shoots: Left
I had pretty high hopes for Kulemin as an NHL Draft prospect coming into this season, but I was left very disappointed by his performance at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Playing a depth role for Canada, he looked behind the play at times and failed to execute from a skilled perspective on so many looks; it left me with a lot of questions about his offensive upside.
However, there is a reason why you simply can not base your opinion of a player from a single tournament. Since returning to the OHL with the Frontenacs, Kulemin has been one of the most consistent offensive performers in the league to start the season. He’s driving play and showcasing skill well beyond what he showed last year as a rookie and what he showed at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He looks quicker. He looks more confident with the puck. Simply put, 6’4 centers with skill and two-way sense do not grow on trees.
While the stat is flawed, as of writing this (according to InStat), Kulemin actually leads the entire OHL in successful dekes completed this year. He’s also at the top of the successful zone entries list. I think what has impressed me most about Kulemin from an offensive perspective is that he’s so good at escaping pressure and protecting the puck through the middle of the ice. He’s extending plays and proving to be a very difficult person to separate from the puck. His chemistry with fellow top 2027 prospect (at least in my opinion) Nolan Snyder has been one of the best stories of this early OHL season; the two have been electric together.
If we’re nitpicking…and we’re going to, scouts will be looking for more consistent effort physically from Kulemin given his size advantage. He’s not someone that I’d classify as a physical player and he’s not winning nearly enough of his engagements along the wall to keep plays alive, especially when you compare it with how good he’s been through the middle and near the crease. In order for him to reach his ultimate upside as a dominant two-way power center, he’s going to need to become a more physically intense player.
There’s just so much to like here, especially when you factor in his bloodlines as the son of a former NHL player. If the production holds, I’d be shocked if Kulemin isn’t a first round selection in 2027.
THE CLIPS
Kulemin has been looking to push pace like this all season, using his long strides to build speed quickly, but also executing skilled moves at top speed to help him gain the offensive blueline.
Not even three defenders can strip Kulemin of the puck or stop his advancement as he fights through the middle to extend the play and get the puck back to the point.
Two good looks to the middle from Kulemin, with the second one getting deposited. He’s impressed with his vision and passing ability this season.
Nolan Snyder - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
5’11, 180lbs, Shoots: Right
Earlier this month on social media, I spoke highly of Snyder and mentioned that he would likely be one of my favourite prospects for this draft. That opinion has not changed. The aforementioned chemistry that he and Aleks Kulemin have developed has been extremely fun to watch and incredibly encouraging for the Frontenacs, who have aspirations of capturing an Eastern Conference title this year.
Snyder, a Penn State commit, had a strong Hlinka/Gretzky for the U.S.A. to start the draft year and he’s carried over that success to the OHL, where he finds himself among the league’s leading scorers.
He’s just such an effective and well rounded player. He’s tenacious. He’s skilled. He’s a strong finisher with strong scoring instincts. He can make plays in transition, or he can grind it out deep in the offensive zone and get to the net. He can kill penalties or be the focal point of a powerplay. He’s going to be docked by NHL scouts for a lack of true size at under six foot in combination with average quickness and speed, but he makes up for it in so many other ways.
In a lot of ways, Snyder reminds me of Tampa winger Jake Guentzel and I believe that he has a chance to carve out a similar career as that kind of supporting top six winger who can ride shotgun alongside a skilled pivot and/or playmakers. He’s not the type of player who is going to wow you with creativity, but he’s strong away from the puck, makes quick decisions, and has that terrific shot to lean on.
THE CLIPS
I’d say that’s a pretty good shot.
Beautiful backhand finish by Snyder.
Ryan Kaczynski - Wing - Soo Greyhounds
6’3, 190lbs, Shoots: Left
The Greyhounds have been one of the best surprises of the early OHL season and they’re being fueled by a bunch of terrific NHL draft prospects. Noah Laus and Trevor Daley Jr. have been terrific too, but I think Kaczynski may just have the most intriguing skill set and best NHL projection, even if he'd probably be ranked behind Laus currently. Laus has been the most consistent and he’s a very polished/mature player, but scouts may view his lack of dynamic skating ability as a hindrance. Kaczynski was a relative non factor as an OHL rookie a year ago, but he’s taken a huge step forward this season and could end up being a top two round candidate.
One of the biggest reasons for the jump made by Kaczynski is improvements made to his skating. Like Laus, he’s not a dynamic skater; there are some technical flaws. However, he’s obviously worked hard to elongate his stride, alter his posture, and add power to his lower body because he’s finding success breaking behind defenders with his big frame and has been a factor in transition. I think that given the already made improvements, we can project that Kaczynski will continue to improve in this regard.
Where he’s been the most effective is at the net front and near the crease. He’s got soft hands and a quick release, and with his size and length, he’s earning a lot of looks in tight. As he fills out his frame, it’s easy to project him as a quality net front presence at higher levels. On the puck, his decision making hasn’t always been the most sound and he’s had some trouble breaking into the middle of the ice as an attacker, despite his frame and size advantages, but there have been flashes.
Kaczynski has also been a steady presence away from the puck. He’s been solid in the defensive zone as a support player and as the physical side of his game becomes more consistent, he could develop into a high end two-way forward.
I’m always drawn to bigger forwards who have shown rapid progression and growth and Kaczynski fits that bill. I’ll be following his progression this season closely.
THE CLIPS
Kaczynski splits the Brampton defense and sets up a goal.
In his office at the net front; a deft redirection.
Oskar Konobelj - Defense - North Bay Battalion
6’4, 192lbs, Shoots: Left
Konobelj (pronounced without the “j”) has proven to be quite the find for the Battalion. Born in Slovenia, he immigrated to Canada a few years ago to play out of the Ottawa region. Last year, he played in the EOJHL (previously the CCHL2) and given the production, you probably wouldn’t have expected the kind of impact that he’s had in the OHL as a rookie so far. He has stepped in North Bay’s lineup and has been routinely playing 17-18 plus minutes a game.
