My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft – Part 1: 50-31

The first part of my rankings release for the 2024 NHL Draft. Just for clarification, for my top 50 ranking, I haven't included any players eligible for draft re-entry, such as Anthony Romani. This has been consistent all the way through my lists. Instead, I did a list of the top 10 draft re-entries, which can be found here.Also for clarification, this list is MY list of the top 50 OHL prospects, as if I were drafting for my own team. In other words, this isn't a list of where I THINK or believe players will go, but a ranking of my own opinion on the top players eligible for this draft based on my viewings this season. If you want a draft projection and information about players outside the OHL, be sure to check out McKeens Hockey. As you may know (or not know) I am the scouting director for McKeen's and our draft guide will be released extremely soon (purchasing information is available on the linked site).In five straight drafts (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), only four players or under ranked in this range have been selected. While, I think this group is a bit better than previous years depth wise, I don't see that changing this year either. The reality is that NHL teams are using mid to late round picks on European and College bound players more often these days because they get a longer signing window in regards to their rights. Longer shot prospects take longer to develop because they have more to work on. That longer window allows them a few extra years to see how they progress before they have to hand out an ELC. Additionally, in the mid to later rounds, teams are using picks on second/third year eligible CHL players who have already shown positive growth.Without further ado, here are the players ranked 31 through 50.31. Landon Miller - Goaltender - Soo GreyhoundsI can totally see why NHL Central Scouting likes him so much (moving him ahead of Ryerson Leenders). It would be absolutely shocking to see him go unselected this year given his combination of size and athleticism. For lack of better terms, he "flashes pro tools." He's quick post to post. He's quick and agile in his crease in and out of the butterfly. He can challenge shooters and really cut down angles with his frame. It's all about consistency and exposure. The finer technical components need a lot of work. Rebound control can be erratic. He can give up some weak goals by being out of position. His play tracking needs some work, but that comes with further experience at the OHL level (given the pace increase). In a lot of ways, he's very much a blank canvas for an NHL team's development staff and that's going to be intriguing. 32. Luca Testa - Wing - Brantford BulldogsThe reality is that Testa just needs to stay healthy. I thought he was terrific in the first half of the year. Then all the injuries started to pile up and completely took him out of his rhythm. Then when he returned in the second half, he had a hard time fitting into the lineup and finding the high level of play he showed early on. I still really like the upside. I think he's a high level play creator. He's skilled with the puck. He's a high end finisher. He's worked hard to upgrade his speed and improve his off puck play. When everything is going, he's someone who can push pace and be a difference maker in transition. When it's not, as was often the case later in the year, he tends to fade to the background. I like the long term fit here as part of this young and talented Bulldogs team; he's going to develop into a very good OHL player. But, can all the components of his game come together to make him an NHL prospect? This is the type of guy you throw a late round dart on because the upside is that he can be a high end middle six type if he stays healthy and the consistency improves.33. Braydon McCallum - Center/Wing - Peterborough PetesThe switch to center late in the year (after all the deadline moves) was amazing for McCallum. Being on the puck more, it allowed him to showcase his creativity and playmaking ability, which wasn't really shown before as more of a high energy, dump and chase F1. McCallum is a real bulldog on the ice. One of the hardest working forwards in this draft class from the OHL. And he has to be given his lack of size. There's a lot of Owen Van Steensel here, and we've seen his breakout this year in North Bay. Would I commit a draft pick to McCallum right now? I'm not sure. I might want to see him perform at a consistent level from the center position all year. Is there truly NHL upside beyond being a pesky fourth line type? But, you could certainly do way worse than McCallum. He's shown improvement in a lot of areas this year, while maintaining consistent effort away from the puck.34. Chris Thibodeau - Wing - Kingston FrontenacsThibodeau is definitely a favourite of some members of the amateur scouting community. I've seen him in some top 100's. I can see why. I love the pace that he plays at. He has an attacking mentality despite being on the smaller size. He can keep the puck on a string at full speed and he manipulates traffic well to create time/space for himself. He also has a sneaky quick release that I believe makes him a quality goal scorer in this league at some point. But the reality is that Thibodeau is a late born 2005 who still hasn't found consistency as an offensive player, who also happens to be undersized. What kind of role does he play at the NHL level? His toolset seems to scream tweener. All that said, I DO like his game and I do think there is room for him to improve