DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

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  • 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Schaeffer Gordon-Carroll (C)

    Schaeffer Gordon-Carroll

    #11 Medicine Hat Tigers. Right shot centre. 6.00 / 193

    DOB: November 26, 2008

    Gordon-Carroll projects as a hard-nosed power forward who consistently impacts the game in all three zones. His defining qualities are his pro-level puck movement, excellent one-timer execution, and quick, accurate release. He displays soft hands in tight areas and has the skill to create offense while playing through contact.

    A highly competitive player, Gordon-Carroll, applies relentless pressure in the offensive zone and forces defenders into mistakes through his tenacity and work ethic. He is willing to establish position in the blue paint, absorb punishment, and create traffic to generate scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. His effectiveness around the net is a significant asset.

    He is also a dependable penalty killer and a strong face-off performer, providing value in key defensive situations and late-game scenarios. His combination of skill, compete level, and willingness to play a physical, hard-driving style makes him a difficult player to defend against.

    At this stage, I project Gordon-Carroll as a late first-round selection with the upside to develop into a reliable second- or third-line NHL centre who can contribute to both special teams roles.

  • Game Report – Saginaw Spirit 3 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 3rd, 2026

    Game Report – Saginaw Spirit 3 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 3rd, 2026

    This matchup between the high-octane offense of the Saginaw Spirit and the winless Brampton Steelheads had the potential to be quite lopsided. However, Saginaw entered the game without a pair of draft-eligible defensemen: leading point scorer on the back end Levi Harper and 6-foot-7 shutdown defenseman Drew Roscoe.

    From the moment the puck dropped, Dima Zhilkin was all over Brampton, whether it was dancing around a defender in the offensive zone or running someone over with a massive hit in the neutral zone. Brampton was having a hard time getting set up at even strength, but then Saginaw took a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Keaton Ardagh slapped home a one-timer off a pass from Nathan Amidovski down low at the goal line, beating the goaltender far side to give Brampton the lead.

    The second period was much of the same, with Saginaw controlling possession. Halfway through the period, Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn got a 2-on-1 rush and, as the duo has done so well to start the season, made no mistake. They threaded passes back and forth before Wassilyn finished the play to tie the game.

    The Saginaw dynamic duo was not done there. Shortly after, on the power play, Wassilyn sent a pass through the slot to Zhilkin, who scored with a perfectly placed one-timer to give Saginaw the lead.

    With the clock winding down in the third period, Brampton pulled its goaltender. With a minute remaining in the game, Geno Carcone corralled a rebound and tied it, sending the game to overtime.

    Zhilkin continued creating scoring chance after scoring chance and eventually, with 30 seconds left in overtime, he scored. Once again, the goal came off a pass from Wassilyn, giving both players three points on the night. On the highlight-reel overtime winner, Zhilkin received the puck at the left faceoff dot, skated high into open ice, froze the defender with a head fake and scored from the high slot.

    The Standouts

    Saginaw’s Top Line

    The first line of the Saginaw Spirit completely dominated the game. The chemistry between Dima Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn has been incredible to watch early in the season, and that continued against Brampton.

    Zhilkin had a great game, affecting play in all three zones. Apart from scoring, he was very aggressive on the forecheck and relentless with his stick lifts, giving Brampton players all kinds of trouble. He also landed three or four massive hits in the neutral zone. His motor is one of the first things you notice when watching him. He is never standing still and is always attacking.

    In this game in particular, his edges stood out. Multiple times, Zhilkin would be against the boards with a defender on him, and the next thing you knew, he would spin off, leave the defender behind and have open ice in front of him as he barreled toward the opposing net looking to score.

    By the end of the game, Zhilkin had 12 points in six games, while Wassilyn had a staggering 13 points in six games. While the pair has received plenty of attention for their incredible start to the season, the third member of Saginaw’s top line, Dmitry Savin, deserves some recognition as well.

    Savin is an underrated part of Saginaw’s top line. He is always firing shots on net through traffic to create rebounds and has the vision to find the high-end players he plays with in stride. It might seem easy to play with such dynamic players, but Savin has been a stabilizing force on the line. If his season keeps going this way, he should hear his name called in the 2027 NHL Draft.

