2013 OHL Draft – McKeen's Hockey

Whalers patient, OHL picks 16-19

Sean Lafortune — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:04:39 +0000

In our fourth and final installment of the OHL draft, scouting reports highlight the final four picks of the first round.

The Plymouth Whalers are proving patience is a virtue after drafting the highly-skilled forward Jordan Greenway with the 16^th pick. Greenway is heading to the USNTDP, which means he won’t make his Whalers debut for two more years, but once there, he should be worth the wait.

The Owen Sound Attack took Ethan Szypula with the next pick. Szypula is a wizard with the puck, but plays with a chip on his shoulder and a burning desire to make a difference.

Justin Lemcke (pictured), a big and fluid skating defenceman, followed in the 18^th pick. The Bulls took a player that will be hard to play against who could also emerge as a future leader in the Quinte region.

The London Knights closed out the first round with the supremely-skilled, but diminutive forward Mitchell Marner. The future Knight will have time to grow in a depth role on a skilled team and should emerge as a scoring sensation in the not-too-distant future.

Photo courtesy of Paul Kidd

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Jordan Greenway (LW, 2015), Shattuck St Mary’s U16 – 6’5" – 205 pounds – February 16, 1997

Drafted 16^th overall by the Plymouth Whalers

Greenway has been developing at the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s prep hockey program over the past few years, a program that has had such graduates as Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews over its storied history .. Potsdam, NY native has the rare combination of size, mobility and puck skills that make him a real appealing option for OHL teams .. protects the puck like few at this age group, holding off checkers and dishing out seeing-eye passes .. most effective when driving the net courageously, looking to unload a heavy, accurate snap-shot .. gets his blade on tip-ins and rebounds due to his sharp hand-eye coordination .. not an elegant skater, he is somewhat stiff and slightly heavy-footed .. continues to ad fluidity and length to his skating stride .. shows flashes of a gritty, physical edge to his game, yet lacks that natural aggressive streak .. continues to add muscle and core strength to his massive frame .. still lacks defensive zone awareness at times, as he takes poor angles and doesn’t sustain consistent positioning .. currently uncommitted to a U.S. college, Greenway has multiple options at his disposal .. has reportedly committed to the USNTDP U17 program, where he will play an important role for the squad .. had the ability and potential to be a top-5 selection for the OHL Draft, but fell due to his USNTDP commitment .. the selection of Greenway seems reminiscent of the Saginaw Spirit selecting Brandon Saad in the 2009 OHL draft, where the Spirit felt that two years with Saad would be more valuable to them then other options.

Ethan Szypula (C, 2015), London Jr. Knights – 5'9" – 154 pounds – January 28, 1997

Drafted 17^th overall by the Owen Sound Attack

A shifty skater who can create space using a deceptive change of pace and tricky stick-handling .. insightful playmaker, cleaver passer with sneaky hands plus a good, undersized shot .. soft hands, a strong puck-handler and cleaver “in close” skills .. a crafty and talented passer, has a knack for creating space and finding open lanes .. accelerates swiftly and attains good top speed from a long and powerful skating stride .. a threat in transition, generates a burst with each step, and on crossovers to produce excellent diagonals speed .. adept at holding the puck, exploiting his poise and patience .. competes -- chippy and aggressive -- willing to do what it takes to win .. gets caught flat-footed watching defensive sequences and must strive to stay involved with the play in his own zone .. prone to over-handling the puck at times .. reluctant to drive his slight frame at defenders and will peel off and relinquish possession under the threat of contact .. filling in and adding strength and mass to his frame will aid him as he moves forward .. will play an immediate depth role, and may see some select power-play time .. however, he will have to adjust to the pace and speed that the OHL brings, while also physically maturing .. once he makes that adjustment, he has the ability to be a front-line offensive force for the Attack, while also bringing a high compete level and willingness to do what it takes to win.

