Top 25 OHL Prospects – Summer of 2024

The Memorial Cup and the NHL Draft are in the rear view mirror; everyone is in summer mode. That means it is time to update my annual Top OHL prospects list.As per the usual, I'm ranking the Top 25 NHL prospects who played in the OHL this past year. 1. Sam Dickinson - San Jose SharksYes, he was the 11th overall pick, behind a few other players on this list, but Dickinson was my top rated player for the 2024 draft and I'm sticking to that ranking. I absolutely love the fit of Dickinson in San Jose's system. He gives them a strong two-way presence to build around on the back-end. I love the skating ability and I love his sense without the puck. This is a player who has really worked to understand some of his limitations on the ice and who truly understands how to best utilize his quickness as an offensive player. There's a need to add some jam to his game in the defensive end, but that should come under Dale Hunter. If he can make those improvements next year, I think he's in the NHL in 2025/26.2. Zayne Parekh - Calgary FlamesIt's certainly an interesting fit, given that Calgary already has some high end offensive defenders in the system. But at #9 this year, I think Calgary saw Parekh as the clear top player available and had to take him. I mean, how could you argue with the year that he had? Max Kaminsky winner, CHL defender of the year, and Memorial Cup winner; those are some impressive accolades. Will his defensive game need to keep improving? For sure. There will be an adjustment period for him at the next level given the open nature of Saginaw's system. However, he's such an intelligent and creative player. I think he's going to adapt just fine. 3. Beckett Sennecke - Anaheim DucksOne of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NHL Draft was the selection of Sennecke at #3 by Anaheim. But I see the reasoning. This is a team with a clear vision; they want to play heavy and they want good athletes. Sennecke's upside is immense because of how rapidly he is growing and improving. Once he fills out and is playing at over 200lbs, just how unstoppable will he be? Really, the only thing missing from his game is consistency. Adding that weight and improved conditioning should unlock that, just as it did for fellow Anaheim Duck Mason McTavish. 4. Easton Cowan - Toronto Maple LeafsThis year's Red Tilson winner (he got my vote btw), Cowan's improvement this year was remarkable. But, I suppose we should have seen this coming after the way that he finished his draft year. His play and confidence on the puck improved so much; he truly became that primary play driver. The compete level remains high and he's worked hard to improve his consistency off the puck. His play this season really helped alter the perception of his upside. When he was drafted, I thought more middle six, complementary type. Now, I think he's got top six upside.5. Dalibor Dvorsky - St. Louis BluesDvorsky came as advertised this year with Sudbury. I think one of the things that surprised me the most was his effectiveness as a three zone player. I figured that he'd be an impact offensive player with his ability to shoot the puck and his overall skill level, but I didn't expect him to be as dominant both ways as he was. This is the kind of player who is perfectly designed to play in today's game with his power and skill. I actually think that he could force his way onto the Blues roster this season with a strong camp; there's an opening there.6. Cal Ritchie - Colorado AvalancheI absolutely love Ritchie as a player. The second half Cal Ritchie, leading Oshawa to an Eastern Conference title, would have been my Red Tilson vote had he played all year. I think one of the major criticisms of his game in his draft year was the inconsistency with which he attacked and played through the middle. I saw major growth there this season. Now fully healthy, Ritchie consistently showed an ability to protect the puck through traffic, drawing in pressure to open up lanes for his teammates. He's only going to continue to improve and I think he has a chance to be a long time NHL, top six center for Colorado.7. Colby Barlow - Winnipeg JetsIt was perhaps a bit of a stagnant year for Barlow. The goal scoring ability shined through again. The two-way ability shined through again. However, he battled injuries, the Attack struggled to be a consistent power in the West, and Barlow's playmaking ability didn't really take that next step. He's still a prospect that I really like and I think he's going to be a really solid pro. But, I'm also starting to worry that what you see is what you get here. 2024/25 is going to be a big year for him to prove that he can drive play consistently and make those around him better..8. Quentin Musty - San Jose SharksReally strong year for Musty as he emerged as one of the leading scorers in the OHL. We saw positive steps forward in nearly every aspect of his game. He took greater advantage of his solid shot by shooting the puck with more conviction. He looked a step quicker and played with greater pace. His play away from the puck and physical intensity improved in consistency. It was just a really solid draft +1 for him. All eyes will be on him next year as he enters 2024/25 as one of the top candidates to win the Red Tilson. 