DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: OHL

  • Michael Tang vs Slovakia – Aug 7, 2026

    Michael Tang vs Slovakia – Aug 7, 2026

    Tang had about as impressive a performance as a goal scorer can have without actually scoring a goal. On one particularly impressive play, he beat a defender to the inside before driving the net and getting a shot on goal. He then attempted to bat his own rebound out of mid-air with a backhand, cross-body swing, but hit the post.

    On the power play, Tang beat a defender with a toe-drag at the face-off dot before releasing a powerful wrist shot that beat the goaltender high far side, sending the water bottle flying. The goal was ultimately called back for goaltender interference.

    This was by far Tang’s best game of the tournament. While his patience with the puck and ability to beat defenders with his hands allowed him to create offense, I would like to see him move his feet more when he has possession in the offensive zone. Adding more mobility could bring a more dynamic element to his cycle game.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Jean-Cristoph Lemieux (C)

    Jean-Cristoph Lemieux:
    Projection: Third Line Center
    Strengths: Ability to drive the net, Hockey IQ, Puck control
    Weaknesses: Lack of elite attributes, Size and strength

    Analysis:
    When it’s all said and done, Jean-Cristoph Lemieux might be the best
    all-around undersized forward in this draft. He has a special ability
    to drive the net and find loose pucks with ease. He has a very good
    hockey IQ to read plays as they develop to be at the right spot at the
    right time. In tight, he is very good at controlling or shooting the
    puck and making quick decisions under pressure as well. He possesses a
    great amount of poise with the puck on his stick too, not rushing or
    throwing the puck away when under pressure as he looks for the best
    play available to him.  He isn’t a liability defensively and does what
    he is meant to do. He uses his body the best he can to maintain or
    recover the puck. In all honesty, JC Lemieux is an overall very good
    early pick.

    His only downsides are that he is a jack of all trades with nothing
    that jumps out as being elite, and his size. Without an elite
    attribute to hone in on and perfect, it’s going to be rather difficult
    for him to fill a meaningful role in the pro game. It also doesn’t
    help that he’s “small” for a centerman, being only six feet and ~187
    pounds; he needs to bulk up and gather some strength if he wants to
    continue playing center effectively at the next level.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Lucas Ambrosio (LD)

    Lucas Ambrosio:
    Projection: Bottom Pair Defence
    Strengths: Defensive attributes, Hockey IQ, Mobility
    Weaknesses: Offensive impact, Straight line speed, Active stick in
    defensive zone

    Analysis:

    Lucas Ambrosio will become an excellent defensive defenceman for
    whichever NHL team drafts him. The biggest thing that stands out in
    his game is how effective he is as a defender. He utilizes his size to
    his advantage, whether that be battling along the boards or in front
    of the net, defending the rush with his extreme reach, or sacrificing
    his body to block shots. His size helps him become a super-effective
    defender in any situation. His hockey IQ is amazing too, reading and
    anticipating plays with ease to disrupt passing lanes or interrupt a
    pass entirely, jumping up on his assignment when needed, and even
    joining the rush or carrying the puck himself out of his own zone when
    necessary. It helps that he is very agile for a guy of his size, using
    good edges and lower-body strength to maneuver around the ice with
    relative ease. His passing is also a strong suit of his, being able to
    break out or find open teammates in the offensive zone with crisp and
    clean passes.

    The biggest flaw in his game for me would be his offensive impact.
    Apart from joining the rush or pinching in the offensive zone when
    appropriate, he doesn’t provide a whole bunch in terms of offence. He
    also needs to work on his straight-line speed, as he’s not the
    quickest at being able to retrieve dumps in pucks or blow by defenders
    if he chooses to rush the puck himself. My only schtick with his
    defensive game is that I wish he used his long reach more often when
    keeping opponents to the perimeter and taking away passing lanes. He
    does it occasionally, but he would be even more effective than he is
    now if he did it constantly.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ethan Belchetz (LW)

    Ethan Belchetz is a hulking winger for the Windsor Spitfires whose physicality and upside could make his potential in the NHL higher than his production in the OHL this season would indicate. His overwhelming size and strength make him a threat at the OHL level in the offensive zone, winning puck battles with ease and consistently getting to high-danger spots while fighting through checks. 