Justin Lemcke (D, 2015), Whitby Wildcats – 6'1" – 192 pounds – February 13, 1997

Drafted 18^th overall by the Belleville Bulls

Captain of the Whitby Wildcats .. tall, poised rearguard is an attractive skater for his size .. fluid with good range .. reaches top gear quicker having added power to a long, smooth stride .. more agile and stronger on his edges and gradually improving his turning speed .. still can lose time on his pivots and transitions .. misses elite start-up and top-end speed .. displays an understanding for when to integrate himself into the attack, aided by good puck-handling skills and a booming shot .. strong on the puck, patiently waits for outlets to open and makes a good first pass .. sustains strong gap control, defending the rush with poise while relying on his active stick .. can be overtaken time to time with his average backwards speed, as opposing skaters have the ability to skate wide on him .. lacks assertiveness in physical battles, needs to learn how to better use his frame and exploit his excellent strength .. competitive, difficult to play against, uses his thick frame to lean and grind down on opponents below the defensive red line .. can still waste energy running around and chasing the puck in his own zone .. most effective when focusing on proper execution .. must continue to bulk up his spacious frame while upgrading his offensive tools .. can struggle in possession, not making quick enough reads in the offensive zone .. should come into Belleville and play an immediate depth role for a re-tooling Bulls squad .. has the ability to be a defensive-focused player who logs a significant amount of hard minutes .. will not be a pure puck-mover, but could act as an effective trigger-man on the power-play.

Mitch Marner (C, 2015), Don Mills Flyers – 5'8" – 130 pounds – May 5, 1997

Drafted 19^th overall by the London Knights

Marner played his first year with the Don Mills Flyers after spending his bantam year with the Vaughan Kings .. used as an affiliate player for the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the OJHL, playing top-9 minutes and adding some important secondary scoring for the Buckland Cup champions .. gifted passer and shooter, imaginative, he has an excellent sense for how to create offence .. possesses some paralyzing one-on-one moves, accentuated by remarkable in-tight escapability .. dynamic, undersized speedster hunches forward and generates a blistering pace .. generates a strong start-up burst and accelerates to top gear within seconds .. opens up lanes via explosive lateral cuts at high speed .. dangerous off the rush, hard to contain gaps on .. plays a brave game in spite of a diminutive frame, displaying resilience and persistence .. continues to work on upgrading his defensive zone play .. still gets erased by bigger, stronger defenders who successfully contain his time and space .. balance and strength will be an issue moving forward .. struggles to maintain his edges and protect the puck when engaged .. has put on weight and is maturing, however needs to continue to add core strength to his slight frame .. projected as a skilled, top-6 forward at the next level whose future may be tied into his ability to upgrade his strength .. may play a depth role for the Knights next year, given the team’s deep returning forward core .. once matured, Marner has the ability to be one of the top scorers in the OHL, based on his individual puck skills and high offensive ceiling.

Greyhounds stay local, OHL picks 11-15

Sean Lafortune — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:07:43 +0000

In the third installment of the OHL’s first-round, scouting reports highlight the players drafted with picks 11 through 15.

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds didn’t look far for their first pick, taking local product and Soo Thunder forward Blake Speers with the 11^th pick in the draft. Speers brings elite playmaking skills and vision to a team that may need an injection of offence after losing top scorer Nick Cousins to graduation.

The Guelph Storm addressed a weakness by drafting smooth-skating defenceman Garrett McFadden in the first-round. The Storm stand to lose three veterans on their back line, which should give McFadden an opportunity to hone his craft while playing big minutes.

Michael Davies followed to the Kitchener Rangers with the 13^th pick overall. Davies is a pure scorer with a wide range of shooting techniques that should keep goalies guessing.

The Oshawa Generals went with the assertive and versatile Mitchell Vande Sompel with the next pick. Vande Sompel is a poised defender with character and a high offensive ceiling.

With some key graduations to forwards Mark Scheifele and Anthony Camara anticipated this summer, the Barrie Colts tapped centre Matthew Kreis with the 15^th pick. Kreis earns top marks for his poise and willingness to make an impact, but may need to pick his spots better as he moves to the next level.