  • 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Maxmilian Mares (F)

    Maxmilian Mares

    #91 Rimouski Océanic. Left shot C/W. 6’6” / 231

    DOB: April 3, 2009

    September 19, 2026 vs. Baie-Comeau Drakkar

    Mares is a massive forward who was at his best in board and corner battles, where his 6’6”, 231-pound frame and long reach made him difficult to separate from the puck. He protected possession well along the walls and played a responsible defensive-zone game, using his reach effectively to take away space and disrupt opposing players.

    Mares lined up on the wing and had a relatively limited offensive impact. His feet looked heavy, particularly on his first few steps, and he lacked acceleration when trying to separate from defenders or close space. He struggled to create high-danger opportunities and, despite possessing a major size advantage, did not use it consistently to work off the walls or drive into the middle of the ice and net-front areas. At this stage, I also do not see much natural playmaking in his game, as he rarely created offense for himself or his linemates.

    Moving forward, Mares should continue to push for a larger role in Rimouski’s top six. His combination of size, reach and strength gives him intriguing upside, but becoming more assertive offensively and improving his pace will be important if he is going to establish himself as a legitimate early-round NHL Draft prospect.

  • 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Milan Sundstrom (C)

    Milan Sundstrom #24

    Nationality: Sweden – C – May 6 2009 – Ornskoldsvik, Sweden – 6’2” / 198lbs – Left Handed – MoDo Hockey (Hockey Allsvenskan)

    Milan Sundstrom is an extremely raw offensive forward whose flashes of high-end skill suggest significant NHL upside. His passing and shooting are his most impressive tools, with the ability to make crisp cross-zone passes, create scoring opportunities from difficult angles and finish with a high-quality shot. He has also shown strong puck protection along the boards and a willingness to use his size and physicality to win possession. At his best, Sundstrom can take over shifts through his offensive skill, with his overtime goal against Slovakia providing a strong example of his top-end speed and ability to attack through multiple defenders. His offensive instincts and ability to create plays are clearly present, and there are legitimate flashes of a first-line NHL player within his game.

    However, Sundstrom’s current game is defined as much by its inconsistencies as its high-end flashes. His effort level, defensive awareness and positioning are significant concerns, with repeated instances of failing to track back, losing assignments and reacting slowly to developing plays. His upright posture and passive skating contribute to these issues, while his tendency to lunge rather than establish proper body positioning can leave him vulnerable defensively. These deficiencies have been particularly evident against stronger competition, where he has struggled to consistently impact the game away from the puck. Sundstrom’s offensive tools are too intriguing to overlook, but there is a substantial amount of development required before they can consistently translate at the professional level.

    If he can improve his skating, defensive habits and overall engagement, his ceiling is considerably higher than his current level of play suggests.

  • 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Bosse Meijer (C)

    Bosse Meijer #16

    Nationality: Sweden – C – December 17, 2008 – Vasteras, Sweden – 5’10” / 168lbs – Left Handed – Frolunda HC (SHL)

    Bosse Meijer is an extremely skilled, playmaking forward whose skating and hockey IQ immediately stand out. He is an excellent skater with high-end speed, fluid edge work and the ability to change direction quickly, allowing him to consistently create separation and stay involved in the play. His hockey sense is equally impressive, as he reads plays extremely well, finds open ice and consistently makes himself available for the puck. Meijer is an excellent passer, particularly on the rush, and looks more naturally suited as a playmaker than a pure goal scorer. He is also an aggressive forechecker who uses his skating and work rate to pressure opponents into turnovers. Despite his smaller frame, he competes hard physically and does a good job battling larger players along the boards, while his puck protection allows him to maintain possession under pressure. He has also shown strong shooting mechanics and a dangerous one-timer, although he does not shoot frequently enough yet to fully evaluate that part of his game.