    Belchetz has great hands and vision with the puck, beating opponents one-on-one and taking advantage of his wingspan and frame to capitalize on chances in those dangerous areas. While his foot speed leaves something to be desired, he has decent top end speed once he gets going and is capable of making plays at a high pace and not looking out of place while playing with high skill linemates. He’s hard nosed and knows how to take advantage of his strength, proving himself as an elite net-front presence and not backing down from physical challenges. He’s battled inconsistency throughout this season, but he’s an athletic beast who could gain confidence and produce more as he grows into his frame and continues to develop his offensive acumen. He’s a fairly safe bet to become a heavy and effective NHL winger who should go in the top half of the first round.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ryan Roobroeck (LW)

    Ryan Roobroeck #25, F 

    Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

    6’4”, 215 lbs, DOB 2007-09-25

    In an overtime loss, Roobroeck was still one of the most consistent offensive threats of the game. He was dangerous whenever he has possession in the offensive zone, opening the scoring with 2 goals.  Beyond the goals, he generated several quality chances through his ability to protect the puck along the boards and extend possessions against the London defenders. He was effective on zone entries, using his size and reach to drive wide before cutting toward dangerous ice. His playmaking also stood out as he frequently drew defenders toward him and created passing lanes for teammates, consistently found ways to create offense and remained engaged for all three periods. Defensively, Roobroeck showed a mature commitment away from the puck. He was active on the backcheck, often tracking deep into the defensive zone to support the defensemen and help break up developing plays. His stick positioning was effective in taking away passing options through the neutral zone, and he used his physical strength to win battles along the boards. Several times throughout the game, he transitioned quickly from defense to offense after forcing turnovers or recovering loose pucks. 

    While his offensive skill remains his defining trait, his performance highlighted continued growth in his two-way game. He competed hard in all three zones, maintained a strong work ethic, and demonstrated the awareness and effort level necessary to be trusted in key situations. 

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 7

    Hockey IQ: 7

    Character: 7

    Physicality: 7

    Defensive Play: 6

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Caleb Malhotra (C)

    Caleb Malhotra had a meteoric rise up draft boards this year, finishing as one of the top scorers and leading forwards on a loaded veteran Bulldogs squad. As an OHL rookie, Malhotra showed impressive two-way acumen and smarts, earning progressively more ice time throughout the season and finishing as a key cog on the top powerplay unit and as a top six centre who produced away from his elite teammates. 

    Malhotra’s ability to protect the puck under pressure and through physical play is high-end, allowing him to win puck battles along the boards and show patience looking for the optimal play. He’s very strong on the puck and has the quick hands to capitalize on his fast reads and high hockey IQ, making him a dual threat and a versatile offensive zone player. His awareness at both ends is strong and his physicality is high level, making him a safe bet to remain at centre as a professional. While he has decent feet and is a solid straight-line skater, Malhotra’s calling card is his ability to make quick decisions and play at a fast pace despite a lack of breakaway speed. He is the most well-rounded centre in the class and a strong candidate to go within the first ten picks of the 2026 Draft.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Nathan Amidovski (C)

    Amidovski was a noticeable offensive presence driven by his puck skill and skating. He handled the puck confidently in motion, attacking defenders one-on-one and creating space with quick lateral touches. His speed and edgework allowed him to carry the puck effectively through the neutral zone and generate controlled entries, while his offensive awareness helped him find soft ice and stay involved in possession. At times, he leaned too heavily into high-risk plays, holding onto the puck or forcing passes into traffic, but he consistently re-engaged and looked to create other plays. Amidovski’s defensive game is still a work in progress. His positioning off puck can drift, particularly when he’s anticipating offensive opportunities. There were moments where he was late supporting down low or slow to identify coverage responsibilities. That said, his effort was not lacking; the issue is more about awareness and detail than willingness. While not a physically imposing player, Amidovski competed well enough to stay involved. He was engaged in puck battles along the boards and did not avoid contact. His competitiveness showed more through puck pursuit and offensive drive than physical intimidation. He tracked pucks actively and worked to regain possession after turnovers, which helped offset some of the risks in his game. 

    Overall, he projects as a creative, offense-driven forward whose future in rankings and play will be dependent on improving consistency, improving his off-puck habits and gaining physical strength to be more of a well-rounded threat. 