9. Jett Luchanko - Philadelphia FlyersLoved the pick for the Flyers. Was a big Luchanko fan all season long. I think that Jett is a player just scratching the surface of his offensive ability. He's a tremendous skater, but he's not yet a dynamic carrier, so it's almost hard to see how quick he is at times. As the talent improves around him in Guelph and as he gets stronger on the puck, I think we'll see him turn into a real consistent play driver. The playmaking ability and vision are massively underrated and the IQ, intensity, and defensive awareness give him a solid floor. 10. Oliver Bonk - Philadelphia FlyersHard to argue with the kind of season Bonk had. He continued to be a strong presence defensively for London, but took his offensive production to another level. Bonk finished in the top five of defenseman scoring and was particularly effective on the powerplay. If I had told you that it was Bonk who led the league in powerplay goals by a defender, you'd probably be a little surprised. To an extent, I believe that he is altering the perception of his offensive upside at the next level. Really curious to see what his season looks like next year. Can he continue to improve his on puck skill and creativity? Can he continue to improve his skating to become one of the OHL's better transitional attackers? Philly fans should be elated.11. Liam Greentree - Los Angeles KingsThe somewhat disappointing end to his season really took some sting away from Greentree's draft stock. But, he just looked tired carrying Windsor all year and I think he ran out of steam by the time the U18's rolled around. No question, the skating needs to improve and that was obvious at the U18's. But, the hands are legit. The scoring ability is legit. He's a highly intelligent player. On top of the skating, I'd also like to see his physicality pick up a bit. If he's only going to be an average skater, the compete needs to be a major strength. The next Jason Robertson?12. Carson Rehkopf - Seattle KrakenOverall, a very strong season for Rehkopf, who emerged as one of the top flight players in the OHL. His season didn't quite finish the way that it started; no doubt he lost a bit of steam, however it was a positive step forward. He was more consistent on the puck, using his size more to his advantage to help him get to the net and play through contact. The shot is still a major weapon too and will likely be his calling card at the next level. I'm starting to see a lot of similarities between Rehkopf and the path that Owen Tippett took to the NHL. Next year, it will be about becoming one of the OHL's premier two-way players, leading his new team, Brampton, to near the top of the Eastern Conference. At least that's the next logical step IMO.13. David Goyette - Seattle KrakenThe OHL's Eddie Powers' trophy winner as the top scorer, what more can be said about Goyette's development since he was drafted two years ago? He's worked hard to become quicker. He's worked hard to become a more consistent off puck player and defensive presence. He's worked hard to be stronger on the puck and to add some bite to his game. He's ready for that next step as a pro. Does he have the physical gifts of some of the forwards ranked ahead of him here? No. But the upside remains high.14. Owen Beck - Montreal CanadiensTruthfully, I'm not sure Beck has done much to alter the perception of his upside since being drafted. I think Montreal knew what they were getting and I think Canadiens fans know what they are getting. And you know what? That's OK. Beck is going to be a versatile, middle six...perhaps even leaning third line forward. But that provides so much value. These are the types of guys who are going to eventually help Montreal get out of this rebuild and the safety of Beck's projection keeps him at #14 on my list, even if some guys below him have higher upside as scoring line players. The Memorial Cup final was the perfect example of the way that Beck will look as a pro. 15. Kasper Halttunen - San Jose SharksHe's not nearly as consistent as some of the other players that I have ranked below him, but I came away quite impressed with Halttunen at various points of this year. Man, he can absolutely rifle the puck. I'm hoping that he plays in the OHL again next year because I think he's going to have a monster season. Dale Hunter will be good to make him a better even strength player, someone who can dominate shifts with his size and skill. If his playmaking ability/vision and quickness can take that next step, look out. As is, his scoring upside is significant.16. Marek Vanacker - Chicago BlackhawksI think it will be incredibly interesting to see how Vanacker plays when he returns next season fully healthy. I'd bet that we don't see him until near the end of the calendar year following shoulder surgery. However, Vanacker has stated that the injury impacted him most of the year. While his offensive production was consistent for a surprising Brantford team, I think the injury helps to explain some of the inconsistency in his off puck play from shift to shift. Maybe we don't get to see the true impact of a clean bill of health until 2025/26, but Vanacker is a player who deserved to be a first round selection this year and is someone with a lot of different paths to being a pro depending on how his game develops.17. Ben Danford - Toronto Maple LeafsI advocated for Danford pretty hard this year based on what I saw in the second half and in the playoffs and I'm glad that Toronto saw what I saw. The defense is going to play in some capacity. Now it's about seeing what he is capable of offensively. In the playoffs we saw a player more confident in using his skating ability to apply offensive pressure. Can this become more consistent? Can the skill level and confidence as a carrier improve too? Will Danford get to the poi