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Blake Speers (C, 2015), Soo Thunder – 5'9" – 150 pounds – January 2, 1997

Drafted 11^th overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Photo by Paul Kidd

Speers is a highly-intelligent forward who was named to the Allstate All Canadians camp in July, designated as one of the top 42 players in the country in the ’97-born age group .. playing with the Soo Thunder, a travel team that will participate in key tournaments throughout the season, a first for the area .. an undersized, finesse forward with tremendous poise and playmaking vision .. remains an elite puck-distributor with a keen sense of his surroundings .. plays with a high tempo level in possession, will force defenders to back off with his high speed and willingness to travel into the dirty areas of the ice to either distribute the puck or unleash a tricky wrist-shot .. smooth, efficient skater with dynamic pickup speed and exceptional lateral mobility .. exhibits boundless amounts of energy and impressive stamina for a smaller-bodied player, however does wear down when matched up against bigger, stronger defenders .. needs to improve his play away from the puck in his own zone .. doesn’t do enough defensively at times due to a lack of size, reach and physical jam .. can over-skate the puck at times .. bulking up his thin frame will be a key, allowing him to better handle physical battles .. is expected to be top-9 forward with the Greyhounds, playing in a role that will allow him to adjust to the speed of the OHL while working on his strength and aggression levels.

Garrett McFadden (D, 2015), Grey-Bruce Highlanders – 5'10" – 171 pounds – August 21, 1997

Drafted 12^th overall by the Guelph Storm

Smooth and strong on his edges .. reaches an elite top speed with just a few powerful strides .. quick in recovery, especially closing gaps and defending on the rush .. excels in the transitional game, displaying good skill with an ability to make some crisp outlet passes .. a slippery player in open ice, as he flies by defenders with uncommon ease .. shows sharp instincts as to when and how to join the attack .. makes smart outlets and distributes the puck sensibly .. walks the line well and opens up shooting lanes .. has a knack for getting his shots through on the power-play, however he needs to trust his shot more and use it to generate offence .. not afraid to initiate or receive body contact .. stays engaged physically by proactively taking the body, exploiting his good upper-body strength .. needs to add structure to his defensive game and not play a run-and-gun style every shift .. over-pursues in the defensive zone and can be guilty of following the puck in the defensive zone .. he lacks poise in his own zone and can take poor angles when defending .. needs to mature and learn to pick his spots better .. with the loss of Andrey Pedan, Brock Beukeboom and Saverio Posa, McFadden should be expected to play a key role on a maturing Guelph Storm team .. could be an impact player on the power-play immediately.

Michael Davies (LW, 2015), Southern Tier Admirals – 6'1" – 195 pounds – February 5, 1997

Drafted 13^th overall by the Kitchener Rangers

Davies is a high skill forward who was one of the most talented players from the SCTA this season .. smart and slippery in one-on-one situations, as he can disguise his intentions and protect the puck well .. he possesses soft hands in-tight which power his excellent puck skills, as he has a knack for creating space and finding open passing lanes .. pure scorer has the ability to naturally finish off plays .. utilizes his deceptive, powerful snap-shot to fool goaltenders in the offensive zone .. shot release is tricky .. a clever puck-distributor with strong vision .. does play with an edge, however it’s inconsistent .. will bravely engage at times, while other times look passive .. a conscientious worker, however he does have room to grow with his defensive zone coverage .. can struggle at times with keeping his feet active in defensive situations .. has suffered from a case of mono in the first half, which led to issues with his production and conditioning .. will have to continue to develop his footwork while adding depth and length to his skating stride .. will fill a top-9 role within a rebuilding Rangers forward core, working his way into a more prime offensive role as the season moves forward .. could see initial power-play time, if he adjusts to the league quickly.

Mitchell Vande Sompel (D, 2015), London Jr. Knights – 5'10" – 171 pounds – February 11, 1997

Drafted 14^th overall by the Oshawa Generals

Undersized defender who is competitive and tough .. stride is compact and explosive, edges slash into the ice, generating a quick startup burst and terrific turning speed .. he times open-ice hits well .. willing to engage to separate the man from the puck .. assertive offensively .. willing to take charge and get the puck into the offensive zone .. gains the line effectively, utilizing his excellent one-on-one elusiveness and soft in-tight hands to move through the neutral one .. good passer and flashy puck-carrier .. packs a sizzling slap-shot and one-timer .. proficient at walking the line to alter shooting lanes .. poised and creative running the power-play .. gradually building better structure and one-on-one technique .. tends to over-pursue and loses focus .. a risk-taker who continues to learn to be more selective and adapt better strategies both with and without the puck .. upgrades in his body mass and core strength will aid him in puck battles .. the captain of the London Jr. Knights Gold, a player who brings a high complete level .. can play both forward and defence, however is best suited as a defender at the OHL level .. may struggle initially in five-on-five situations, however has the ability to be an impact defender on the power-play initially .. at maturity, Vande Sompel has the ability to be an offensive, puck-moving defender who can generate offense every time he steps on the ice.