    The biggest question surrounding Meijer is how his 5’10”, 168-pound frame will translate against NHL competition. He already competes well against bigger players, but the physical demands of the NHL will be significantly greater, and adding strength without sacrificing his skating will be important. There are otherwise relatively few obvious deficiencies in his game from the games evaluated. He tracks back reliably and shows the awareness to contribute defensively, giving him a legitimate two-way profile despite his offensive strengths. His offensive ceiling will likely depend on whether he can continue developing his shooting and become more of a threat to score rather than relying primarily on his playmaking. If he can add strength while maintaining his elite skating and IQ, Meijer has the potential to develop into a top-six NHL forward; otherwise, his skill set could translate into a strong bottom-six role

  • Blackhawks vs Sabres game preview

    Blackhawks vs Sabres game preview

    It’s only the third game of the season for the Blackhawks and it already feels like a must win game.

    After losing both of their first two games by wide margins, 5-2 to Vegas and 6-0 to Utah, fans are worried that this will be another bottom of the league season.

    Players, coaches, and the GM all publicly said that playoffs are the expectation this season, and being at the bottom of the league is no longer an option, leaving fans and media with high expectations.

    This is the last game before the home opener vs St. Louis on Tuesday, and if the Blackhawks hit the United Center ice 0-3, the reception might not be so warm.

    Who’s in, who’s out

    Spencer Knight gets the start tonight. Arvid Soderblom by no means played bad against Utah, although he did let in six goals, but the team as a whole played miserably and did not give him a chance whatsoever.

    Blashill has resorted to similar lines from training camp. Regardless of how tonight goes, keeping consistent lines is key until Connor Bedard returns. There is some bad news, however, Bowen Byram was not one the ice during morning. (Via Ben Pope on X)

    Via Matthew Fairburn on X, Bowen Byram won’t play tonight because he is tending to a family matter.

    Blackhawks projected lines:

    Kantserov – Nazar – Kane

    Bertuzzi – Frondell – Teravainen

    Donato – Moore – Lardis

    Smith – Greene – Greenway

    *Defenceman all rotating

    Both Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski will make their season debuts tonight, as confirmed by Blashill. Korchinski in particular had a really impressive camp and preseason. I feel he should have been in the opening night lineup, better late than never.

    Sam Rinzel will be scratched tonight, no surprise, as he has been subpar at best to start this season and could really use a reset.

    Sabres projected lines:

    Norris – Thompson – Doan

    Benson – Ostlund – Quinn

    Krebs – Mcleod – Helenius

    Kulich – Carrick – Malenstyn

    Dahlin – Samuelsson

    Power – Zellweger

    Grzelcyk – Crevier

    Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

  • Game Report – London Knights 4 vs North Bay Battalion 1 – October 2nd, 2026

    Game Report – London Knights 4 vs North Bay Battalion 1 – October 2nd, 2026

    The London Knights extended their perfect start to the young OHL season on Friday night, securing a 4-1 victory over the North Bay Battalion.

    Marcus Nordmark opened the scoring for London, firing one home from the slot to notch his first-ever OHL goal. North Bay quickly responded when Evgeny Dubrovtsev tapped one home off a great set-up feed from Kam Hodgson.

    The Knights looked to be a different team in the third, seemingly finding their game after being pushed around for much of the opening 40 minutes. Thomas Zocco and Jaxon Cover both found the back of the net early in the frame before Cohen Bidgood eventually sealed it with an empty-net goal.

    The Knights improved to 4-0 on the young season and will take on the Flint Firebirds at home on Sunday afternoon.

    Standouts:

    Cooper McAslan (London Knights | 2027 NHL Draft Eligible)

    One of the most complete performances of the day, McAslan was a factor in all three zones and a constant disruption for the Battalion. He consistently clogged passing lanes, using his active stick and body positioning to kill plays before they could develop. Willing to push the pace, McAslan utilized his fluid skating to actively join the rush and seamlessly pivot along the offensive blue line to carve out space. Keeping his head up to survey options, his vision was rewarded when he picked up the secondary assist on the game’s opening goal.

    Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion | 2027 NHL Draft Eligible)

    Arguably the best player on the ice tonight, Warren put on a dominant display. Having tracked him at the U17s and the Hlinka, his offensive upside was already clear, but what stood out most tonight was his poise under pressure. He never panicked, consistently taking that extra half-second to let a seam open up, using his hands and edges to navigate into high-danger areas, and anticipating plays before they materialized. While his frame still leaves a bit to be desired, Warren delivered a stellar performance that leaves plenty of reason to be excited for his development this season.

    Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights | VAN 2025 47th OVR )

    Stepping up in a major way, Medvedev was the backbone of London’s victory tonight, helping the Knights extend their win streak to four games. He turned aside 38 of 39 shots, weathering a barrage that featured numerous high-danger opportunities and a plethora of breakaways. The 2025 47th overall pick put his high-end lateral movement and lightning-fast reflexes on full display. For a London squad with Memorial Cup hopes, Medvedev will be a vital piece of the puzzle, and if this performance is any indication, the Knights are in good hands.

    Oskar Konobelj (North Bay Battalion | 2027 NHL Draft Eligible)

    While not the flashiest player on the ice, Konobelj did an exceptional job of disrupting London’s rhythm, most notably through his physical presence. Standing 6-foot-4, he uses his frame effectively, but what truly elevates his projection is his surprising mobility and edge work for a player of his size. This tracks with his reliable, albeit quiet, showing at the U18 Division IA tournament for a fifth-place Slovenia squad. While his offensive upside remains limited, his defensive utility and physical foundation could be enough to hear his name called in June.

  • Post Draft Prospect Review: James Hagens (BOS | 7th OVR 2025)

    The Boston Bruins 2025 7th Overall pick is set to play his first full season in the NHL. He made his debut last season on April 12th and ended his 2025-26 year with 5 games for the Bruins, and recorded his first career point. Throughout the offseason, Hagens made Boston home base after the World Championships wrapped up; he spent his summer at the Warrior Ice Arena, sharpening his skills, building strength and adapting to the NHL’s pace. Despite some mixed criticism, James Hagens was added to the Prospect Showcase roster, as it was seen as pointless by some and an opportunity to make a statement by others; he would indeed make a statement. He dominated with 6 Goals in just two games, with 4 of them coming in one game. The projected lineup for the Boston Bruins has James Hagens on the 3rd line, with recently extended Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov. The “cub line” has skated and practiced together throughout training camp and preseason, and has impressed so far. Bruins coach Marco Sturm said, “When he came last year, I felt like he was just a little kid. He’s still a kid, he looks like it in the face, but on the ice, it just feels a little bit different.” I expect him to start on the 3rd line and, near the halfway point, potentially sooner, move up to the top 6, I believe he is already there, but Boston is notorious for their patient, careful deployment with prospects in their system.

    Just a few years ago, James Hagens was considered by many, to be the clear 1st Overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, even with the buzzword “generational” thrown around loosely. At 15 Years old, Hagens made his USHL debut and ended that season with 17G and 40P in 31GP, that is what initially sparked such high expectations. The next season, he would officially separate himself from everyone else, putting up a remarkable 39G and 102P for the US National U18 Team, and did not only perform their, but also scored 18G and 47P in the USHL. Going into his first NCAA season with the Boston College Eagles, playing on the 1st line with Washington Capitals prospect Ryan Leonard, along with Gabe Perreault, the New York Rangers 23rd overall pick, the expectation was massive. As the season began and went on, his PPG pace was considered disappointing; as good as that is, he was not meeting those 1st overall expectations, which caused him to begin slipping down the rankings. He finished his draft-eligible season with 11G and 37P in 37GP. Even with a very
    strong showing at the World Juniors, it wasn’t enough, as he fell to the Boston Bruins at 7th overall. Although he did slip and have critiques about being a top-3 pick, falling to 7th was surprising to see, and Bruins fans were ecstatic about the selection.

    Last season, he returned to the NCAA for his second year with Boston College. With the loss of many huge pieces of the team, Hagens was the new leader and the guy they turned to for a big portion of their offence. Despite the team’s struggles, James Hagens dominated. While maintaining his elite vision and playmaking ability, he added a new dangerous element to his game: his shot, scoring 23 Goals in 37 games, along with 24 assists and 47 total points. I am extremely high on James Hagens; the amount of pure skill and natural talent is incredible. His skating ability is so unique, and his vision is almost second to none. I think he can be a 90P+ player for the Boston Bruins, and I cannot wait to watch his NHL journey.