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 5

    Hockey IQ: 5

    Character: 7

    Physicality: 4

    Defensive Play: 4

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Nikita Klepov (LW) 

    Nikita Klepov had an electric rookie year at both the OHL and international levels, transitioning into a top six role with Saginaw seamlessly after playing a depth role in the USHL last season. His electric puck skills and aggressive mentality carried over from a strong Hlinka Gretzky tournament in the preseason, quickly developing chemistry with a veteran Spirit roster and producing consistently en route to leading the OHL in points. 

    An electric puck carrier and playmaker, Klepov has elite offensive instincts and an attacking, aggressive mindset that belies his average frame and strength. His ability to make defenders miss and create space for himself despite choppy strides and average foot speed is key to his offensive consistency. He also processes the game quickly, making smart, creative plays with the puck the showing the ability to fight through contact to get to high-danger areas of the offensive zone. While his frame and skating currently hold him back from making a big impact on the rush and in the defensive zone, he doesn’t shy away from physical play and his quick-strike offensive capabilities make him a threat at all times. His offensive potential at the NHL level is at a top six level, but his top-end speed and play off the puck could depress his draft stock a bit despite his high-end production. To me, he’s still firmly in the conversation as a prospect in the latter half of the first round.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Beckham Edwards (C)

    Beckham Edwards #81, F 

    Sarnia Sting

    6’2”, 184 lbs, DOB 2008-01-06

    From the opening puck drop, Edwards showed strong pace and engagement. He was consistently involved in transition play, using quick acceleration to push defenders back and create space for his linemates. A key element of his performance came at the face-off dot, where Edwards won 70% of his draws, consistently giving his team first possession. His technique was clean and decisive, showing good timing and hand speed. This strength directly contributed to the tying goal when Edwards won a neutral zone face-off cleanly back to his defenseman, who then dumped it off the stanchion, and a teammate was there to put the puck in. It was a strong example of how his work in the face-off circle can translate into immediate offensive opportunities. Offensively, Edwards demonstrated a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. Throughout the game, he positioned himself well in the offensive zone, supporting puck carriers and presenting as a passing option. His awareness without the puck was a key driver of his effectiveness, particularly on extended possessions. With the puck, Edwards played a smart, controlled game. He didn’t force high-risk plays but showed the ability to make quick, accurate decisions under pressure. His passing was crisp, and he displayed good vision, especially on cross-ice sequences and in cycling situations. On the game-winning goal, Edwards read the play developing on the power play, timing his route to exploit a gap in the defense. He received the puck and executed a confident finish, showing his patience in a high-pressure moment. The goal itself reflected his hockey IQ as much as his technical skill. Defensively, Edwards was responsible and engaged. He tracked back effectively and showed a willingness to support low in the zone, even saving a goal on the line. While not overly physical, he competed along the boards and used positioning to disrupt plays.

    Edwards projects as a reliable, intelligent forward who can contribute to key moments. His strengths lie in his awareness, decision-making, and ability to execute under pressure. His strong face-off ability adds tangible value, as seen on the tying goal. Continued development in physicality and explosiveness would further elevate his ceiling.

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 6

    Hockey IQ: 6

    Character: 6

    Physicality: 4

    Defensive Play: 5

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Alessandro Di Iorio (C) 

    Alessandro Di Iorio’s sophomore season was interrupted by a serious preseason arm injury that caused him to miss two months and halted his momentum coming into the year. What followed was a slightly underwhelming draft season, failing to improve upon his strong rookie season and missing the playoffs with a young and rebuilding Sarnia team.

    Di Iorio is a strong two-way forward, using his sturdy frame to make an impact at both ends of the ice and make his presence felt in puck battles. He’s very smart and consistently makes good decisions with the puck, allowing him to play at a high pace and slot in anywhere up and down the lineup. He’s diligent and hardworking at both ends, forechecking with energy while also staying disciplined with his positioning in the defensive zone. His production may not have popped like some anticipated this season, but he played a key depth role for Canada at both the Hlinka Gretzky and U18 World Championship tournaments, highlighting his versatility and ability to endear himself to coaches. He likely didn’t prove enough offensively to lock himself in as a first-round prospect, but his two-way acumen and hockey smarts should still land him inside the top two rounds.