Matthew Kreis (C, 2015), Halton Hurricanes – 5'10" – 155 pounds – August 1, 1997

Drafted 15^th overall by the Barrie Colts

Kreis is a high-compete forward who played the season with Halton after representing the Vaughan Kings at the 2012 All Ontario Bantam Championship .. light and smooth on his feet with exceptional lateral quickness and dexterity .. takes aggressive edges and is effective at driving off and propelling himself forward .. quick and agile, makes tight cuts and can spin on a dime .. plays a speedy, up-tempo style with a good determination level .. anticipates the game well, guided by astute hockey sense .. poised and skilled in possession, can finish with a tricky wrist-shot or snap-shot that features a tricky release .. can get caught in possession and can be guilty of trying to do too much .. gets neutralized in traffic by stronger defenders, which forces him to take less direct routes to the net .. doesn’t lack courage, however still gets manhandled by opponents, specifically in puck battles .. possesses inconsistent aggression and intensity in the defensive zone .. he must dedicate himself to bulking up a lean body and getting stronger on the puck .. will slot into the Colts’ top-9 forward core initially, possibly playing a penalty kill role while adjusting to the speed and pace of the game .. projects as a top-6 forward with leadership abilities.

Untapped Hayden McCool lands in Niagara, OHL draft picks 6-10

Sean Lafortune — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:42:26 +0000

In the second installment of the OHL’s first-round, scouting reports highlight the players drafted in picks six-through-10.

The Niagara IceDogs began their rebuild by taking the imposing Whitby forward with the catchy name, Hayden McCool. McCool is a team-player that can play at both ends of the rink. He’s got most of the tools, but just needs the toolbox now to reach his long-term potential.

Kyle Capobianco became the third defenceman to hear his name called when the Sudbury Wolves tapped him for the seventh pick. Capobianco will bring his dynamic skating and offensive creativity to the Nickel City.

Mitchell Stephens, a former teammate of Connor McDavid’s on the Toronto Marlboros, went eighth to Saginaw. The smooth-skating forward is a bit of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde given the wide-ranging levels of inconsistencies from game-to-game. He can dazzle when he’s at his best.

The Sarnia Sting are hoping Nikita Korostelev can fill some pretty big skates next season. The Sting are banking on Korostelev and Nikolay Goldobin’s past playing experience to provide instant chemistry.

The Battalion franchise will move from Brampton to North Bay but the drafting of Brett McKenzie at No. 10 signals their philosophy won’t change. McKenzie is a responsible two-way player with a potent wrist-shot.

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Hayden McCool (C, 2015), Whitby Wildcats - 6'3"- 185 pounds - April 11, 1997

Drafted sixth-overall by the Niagara IceDogs

McCool played his first year in Whitby after spending his bantam year with the Clarington Toros .. a large-bodied forward, possesses a significant among of tools .. opportunistic and competitive, willing to battle for loose pucks .. digs his feet in when in front of the net, using his elite hand-eye coordination to tip in shots and bat in rebounds .. hands are soft and fast, possesses excellent stick-handling abilities and one-on-one elusiveness .. his upper-body skill separates him from his peers as a prospect .. boasts a multidimensional shot, highlighted by its multiple release points .. displays a sharp sense for protecting the puck in traffic, shielding it from pressure as he drives the net .. wins board battles, exploiting an expanded reach and good balance .. finishes checks, however, not overly-aggressive by nature .. high commitment level and focus in his defensive zone .. provides support for his defencemen by sacrificing offense to ensure defensive success .. does attain good mobility once he hits top speed .. not the most graceful start-ups and tends to struggle with explosiveness .. will benefit from adding both length and strength to a somewhat choppy stride .. prone to tunnel vision, gets fixated on things which can limit his selection process .. projects as a strong, two-way forward with untapped offensive abilities .. may be more effective as a winger at the next level given his size .. will initially slot into a depth role for the Niagara Ice Dogs, continuing to see more responsibilities as he matures .. has an intriguing long-term ceiling given his size and developing puck skills.

