OHL Draft Analysis
The OHL Priority draft is the largest draft of U15 prospects in North America, and we break down every aspect of the draft, from positions to which teams are producing the most prospects, we break it all down.
Michael Misa was granted exceptional status, and was selected first overall by Saginaw, followed Misa was Mississauga Senators’ teammate Malcolm Spence to Erie. A total of 15 players were selected from the Senators, who tied the Toronto Jr Canadians and North York Rangers with 15 players selected in the draft.
The GTHL led all leagues with prospect production, with OMHA accounting for 22% of prospects, second amongst all leagues.
Most Selections - US Organizations
All Rounds
Detroit Little Caesars U15 : 7
Cleveland Barons U15 : 4
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U15 : 3
Shattuck St Mary’s U15 - 3
Most Selections - US Organizations
Rounds 1-8
Detroit Little Caesars U15 : 3
Shattuck St Mary’s : 3
Cleveland Barons U15 : 2
Mount St Charles : 2
Nashville Jr Predators U15 : 2
15% of selections came from below the border, and our scouts put together some of the picks we liked the most.
Cole Longacre - Defenseman
Round 2 31st Overall - Kitchener Rangers
6’1.5”, 199lb - Windy City Storm U15
Longacre is a big-bodied LD who was the 1st American taken in this year’s draft. He plays a heavy 2-way game which makes him hard to compete against in all 3 zones. His feet have always been an uncertainty but he has good 4-way mobility for his size and rarely puts himself in bad positions. He’s unlikely to be flashy or dynamic at the next level, but he’s shown some offense throughout the season and he’s comfortable making puck plays at both ends.
Why we like the pick
Picking an American this early is always risky, but Kitchener knows that there is a lot of upside in this selection if they can get Longacre to report. He was a 40-man NTDP Camp invite, and while we aren’t surprised he didn’t make the team, his game probably lends itself more to a major-junior style. He’s big, physical and should be able to step in right away and find a steady role within an OHL D-core. His agility and decision making is going to need to adjust to the pace of play in the league, but when it does, he’s got a lot he can contribute from the back-end. Knowing the NTDP snub was probably a tough pill to swallow, Kitchener was smart to show a lot of love by grabbing him early in the 2nd round.
John Parsons - Goaltender
Round 4 70th Overall - Ottawa 67’s
6’2, 170lbs - Mount St. Charles
At 6’2 Parsons is a goalie with great size and athleticism. He tracks plays well and comes out aggressively to eliminate shooting angles. He’s smooth laterally and has a quiet upper body that allows him to keep his big frame in position to make saves in tight. He’s consistent in his rebound control, does not give up many 2nd chances and he plays with a calm yet commanding presence in net. Our scouts only saw him have one shaky start all season, and he followed that up the next day with lights-out performance.
Why we like the pick
As evidenced by his NTDP selection, Parsons is arguably the best 06 goalie in the country. His combination of size and poise should easily allow him to transition to the junior game and he shows a lot of intangibles that we see in successful pro goalies. While the recent trend has been for NTDP goalies to spend a season or two in the NCAA before turning pro, the fact that the top 5 North American goalies selected in 2021 NHL draft came out of the CHL, means it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Parsons would want to come to the league.
Caeden Heins - Forward
6th Round 111th Overall - Oshawa Generals
5’10, 150lb - Florida Alliance U15 South
Heins is an average sized, skill-forward who had a strong season this year for the Florida Alliance South team. He’s not a blistering skater but he’s got a strong technical stride that allows him to get up to speed quickly off the rush. His puck skills are smooth and his strong hockey IQ allows him to slip into shooting lanes around the net. He’s a natural goalscorer who consistently shows that he’s dangerous in tight because he can finish with accuracy. He makes good reads in all 3 zones and he’s a very complete player who can be trusted in all situations.
Why we like the pick
Coming from Florida, Heins flew a bit under the radar this season, but he led his team in scoring with 36 goals in 56 games and also had a very strong showing for team TPH at this year’s OHL Cup. Natural goalscorers are hard to come by, and his combination of hockey IQ and offensive ability could allow him to continue to produce at the next level. He’s going to need to keep adding strength, but he’s got a good frame and is smart about where he puts himself on the ice. Given that he’s a dual-citizen whose father played multiple seasons in both the OHL & NHL, Oshawa is smartly betting on a lot of long-term upside with this selection.