The hulking defender has been extremely impressive in the defensive end, imposing his size and strength on opposing players with consistency. He’s winning an absurd 68 percent of his puck battles thus far, which places him right near the top of the entire OHL. Teams are just having a really tough time sustaining pressure or gaining offensive zone time when he’s on the ice. Additionally, he’s very physically intimidating; his hit package is already outstanding. Given his age, the upside as a defensive stalwart is terrific, especially when you factor in that he’s going to continue to fill out his frame and become stronger.
Konobelj is not a weak skater either, which obviously helps his projection to playing in the National Hockey League. His first step quickness isn’t terrific, but his transitional agility and backwards/lateral stride are relatively smooth, especially for such a larger defender, and that has made him a strong transitional defender. When he gets his feet moving, he can actually build to a solid speed too, which has helped him jump up or lead the rush from time to time.
From a skill perspective, the offensive upside may ultimately be capped. He’s had some trouble making skilled plays with the puck under pressure or maintaining possession/receiving passes in stride. As mentioned, he’s flashed the ability to jump up and make plays, so it will be interesting to see how the offensive side of his game grows over the season. Even though he’s not the most skilled or the most explosive skater, he’s handled the puck well in the defensive zone thanks to strong scanning habits and the ability to play within his game. He’s keeping things simple, taking strong routes to the puck, and making good reads.
The only other criticism that I would have is that I do believe that there is room for improvement in his ability to defend the middle of the ice. He’s taken himself out of position at times looking for that big hit, or he’s followed the puck and left the middle open; at times the pace of the OHL compared to his previous leagues seems to be giving him a bit of a difficult time. That said, given that he’s not a weak skater and he has that terrific reach, I expect this to improve as the North Bay coaching staff works with him.
While I’m not sure the pure upside is as high, there’s a natural comparison to be made here with London’s Maksim Sokolovskii last year. Now, I’m not saying Konobelj is going to be a first round NHL selection. But, I do believe that NHL scouts will fall in love with Konobelj if his game continues to progress this year the way that Sokolovskii’s did last season.
The CLIPS
A collection of Konobelj showcasing his physical dominance over OHL players.
A really subtle, yet solid play that demonstrates Konobelj’s decisiveness with the puck and strong scanning habits. Players of his ilk often struggle with this when they enter the OHL, but he’s been dependable and competent.
A Top Re-Entry Candidate
Jet Kwajah - Defense - Brantford Bulldogs
6’0, 176lbs, Shoots: Right
A strong late season push by Kwajah in the USHL with Madison last year didn’t do enough to get him drafted considering his average size and lack of high end projection. However, after the Brantford Bulldogs turned over nearly their entire roster from a year ago, Kwajah was brought in (as a former high OHL pick) and has been a key contributor for a surprising Brantford team. He’s looking comfortable quarterbacking the powerplay and his strong skating ability has made him a difference maker at both ends while playing over 20 minutes a game. The Penn State commit is looking like a potential modern day two-way, puck mover who could be a swiss army knife on the back-end for a future NHL organization.
The hallmark of Kwajah’s game is his strong skating ability. He’s not only explosive linearly, allowing him to have a profound impact as a puck mover at five on five, but he’s fluid and quick moving laterally. This allows him to escape pressure or hold the blueline as a powerplay quarterback or in-zone offensive creator.
Defensively, he’s looked better in the OHL with the upstart Bulldogs. He’s not an intense physical competitor, and NHL scouts may dock him for that given his lack of size, however, he’s defended well down hill and has looked good in zone coverage with an active stick and an ability to close quickly thanks to his explosiveness.
With a strong full season in Brantford, especially if the Bulldogs can experience another deep playoff run, Kwajah could find himself on the draft radar as a potential mid to late round selection.
THE CLIPS
Very impressive rush and goal for Kwajah as he beats every Kingston player on the ice to get to the net.
Textbook work on the two-man advantage as he pushes deep into the slot before the perfect cross ice pass to set up the one timer goal.
NHL Affiliated Prospect On the Rise
Brody Pepoy - Wing - Saginaw Spirit (Toronto Maple Leafs)
6’1, 190lbs, Shoots: Right
We were big Pepoy fans at McKeen’s Hockey last year, ranking him 145th; he was ultimately selected 169th by Toronto. I, in particular, felt like Pepoy was just scratching the surface of his upside as an offensive winger with a solid frame. Consistency wasn’t his friend as Saginaw’s secondary scoring struggled as a whole, but he flashed high end creativity and puck protection skill, suggesting that he could eventually breakout in a big way.
One of the keys to that breakout would lie in Pepoy’s ability to upgrade his skating and quickness. He’s done that. He looks considerably quicker this year and has been absolutely dynamic in transition. Additionally, he’s found a new level of confidence in his ability to make plays with the puck, consistently creating extra time and space for himself. He’s right up near the league leaders in both successful dekes completed and zone entries via stickhandling.
Pepoy has also found another level as a physical two-way competitor. Again, this was something that he flashed last year, but he’s been dialed in and consistent this season; there’s a serious hunger to have the puck on his stick at all times.
Best of all, Pepoy is doing all of this while remaining the focal point of Saginaw’s secondary scoring unit. He’s not playing a ton with Dima Zhilkin and has been carrying his own line.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have to be ecstatic with what they're seeing early on. Pepoy looks the part of a potential top nine contributor and is already outperforming his draft slot last year.
THE CLIPS
Pretty good individual effort I’d say.
Just a really strong play in transition here by Pepoy to help set up the Saginaw goal.