Kyle Capobianco (D, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'0" – 155 pounds - August 13, 1997

Drafted seventh-overall by the Sudbury Wolves

Capobianco played with the Oakville Rangers after spending last season with the bantam Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL .. he was one of 42 Canadians who were selected to participate in the 2012 All Canadians camp .. biggest gift is his high-end skating ability .. undersized defenceman is an exceptional skater who is powered by a strong, controlled stride .. he has the ability to change his pace at the drop of a hat .. a natural puck rusher who has the innate ability to shift through open ice and skate past opposing defenders with ease .. anticipates the game well and makes a strong first pass, which is aided by his strong poise and puck-handling ability .. needs to work to add power to his slap-shot .. must continue to add power and strength to his wiry frame .. gets beat down low by size and strength, and goes static at times, losing his focus and coverage .. a risk taker, he pinches aggressively and forsakes defensive responsibilities .. prone to over-handling the puck from time to time .. will be in the Wolves’ lineup initially, adding offence to a defensive core that will lose veteran Charlie Dodero .. expect him to be a strong power-play option right off the bat .. will need to continue to work on his strength and one-on-one effectiveness in the defensive zone.

Mitchell Stephens (C, 2015), Toronto Marlboros - 5'10" - 166 pounds – February 5, 1997

Drafted eighth-overall by the Saginaw Spirit

Stephens is playing his second year of minor midget after seeing a lot of ice with the ‘96 Toronto Marlboros, a team that featured current OHLers Connor McDavid, Joshua Ho-Sang and Sam Bennett .. biggest gift is his excellent footwork and extremely-strong skating stride .. he’s a remarkable skater with a great range of speed .. generates tremendous thrusts from his long and powerful skating stride .. his first few steps are powerful, quick and explosive, which allows him to get a quick step on opposing skaters and creates separation with the puck .. at his best when aggressively driving into lanes and striving to show off an elite shot .. has shown an ability to read the ice and improvise at a moment’s notice, without compromising his puck protection .. a shoot-first player, he looks to take the puck to the net instead of making higher-percentage outlet passes .. needs to continue to work on his core strength and improve his overall ability to win battles down low and along the boards .. struggles with consistency; looks like a star one game while struggling to make an impact the next .. should slot initially into Saginaw's top-nine forward core and be a factor in penalty killing situations .. his speed and shot could be an asset to the Spirit immediately .. has the potential to be a top-line forward at the OHL level, however, patience will be needed.

Nikita Korostelev (RW, 2015), Toronto Jr. Canadiens - 6'0" - 176 pounds - February 8, 1997

Drafted ninth-overall by the Sarnia Sting

This was Korostelev’s second season in minor midget after spending the second half of last year with the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League .. his biggest weapon is a powerful and accurate snap-shot that features an extremely-dangerous release .. has the ability to simply take the puck into his body and let off a hard, strong shot with little-to-no effort .. has high-end puck-skills, as he has displayed the ability to dangle in one-on-one situations or make a smart touch pass .. generates a surprising amount of speed and acceleration from his long and lunging skating stride .. plays with a chip on his shoulder at times and can have a bit of pushback when challenged physically, but that pushback isn’t always consistent .. has shown that he can struggle with puck battles .. has gained a significant amount of weight on his frame compared to where he was last year, but he still has room to be bigger and stronger, particularly in his upper-body .. despite his Russian descent, was deemed eligible for the 2013 OHL draft as opposed to the CHL import draft .. will need to make an immediate impact in Sarnia given the Sting's loss of Reid Boucher, Alex Galchenyuk, Charles Sarault and others .. should find instant chemistry with import Nikolay Goldobin, given that the two have played together in the past in Russia.