physically, which would improve his odds of becoming an NHL prospect. He consistently passes the eye test even if the production isn't consistent. Just not sure that he's an NHL pick at this current time.35. Parker Von Richter - Defense - Mississauga SteelheadsA favourite of mine from last year and through this year, it pains me a bit to have PVR ranked this low. My heart wants him higher, but my head knows that his NHL upside is probably pretty limited. I just really like his defensive IQ. He consistently is in the right spot defensively. He has a great stick. He defends below the goal line well. As he gets stronger and more confident, he probably develops into one of the OHL's most physical defenders. This is a future defensive stalwart at the OHL level. Beyond that? I'm just not that confident anymore. I felt like his play with the puck plateaued throughout the year. The same errors with the puck were made at the start of the year and the end of the year, thanks to some skill limitations preventing him from cleanly exiting the zone. His first pass needs work and he needs to make quicker decisions under pressure of the forecheck. Additionally, PVR doesn't have the kind of length/mobility NHL teams are looking for these days in stay at home types. You either have to be big and mobile...or just really big. And PVR is kind of in the middle of that. Again though, I'm rooting for him and for an NHL team to see how well he thinks the game from a defensive perspective. 36. Kaden Pitre - Center - Flint FirebirdsUnfortunately injuries really limited Kaden this year, keeping him out of action in the second half. In a lot of ways, Kaden is a similar player to his brother Coulson. He’s competitive. He’s an intelligent playmaker and someone who already plays a mature two-way game. It’s really interesting. We really hear nothing about Kaden, yet his production on a rebuilding Flint team was pretty solid when he did play. It’s just tough projecting him to a pro role without seeing improvement in the second half. He’s not a “toolsy” guy. The physical and athletic attributes won’t wow you, even if he's a better skater than his brother. So then what are you left with? I could see teams looking at Kaden with a late pick in hopes that he can develop into a Scott Laughton type. Or I could see them taking a wait and see approach to see how he rebounds post injury and to see how his skills advance further.37. Ty Henry - Defense - Erie OttersI actually like Henry more than Jared Woolley, who NHL Central Scouting seems to love. The son of a former CFL defensive back, it's obvious that Ty is a very athletic young man. He's long and strong. He's a very clear stay at home defensive prospect. Keeps things simple offensively. Chips out when he needs to. But, what I think makes Henry intriguing is that he's a very solid four way mover for the type of defender he is. I also felt like his game grew by leaps and bounds over the course of the year. Saw him really gain confidence physically. He became more assertive and his strong supporting play late in the year was one of the reasons Erie was able to secure 5th in the West. I'd be very shocked if Henry wasn't drafted.38. Jared Woolley - Defense - London KnightsHad a few people text me/DM me after Woolley was ranked so aggressively by NHL Central Scouting. Firstly, Jared is not the son of former NHL defender Jason. However, he is a projectable stay at home defender at the next level. Over the course of the year, Jared’s first pass and ability to handle the forecheck did improve. He’s got size and the mobility isn’t terrible. He’s shown flashes of being physically dominant. At the end of the day, if you’re drafting Jared, you have a ton of belief in the Hunters and how they sculpt defenders. Are you hoping that he’s the next Marc Methot? For me, I don’t see a ton of upside. As such, he’s ranked lower. 39. Jack Van Volsen - Wing - Mississauga SteelheadsProbably one of the more disappointing draft prospects from the OHL this year. I had pretty high expectations for him coming into the year, but there wasn’t a ton of growth from his 16/17 year old year. He’s still got a ton of upside as an offensive player at the OHL level. But a lack of dynamic skating ability, combined with a bland skill set away from the puck give him a weak projection at the next level at the current moment. Right now, he’s mostly an off puck support piece who has the skill to make plays along the wall and finish off plays in tight. But on a lot of shifts…he’s just there. Can he learn to take the bull by the horns more? Where is that dominant player down low that we saw at the GTHL level?40. Mason Zebeski - Wing - Mississauga SteelheadsZebeski is a player with a clear identity already. Partly it’s because he’s a late born 2005, so that extra level of experience helps. However, his North/South, high energy approach will make him a coaches favourite. His versatility is valuable. That’s why he placed in the OHL coaches poll as the most underrated in the East. He’s engaged in puck pursuit. He brings physicality in all three zones. He’s shown a soft touch near the net. He’s a more than adequate skater overall. At the end of the day, what sets him apart? Doesn’t every team in the CHL have a Zebeski? He’s the kind of guy that I’d wait to see how far his offensive game can grow before biting. He continues to show marked improvement? He’s an ELC candidate as an OA. 41. Bode Stewart - Wing - Barrie ColtsAnother guy who battled injuries this year. Seemed to disrupt his development a bit. However, you can clearly see the type of player Stewart will be by the time he’s 20.