  • Blackhawks vs Mammoth game preview

    Blackhawks vs Mammoth game preview

    After a forgetful game one in Vegas on Tuesday, the Blackhawks are in Utah and look to get back on track. It felt like a rivalry in the making last season. Every time these two teams played it was chippy and emotional on both sides.

    It’s only the second game of the season and we have already seen three different forward lineups. Andrew Mangiapane will not play on the rest of the road trip after getting hurt in the second period vs Vegas, Teuvo Teravainen will slot in as a replacement.

    Projected Blackhawks lines:

    Bertuzzi – Frondell – Kane

    Teravainen – Kantserov – Lardis

    Donato – Nazar – Moore

    Smith – Greene – Greenway

    Vlasic – Byram

    Kaiser – Levshunov

    Cole – Rinzel

    Korchinski – Del Mastro*

    Knight

    *Korchinski and Del Mastro took reps in practice, it is unknown whether they play tonight or not.

    These lines do make more sense than what Jeff Blashill put out in Vegas. Frondell gets his chance at first line center, where he will play with a distributor in Patrick Kane, and a puck retriever in Tyler Bertuzzi.

    Teravainen goes from healthy scratch to the second line, giving the Blackhawks more playmaking options. Teravainen is playing with two shooters in Kantserov and Lardis. A defensively reliable second line with speed and two players who can score.

    The third line is all speed with Ryan Donato, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore. Bumping Donato out of the top six is probably the right decision as he is best used as a depth scoring option.

    The fourth line stays intact, as it was easily their best trio on Tuesday.

    Watch for Bowen Byram to have a bounce back game. Byram looked great in the preseason, but the nerves of game one got to him. “I just think we weren’t necessarily dialed in on what we had to do, and it showed in the first…30, 45 minutes of the game” (via Ben Pope on X)

    The key for Chicago is simple hockey. They tried to be way too fancy in Vegas, firing blind passes up the middle. If the Blackhawks can make the short, simple plays tonight, they will see more success.

    Utah is a team with a lot of speed who will be looking to attack off the rush, something the Blackhawks struggled to defend against Vegas on Tuesday.

    “You either have to be right down on the puck down the walls or you have to be inside the dots. If you’re in between at all, which we were a couple of times, they fly out of the zone and it’s going to be a 2-on-1 instantaneously.” Jeff Blashill on defending the rush (Via Ben Pope on X).

    Projected Mammoth lines:

    Keller – Schmaltz – Trocheck

    Lee – Cooley – Guenther

    Crouse – Hayton – McBain

    O’Brien – Stenlund – But

    Sergachev – Weeger

    Schmidt – Marino

    Simashev – Peeke

    Vejmelka

  • Michael’s Monthly: September

    Michael’s Monthly: September

    Welcome to Michael’s Monthly—a monthly report that goes over all the prospects and games I’ll cover in a given month.

    Sudbury at Kingston (Pre-Season)

    First game of the year was a neutral site pre-season game in Newmarket, ON. Here are the players I felt had an impact.

    Genc Ula, D (Sudbury Wolves):

    Ula had a rough start to his game, taking two bad penalties in the 2nd period and instigating Pobezal for the duration of the game. Fortunately, his antics eventually resulted in a power play for Sudbury. The power play ended with a shorthanded goal before Ula scored a rocket from the point, finishing the game with 1 goal and 1 assist. He is a violent defender with a strong slap shot and a temper that often lands him in the penalty box. His play style reminds me of Radko Gudas.

    Kingston Harris, C (Sudbury Wolves):

    Before this game my knowledge of Harris was limited, but his skill tonight really put him on my radar. He is a fast skater and hits everything that moves. From the moment the puck dropped Harris was dialed in. He ended up scoring Sudbury’s first goal on the power play. He even had a bit of penalty-kill time, which was Sudbury’s bread and butter as they killed off all five of Kingston’s power plays. He currently reminds me of Seth Jarvis, but only time will tell if he has similar potential.