Brett McKenzie (C, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'1" - 175 pounds - March 21, 1997

Drafted 10^th overall by the North Bay Battalion

A high-potential forward playing his first year in Oakville after playing last year with Eastern Ontario of the OEMHL .. led the Rangers offensively all season and was a significant factor in the team winning the organization’s first OHL Cup championship .. industrious, strong-skating forward with good skills for a big man .. powered by quick, able footwork and lateral mobility .. smooth puck-handler, who rushes and distributes the puck well, displaying patience and awareness in possession, as well as an ability to use his size and mobility to create space and make plays in motion .. adept at shifting the puck out wide, exploiting his large wingspan .. a versatile, hardworking and positionally-responsible player .. packs a heavy wrist-shot that gets prime power from a compact, efficient release .. can play a rugged and scrappy physical game, however, can lack intensity and let up on the fore-check at times .. could be meaner and more belligerent in one-on-one puck battles and positional battles in front of the net .. must continue to elevate his intensity level, however, does bring an understated compete level .. a responsible defender who supports his teammates below his own red line .. possesses a good positional sense and awareness .. a player who can contribute on both the power-play and the penalty kill .. has the frame, but must continue to build muscle mass .. projects as a responsible top-six forward who can contribute at both ends of the ice at the OHL level .. a perfect fit for the Battalion .. McKenzie is going to an organization that has a history of allowing younger players to take on more responsibility .. will probably slot into the third line centre role initially while he learns his craft, but may quickly move up the team’s depth chart.

Travis Konecny’s day at the OHL draft

Sean Lafortune — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:20:51 +0000

The Ottawa 67’s may have found Sean Monahan’s successor in the supremely-talented Travis Konecny.

The 67’s went with the smooth-skating, offensive workhorse from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs with the first-overall pick. Konecny, a cousin of 2013 NHL draft eligible Bo Horvat, carries a toolbox brimming with the tools to succeed and become a premier player in the OHL in the near future.

The Erie Otters are surrounding exceptional player Connor McDavid with another gem in Dylan Strome. The younger brother of New York Islanders prospect Ryan, Dylan was chosen with the second pick in the draft and should create quite the dynamic duo with McDavid in the not-too-distant future.

The first defenceman was taken with the third pick, but it wasn’t Sean Day. The Peterborough Petes instead opted for Matthew Spencer, whose impact won’t always be reflected in the box score.

Day’s slide ended with the next pick, No. 4 to the Mississauga Steelheads. The fourth player to be granted “exceptional player” status to play in the league at 15 and third in three years, Day will carve up the ice in the Toronto suburb for at least three seasons before being eligible for the NHL draft in 2016.

The Kingston Frontenacs rounded out the top five with Konecny’s teammate, left winger Lawson Crouse. The big and powerful winger will be a handful to contain once he realizes his immense potential.

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Travis Konecny (C, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 5'9" – 161 pounds - March 11, 1997

Drafted first-overall by the Ottawa 67’s

Konecny shone as a standout on Team Hall at the Allstate All-Canadians camp .. dynamic skater with natural speed and fluidity .. generates significant initial thrusts with his first steps and start up .. the slick pivot possesses soft, articulate hands with excellent playmaking vision .. makes the biggest impact when he pushes the pace of play and competes aggressively at both ends of the ice .. composed in possession and excels in making crafty plays in motion, aided by fine in-close puck skills and cleaver lateral mobility .. makes split-second decisions and can execute his game-plan smoothly in top gear .. can play with a physical edge and be a physical force .. delivers impactful open-ice hits and can terrorize opposing defencemen on the fore-check .. excels in traffic; comfortable with body contact and protecting the puck as he finds open space .. shows intuitiveness at sensing danger, knowing when to hold onto the puck for that extra second and when to distribute .. possesses a dynamic snapshot with an unpredictable release point that keeps goaltenders guessing .. consistency can waver, as he can get frustrated when given extra attention by the opposition .. his role next year may be tied to the future of Sean Monahan in the nation's capital, but the expectations are that Konecny will come into the league as a top two centre, while working on adding some strength to his frame and continuing his development .. has the ability to be one of the top players in the league in two years.

Dylan Strome (C, 2015), Toronto Marlboros - 6'2" - 165 pounds - March 7, 1997

Drafted second-overall by the Erie Otters

Quickly became known as the most dangerous playmaker in his age group .. puck skills and vision are his best assets .. a gifted passer, displays an ability to carve defences with no-look passes ranging from five to 20 feet in little-to-no space .. exhibits great imagination with the puck in the offensive zone, driving the net or finding teammates in open ice .. soft, quick hands make him one of the more dangerous players around the net .. well-sized for a player of his age and continuing to grow into his body .. still needs to work on adding bulk to his large, 6’2 frame .. not an elegant skater, as he is somewhat stiff and heavy footed .. increasing the length and fluidity of his stride will make him a stronger, more mobile player .. projects as a number one centre at the next level .. will probably slot into a top-six role initially with the Otters .. much like McDavid last year, look for the Otters to play him with finishers such as Dane Fox or Stephen Harper, where he can truly utilize his puck skills .. a power-play tandem of McDavid and Strome may become one of the most dangerous in the league in the coming seasons.

