OHL Season Preview: 5 NHL Draft-Eligible Breakout Candidates To Monitor This Season

The start of the 2024-25 OHL season signifies not solely one other thrilling yr of junior hockey but in addition the start of the 2025 NHL Draft season. The highest junior improvement hockey league on this planet is as soon as once more anticipated to cleared the path in showcasing a powerful group of prospects for the upcoming draft.

Everybody already is aware of to be careful for Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Malcolm Spence, and Jake O’Brien, as these 5 gamers have proven the early potential of being high 20 picks within the upcoming draft.

Nonetheless, there are a plethora of different first-year draft-eligible gamers who have not been talked about sufficient and could possibly be in for breakout seasons in 2024-25.

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Under now we have 5 gamers who junior hockey followers are going to wish to maintain observe of all through the season.

Soo Greyhounds – Brady Martin – Heart

First on our gamers to maintain observe of is the Soo Greyhounds’ third-overall choice within the 2023 OHL Precedence Choice, Brady Martin.

Martin primarily performed a third-line position for the Greyhounds in 2023-24 and recorded 10 objectives and 28 factors in 52 video games. He at instances was overshadowed by his teammate Travis Hayes who outproduced him with 35 factors, nevertheless it was nonetheless a strong first yr for the Elmira, Ontario native.

Brady bought an early begin to his draft season winning gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Canada this past August. He was held and not using a purpose however tallied 4 assists and displayed his gifted particular person skillset to assault and deke round defenders one-on-one, and physicality on the forecheck.

Related: Jack Nesbitt & The Windsor Spitfires Spoil Saginaw’s Banner Raising Night in OHL’s 2024-25 Season Opener

Sault Ste. Marie has misplaced many key items to their offense from final season. Martin can have each alternative to let his offensive abilities flourish and be relied upon to drive the offense for his group within the upcoming season.

The supporting forged round him ranks common, however that additionally means it is a chance for him to cleared the path and present that he’s a play driver.

Kitchener Rangers – Luca Romano – Heart/Proper Wing

Luca Romano was teammates with Martin on the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. His popping out occasion was a bit extra noticeable.

The Kitchener Ranger’s second-year ahead recorded three objectives on the summer time match, however he created loads of offense and seemed like a participant prime for a breakout season.

Romano’s promoting level is his speedy but agile skating potential, above-average imaginative and prescient, and puck dealing with. He understands the right way to management the tempo of play with the puck, slowing as much as permit his teammates to catch as much as him, or cost previous aggressive defenders.

It is a related scenario in Kitchener for Luca as it’s for Martin in Sault Ste. Marie. Kitchener’s high producers from final season have both moved on to the skilled stage or have been traded (Carson Rehkopf). Because of this Romano will probably be on the market to start out each powerplay and each time the group wants a purpose, the teaching workers will look in his path.

Related: Five OHL Players Feature in Bob Mackenzie’s Preseason Top-20 NHL Draft Prospects

Barrie Colts – Kashawn Aitcheson – Left Defenseman

Barrie Colts third-year defenseman, Kashawn Aitcheson, barely missed eligibility for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by 5 days. He has already obtained some hype from scouting shops like Draft Prospects Hockey and Each day Faceoff, however be careful for the rugged defenseman to doubtlessly be a sneaky late first-rounder in 2025.

The scouting neighborhood took discover of Aitcheson through the IIHF Beneath-18 Males’s World Championship this previous spring. He completed second on the group in plus/minus (plus-9) amongst defensemen on the best way to profitable the gold medal.

He is a no-nonsense sort of defenseman. Aitcheson is assertive with every little thing he does on the ice. He closes gaps rapidly and eliminates his man from the play utilizing his physique and can stick up for his teammates any likelihood he will get, evident from his 126 penalty minutes final season.

Kashawn performs extra bodily than Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder Ben Danford, however consider him when contemplating what sort of participant the Barrie Colts defender will probably be shifting ahead. These cellular defensemen with a imply facet are coming again, and NHL groups will take these gamers excessive within the draft.

Oshawa Generals – Owen Griffin – Heart

Oshawa Generals’ sixth general decide within the 2023 OHL Precedence Choice, Owen Griffin, scored solely two objectives in 82 mixed common season and playoff video games. Nonetheless, he was sheltered loads final season because of the expertise on Oshawa’s roster.

The Markham, Ontario native had a terrific pre-season, main Oshawa with 4 objectives and 7 factors. His talent stage to be an affect participant on the OHL stage has by no means been a query mark. The priority was his measurement. However Griffin displayed strong development final season to not be scared and embrace contact with and with out the puck.

Related: London & Oshawa Announced As Host Cities For The 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Griffin is a inventive puck handler who can make the most of spacing within the defensive protection to create alternatives for his teammates. Play him with some extra skilled and gifted linemates and the factors will begin to rise in 2024-25.

The 5-foot-10 Generals centerman ought to see a extra elevated position inside Oshawa’s lineup with the departures of Connor Lockhart, Stuart Rolofs, Rasmus Kumpulainen, and Dylan Roobroeck. His skillset would pair up properly alongside Calum Ritchie and Beckett Sennecke in the event that they each return and do not make their respective NHL groups.

Peterborough Petes – Carson Cameron – Proper Defenseman

There is a quartet of 2025 NHL draft-eligible gamers to look at this season on Peterborough and the press field in final evening’s sport between the Petes versus Kingston was crammed with NHL scouts.

Related: Key Takeaways From Kingston Frontenacs 7-2 Win Over The Peterborough Petes

Aiden Younger is a powerful playmaker who transports pucks up ice effectively and may see his factors climb. Caden Taylor is a pure sniper with a knack for locating comfortable spots in between the dots to let his fast launch off. And Nico Addy is an influence ahead with a imply facet and fast palms.

However Peterborough’s thirteenth general decide in 2023, Carson Cameron, is our decide because the one who can have a coming-out season.

Cameron had a strong 16-year-old season regardless of enjoying on a Petes group that bought outplayed most nights. He was voted onto the second all-rookie team in 2023-24 and can put on an “A” for Peterborough this season.

There’s loads to love about Cameron’s sport. He is a fluid skater in all 4 instructions and strikes pucks up the ice, both by activating his ft on the breakout or with a pointy first go. He sees the ice nicely and may function as a playmaker from alongside the offensive blueline.

Lastly, he will not be pushed round, and at 6-foot-2 and almost 200 kilos, he possesses the dimensions and handedness (he shoots rights), that NHL groups will search for. A great way to explain his sport is that he is not flashy however environment friendly.

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