    Aleks Kulemin, C (Kingston Frontenacs):

    Despite not getting on the score sheet much at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Kulemin impressed me with his 200-foot game. After getting to watch him in person, he has some good offensive skills, scoring on a breakaway quickly into the game. He reminds me a lot of his father, Nikolai Kulemin, who I grew up watching.

    Matthew Henderson, D (Kingston Frontenacs):

    Henderson got to work right, away putting up 2 assists on Kingston’s first two goals of the game. His speed, good breakout passes, and ability to step up to stop the rush are all factors that contributed to why he was my player of the game. It is clear why Frontenacs fans are excited to see him play this year.

    Windsor at London (Home Opener)

    Attending London’s home opener was incredible. Especially knowing that it is one of the OHL’s most historic franchises. The home opener was a mad house. There was not a single empty seat and the fans were as loud as ever. This game was a slow boil, but by the end of the third, the tea pot was screaming. London had a failed challenge on Windsor’s controversial and late tying goal, resulting in Windsor receiving almost a full power play for overtime. In the end the Knights found a way to make everyone go home happy after a wonderful night of hockey. Let’s go over the standouts.

    Cooper McAslan, D (London Knights):

    McAslan had a bumpy start to the game and looked nervous in the 1st period. As the time passed you could see his confidence grow with every shift. A big block on the penalty kill, a good pivot out of danger, and a great stick lift to stop a high danger shot. In the 3rd his offense came to life. A good rush up the ice, and a shot on goal. He made some mistakes reaching for pucks off the rush, but he improved thus far. In overtime he made a huge block that could have gone in and scored the game winner off a tip from Barch. If he can learn to settle his nerves and be more patient he could be a 1st round talent in this year’s NHL Draft. So far he reminds me of Brian Campbell.

    Kane Barch, F (London Knights):

    Barch immediately caught my eye with his defensive reads and offensive skill set. He was already where he needed to be both offensively and defensively. Always succeeding at the little things; Slot passes, puck battle wins, holding the puck when no lane was available, hitting his teammate full speed with a crisp pass. He was on his game, and was rewarded with assisting on the OT winner. Number 10 in London has caught my eye, and I’m sure others will begin to watch him very closely.

    Ty Bergeron, C (Windsor Spitfires):

    Despite being held off the score sheet, Bergeron had a nice game. He made several good offensive plays including driving the net, good forecheck, and a nice reverse hit to keep the cycle going. I was impressed by him at Hlinka and I believe he will adapt to the OHL very quickly. However, for right now I have him sitting in the late 2nd round.

    Luca Santala, C (Kitchener Rangers):

    I’m glad I was able to see Luca live in London before he was traded. He had a solid game making good moves to enter the zone, and good passes to teammates. Everything except a point. I’m not too worried as he’s already on the score sheet with Kitchener. His play reminds me of James Neal.

    Sarnia at Peterborough (Novotný’s Return)

    Man did the Petes come to play in this one. Led by their returning superstar, Adam Novotný, who put up 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points. Although Sarnia scored first, the Petes quickly took over the game. Sarnia only scored again during the power play.

    Matthew Perreault, D (Peterborough Petes):

    Even though he did not end up on the score sheet, he impressed me with a +3 and 5 shots on goal. He quarterbacked the power play well and was a key part in getting the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone. A late birthday for this year’s draft, Perreault still has lots of room to grow, but I’m excited to see him develop. Overall, I really enjoyed his performance.

    Easton Walos, F (Sarnia Sting):

    Easton was one of the four Sarnia players that I had my eye on, and he did not disappoint. He continued his hot start to the season by getting two power play goals. However, he will need to show off more than just his powerful shot if he wants to climb the draft ladder.

    Adrian Sgro, D (Sarnia Sting):

    Sgro isn’t eligible for this year’s draft but it is no surprise why he was taken #4 at the OHL draft this summer. He moves well, has an active stick and doesn’t shy away from being physical. He made two terrible mistakes, but he was still impressive. Adrian Sgro might be a name to remember when the U18s come later around later in the season.