James Hagens - Center
6th Round 117th Overall - London Knights
5’7.5, 138lb - Mount St Charles
Despite his size, Hagens is a dynamic forward with an elite skillset. His glide speed and edge control are off the charts, and he uses his slick hands to slip in-and-out of space as he dances around defenders. He constantly wants the puck on his stick and he’s got the hockey sense and technical skill to generate offense in all situations. He’s one of the rare players at this age who can process the game at a speed that matches the quickness of his hands and feet, and he should only get better as he has other high-end players to work with.
Why we like the pick
Given that he’s expected to play a big role for the NTDP next year, we don’t anticipate that we’ll see Hagens in the league anytime soon. That being said, he’s arguably the most dynamically skilled forward in the country, and he has tremendous upside if his game continues to develop. While his style of play and limited size suggest he’s on a path for the NCAA, a lot of that could change if he’s able to dominate next year at the Program. While 6th round picks are hardly throwaways, Hagens has the potential upside that makes it worth the risk that he never reports. Add in the fact that London is a very appealing destination, and it becomes easy to see why this pick makes a lot of sense for the Knights.
Ryder Dagenais - Center
7th Round 130th overall - Ottawa 67’s
5’9, 174lb - Pittsburgh Pens Elite U15
Dagenais is a compact, 2-way center who plays a mature game. When we first saw him at the beginning of the year we noted that his feet were a bit heavy, but his skating improved as the season went on. He’s not a flashy player but he has soft hands with the puck and very good offensive instincts around the net. He can play a physical game below the dots at both ends and he’s very good at slipping into shooting lanes in the slot.
Why we like the pick
It’s true that on the surface there’s not a lot in this pick that would seem to move the needle since Dagenais will need some time before he’s ready to play a consistent role in the league and his skating continues to need work. However once you factor in that he’s a Canadian-born player with strong offensive instincts and a powerful frame, things begin to get a bit more interesting.
He already plays a heavy and controlled junior style that will transition well to the league and he knows how to generate offense despite not yet having the foot-speed to create separation. At worst Ottawa picked up a smart, 2-way power-forward with a 7th round pick, and if his feet continue to improve, there could be a lot of offensive value in his pick.
Kamil Bednarik - Center
7th Round 132nd Overall - Kitchener Rangers
5’11, 159lb - NJ Rockets U16
Bednarik is a highly-skilled, 2-way center who played big-minutes skating up this season for the NJ Rockets U16 team. He’s got a strong, powerful, skating base with great edge control that allows him to drive through contact and get pucks to the net. His feet are quick and he’s got dynamic hands which make him a nightmare to contain off the rush. His vision and ability to make plays at top speed allow him to generate chances off both the rush and the cycle, and he’s got the strength to win 50/50 battles all over the ice.
Why we like the pick
Picking kids off the NTDP is always a risky move, but we think Kitchener was smart with this selection. Bednarik has already proven the ability to dominate against older players and he’s arguably one of the most junior-ready Americans in the draft-class. His heavy, 2-way game gives him tremendous versatility up-and down a junior lineup and his hockey sense and dynamic play give him great offensive upside long-term. If the pieces come together for him next year with the Program, his NHL draft stock could rise very quickly. On the flipside, if he finds himself log-jammed behind a talented group of forwards on the NTDP, a bigger role in Kitchener may quickly start to sound very appealing.
Erik Kald - Defenseman
8th Round 160th Overall - Flint Firebirds
6’0” 190lb - NJ Avalanche U15
Kald is a powerful, 2-way defenseman who can play in all situations. He’s got a balanced technical skillset that makes him tough to play against, and he’s just consistent making plays in all 3 zones. He’s got good feet and hands for his size and is effective at escaping pressure and transitioning pucks up ice. He uses his feet to stay square to the play off the rush and his long reach and physical strength allow him to control play below the dots and around his net.
Why we like the pick
Kald’s ceiling may not be as high as some of the other players on the list, but part of that is that he already plays a pretty mature and consistent game. His style lends itself well to junior hockey, and once he adjusts to the pace of play, we like the versatility that he can add to the backend of a roster. He’s a player who seems to embrace whatever role he is in and his natural leadership is apparent shift-to-shift. If he does make the decision to come up north, the Firebirds should be able to get a lot of value out of a late 8th round pick.
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