Matthew Spencer (D, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'2" – 185 pounds - March 24, 1997

Drafted third-overall by the Peterborough Petes

A responsible, well-rounded workhorse .. plays in all situations and thrives in each .. extremely-effective at closing down space in both the neutral and offensive zones .. gap control is top notch, aided by his deceptive quick feet and strong stick-work .. extremely tough to beat one-on-one, specifically when backing up and defending the rush .. sustains tight gaps and takes away space from opposing puck-rushers .. proficient at getting his stick into passing lanes and deflecting shots on net .. underrated in the offensive zone .. displays an ability to join the attack while making accurate lead passes .. composed under pressure and dissolves fore-checking pressure by making quick, decisive decisions with the puck .. packs a sizzling slap-shot with a hard, heavy one-timer .. has the ability to fake a shot, walk the line and alter a shooting lane .. could be more adventurous as a puck-mover, as he tends to be a bit conservative offensively .. will need to continue to bulk up and add muscle to his already large frame .. won't be judged on the score-sheet, but more so on his adjustment to the league this year .. should play more of a depth role defensively, seeing some time on the penalty kill and perhaps on the second power-play .. as he matures, expect him to be a leader who can positively contribute at both ends of the ice.

Sean Day (D, 2016), Detroit Compuware U16 - 6'2” - 200 pounds - January 9, 1998

Drafted fourth-overall by the Mississauga Steelheads

Assertive and confident beyond his years .. takes charge of situations and always strives to be a difference-maker .. an innovative, highly-skilled workhorse with great hands and elite mobility .. blessed with an explosive skating stride and backed by excellent footwork .. edges slash into the ice, generating a quick start-up bust and terrific turning speed .. paralyses opponents with dynamic lateral shifts and clever toe-drag moves .. plays the game with remarkable tempo in possession, moving effortlessly with the puck and displaying outstanding one-on-one elusiveness .. hands are fast and skilled .. boasts tricky in-close puck-possession abilities, backed by tremendous focus .. makes sharp, accurate passes and also packs a quick, hard shot .. can play tough, although that really isn’t his forte .. will skate himself into trouble at times, and run out of room .. needs to learn to improvise on the fly while better utilizing his teammates .. must also continue to make gains in his structure and consistency .. will be put in every position to succeed and learn from mistakes by playing top-four minutes following potential graduations of Stuart Percy, Dylan DeMelo and Alex Cord .. has the ability and talent to be one of the best offensive-minded defenders that we have seen in the OHL in some time.

Lawson Crouse (LW, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 6'3" - 189 pounds - June 23, 1997

Drafted fifth-overall by the Kingston Frontenacs

A skilled and competent puck-handler thanks to strong hands and an ample wingspan .. deceptively quick off the mark, leaps in crossovers and initial steps before setting into a wide, lunging skating stride .. may lack elite mobility, however, but is a strong skater with surprisingly effective agility and lateral mobility .. hard to contain as he enters the offensive zone, using his large frame to protect the puck as he drives to the net .. possesses an elite-level snapshot with an unpredictable release point .. increasing his playmaking tempo and intensity .. misses some vision, but distributes effectively when operating on the sideboards .. at his best when powering through the offensive zone, gaining positioning on opposing defenders through his determination levels .. thrives when working without the puck, getting into open-ice and allowing a teammate to find him driving the net .. forces defenders to back off as he hits top speed, using his combination of agility and power to intimidate .. gets caught flat-footed watching defensive sequences, must stay active and strive to stay involved .. has the frame to be a powerful force, but needs to physically mature while adding strength and mass to his core .. should be an offensive leader for the Frontenacs while developing his defensive zone awareness and physical maturity .. high potential forward has the tools to be an impact forward at the OHL level .. will be initially placed in a depth role of the Frontenacs, learning about the game and adjusting to the speed, but don't be surprised if he’s in the team's top six by the second half of the year .. should mesh well with ’96-born centre Sam Bennett.