    Brantford at Oshawa (Battle for the East)

    The top two teams in the East Division competed on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, it was an excellent game of hockey. Oshawa has had a hot start going 3-1, and Brantford one of few remaining undefeated teams (4-0). The game however, really opened up in the 2nd period and Brantford scored 4 straight goals. Oshawa tried to fight back but couldn’t make up for it, losing 5-3.

    Kaden McGregor, C (Brantford Bulldogs) :

    The former OHL 1st overall pick has shined so far with Brantford this season. Back to back goals in this game, one on the power play and one 5-on-5. Playing 2nd line with Němec gives him a speedy option on his wing, helping him get off to a hot start with 6 points in 5 games. I would like him to support the defense a bit more but there is no denying his skill and IQ. A late 1st or early 2nd rounder for me personally at the moment. You can read more about him in Stuart’s weekly three stars article here.

    Adam Němec, LW (Brantford Bulldogs):

    Němec really caught my eye at Hlinka. His speed and shot are a deadly combo. He has struggled to score in the OHL but with 4 assists in 5 games he is still putting up points. Once he gets one I am sure the goals will start flooding in, but for now he is still doing his part both 5-on-5 and on the power play. He will need to do more to cement himself as a projected 1st rounder.

    David Buchman, D (Brantford Bulldogs):

    Buchman had a very solid game, I can see why he is playing first pair minutes for Brantford. He has good speed, good hockey IQ and strong playmaking abilities. While he only had 1 assists on the power play, he leads all Draft Eligible defenseman in the OHL with 6 points in 5 games. He also did a good job taking the puck away and tying up players in front. Just like McGregor, a late 1st or early 2nd rounder for me right now.

    Tyler Hinde, LW (Oshawa Generals):

    Due to Hinde receiving a fighting major and an instigating misconduct, he was out for majority of the game. I may not have seen much of him but sticking up for your teammate is a great first impression. Excited to see more of him this year.

    Sam Roberts, D (Oshawa Generals):

    The youngest Roberts brother did not disappoint. He shot out of a cannon right out the gate with a nice shot and a good hit. He did take a delay of game penalty which resulted in the games first goal, however, he got an assist after some hard work in the offensive zone later on in the 2nd period. If Sam can find the scoresheet more he might be hearing his name come draft day in June.

    Outside the OHL

    Players outside the OHL that have caught my eye this month.

    Max Calce, C (Alder Mannheim, DEL):

    Calce is by far the largest jump in my rankings. He’s had an incredibly hot start. With good skating, IQ and tenacity, Calce doesn’t quit when he steps on the ice. He steals pucks on the forecheck and creates scoring chances out of thin air. His early highlight pack speaks for itself as does his production. He has entered my top 10 but will need to be consistent to get in the top 5 by June.

    Sergei Skvortsov, LW (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL):

    Skvortsov has been the talk of the town thanks to his elite skating. Many others have him in the top 3 of their rankings. It’s hard to disagree after watching him in the KHL. There is some concern with his defensive play but with limited viewings, it’s hard to say exactly where he is this early in the season. That being said, he reminds me of a young Leon Draisaitl.

    Paul Sintschnig, F (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL):

    Sintschnig has had my eye for a while now, going all the way back to last year. I’m glad to report he has adjusted to the QMJHL very well. He continues to develop his game of getting the puck and passing it to teammates in the slot or just driving the net with it himself.

    Michal Hartl, LW (HC Kometa Brno, Czechia):

    I really like Hartl at Hlinka and I’m pleased to say he has been doing well to start the year. He forechecks well and wins puck battles with his use of an active stick. He is a good skater and competes well. I would like for him to hit more on the forecheck but a good start none the less.

    Andrei Pustovoy, RW (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL):

    Pustovoy has been making quite the noise in the KHL thanks to his high IQ and compete level, he’s making quite the noise in the KHL. Despite being pointless in 9 games, he is doing all the little things very well. If he can find a way to start scoring, he might be an underrated candidate for the top 10. He reminds of Andrew Ladd.