After leading the way for all leagues with 9 first-round picks in back-to-back drafts, the OHL continues to be one of the top developmental leagues in all of hockey. While the 2026 class may lack a true superstar up top like Matthew Schaefer or Michael Misa from 2025, the new NCAA rule changes have increased the depth of the class significantly. It is hard to tell right now whether the league will be able to produce 9 first-round picks for the third consecutive draft, but there are certainly 9 or more players who have a chance to push into the top round.
A Look at OHL Prospects in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
Centers
Despite the 2026 NHL draft class being viewed as a weaker year for top-end centers, the OHL appears to have a deep pool of possible middle-sixers up the middle. While the class likely will not have as many lottery pick centers as last year’s with Misa, Martin, O’Brien, and Nesbitt, it will feature a long list of guys you can project into depth roles at the next level.
Caleb Malhotra – Brantford Bulldogs
Caleb Malhotra is the consensus top draft-eligible centerman from the OHL in 2026, and it is easy to see why. The son of long-time NHLer Manny Malhotra has been possibly the biggest riser in the class as a result of his stellar play at the OHL level. Simply put, Malhotra does all of the things that coaches and management look for in a player. He has great hockey sense, competes extremely well, can be trusted in all areas, and is a natural leader. His two-way reliability already made him a projected first-round pick, but his steady improvement throughout the season has increased his offensive projection at the next level. Malhotra is a fast skater with great vision, who has only gotten more confident and creative as the season goes on. With the added positional value in a weaker class for centers, Malhotra could hear his name called in the top 5-10 picks come June.
Brooks Rogowski – Oshawa Generals
Brooks Rogowski is the consensus number 2 OHL centerman in 2026, and is considered the only other first-round lock center from the league. Though he is still very raw as a prospect, there is a lot for scouts to fall in love with in Rogowski’s game. Quite frankly, 6’6” centerman that can move the way Rogowski can, all while having strong defensive habits are not a dime a dozen. Though Rogowski does not establish himself physically as much as he could for his frame, he will be taking his talents to the NCAA in the future at Michigan State, who have a track record of helping players gain strength. With NHL front offices coveting size, Rogowski will likely be a hot commodity at the draft.
Thomas Vandenberg – Ottawa 67s
Thomas Vandenberg has been one of the OHL’s top rookies in 2025-2026, helping the Ottawa 67s emerge as one of the league’s top teams after missing the playoffs in 2025. Vandenberg is a very balanced prospect, with a plus release, strong stride, and a high compete level. Despite being a rookie, Vandenberg has already earned the trust of head coach Dave Cameron, who trusts the hometown kid in all situations. Though he did not enter the season with as much hype as some of the other centers that will fall behind him in this range, his production this season has elevated his floor above his peers, and it certainly does not hurt that he is one of the youngest players in the class, just a week away from being in the 2027 class. His offensive game likely will not translate to NHL stardom, but his game is too well-rounded for him not to earn an opportunity at the next level.
Alessandro Di Iorio – Sarnia Sting
The scouting and OHL world had high expectations for Alessandro Di Iorio entering the season, but so far it has been a disappointing year as a whole for the Sarnia Sting, who currently find themselves in last place in the Western Conference. While it is hard to blame Di Iorio for the Sting’s situation, you would like to see more from him at an individual level. That is not to say there is no longer hope for his NHL projection, as Di Iorio still has a lot of plus traits. He skates fairly well, has a very strong and accurate shot, has good hockey IQ, and can be trusted in all situations. The Sting also clearly have faith in Di Iorio’s ability to help turn things around, as they already named him captain at age 17. Like many in this range, Di Iorio does not project to be a true offensive threat in the NHL, but he could carve out a middle-six or depth role for a team.
Beckham Edwards – Sarnia Sting
Like with Di Iorio, everything regarding the situation in Sarnia could be repeated for Edwards. The London native entered the year possibly with even more hype than Di Iorio, after finishing second on the team in points with 45 in his rookie season. Edwards also had a very promising Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Canada, where he scored just under a point-per-game while being tasked with penalty killing duties. He has a lot of the same tools as Di Iorio, with a strong stride and shot, but he, too, has struggled to take a step forward this season. The fact that both players’ developments have plateaued gives reason to believe that it is more of a situational issue, as opposed to a player problem. On a positive note for Edwards, the young forward will take his talents to Notre Dame in the future, where a change of scenery will hopefully help Edwards development.
Ryder Cali – North Bay Battalion
Ryder Cali is another name cut from the same cloth as Vandenberg, Di Iorio, and Edwards. He is an intelligent two-way center who skates well and can put the puck in the back of the net. On a North Bay team alongside fellow 2024 first-rounders Parker Vaughan and Ryder Carey, Cali has been the most consistent of the bunch. Cali also made an impact at the OHL Top Prospects game, scoring a first-period equalizer for Team East. He is not the flashiest offensive talent, but he has all the tools to be a solid depth contributor.
Layne Gallacher – Guelph Storm
Layne Gallacher has been one of the favourites around the OHL scouting community this season. The 2027 Memorial Cup host Guelph Storm valued him very highly, demanding him as the main piece back in a deal that sent Philadelphia Flyers’ first round pick Jett Luchanko to the Brantford Bulldogs. The Brooklin native is in his first full season of junior hockey this year, after spending the majority of last season at the U18AAA level for the Ajax Pickering Raiders, making his 2025-2026 campaign all the more impressive. He has good speed and instincts, and certainly is not afraid of contact. He had a late debut with the Storm after suffering an injury, but since joining the lineup, he has looked very solid, scoring over a half point per game through his first ten games. He is not the biggest player in the world, but he makes an impact almost every shift.
Adam Levac – Peterborough Petes
Adam Levac has broken out for the Petes this season, emerging as the team’s top young centerman. Similar to Gallacher, Levac is not the biggest center in the world, but his compete level helps make up for that. His playmaking has taken a huge step forward this season, going from 4 assists in 2025 to already having 22 midway through his draft year. He is not necessarily a weak skater, but his skating is a step back from those ahead. It will be interesting to see how teams value his production, especially considering the Petes are not exactly an offensive powerhouse. Unfortunately, he will not have as much time to prove himself, as he was recently suspended eight games for slew-footing an opponent during a fight.
Colin Fitzgerald – Soo Greyhounds
Colin Fitzgerald started the season ahead of Adam Levac on the Petes depth chart, but the latter’s breakout opened up an opportunity for the Petes to trade the hometown Fitzgerald to the Soo Greyhounds. It has been a hard year to judge for Fitzgerald. He entered the OHL with high expectations, going third overall after dominating U16AAA and the OHL Cup. He had a decent rookie year on a weak Petes team, but was expecting to take a big leap on a much more competitive squad this year. That simply has not happened yet, and he has scored 1 less point through 48 games this year. The tools are still there, having a decent frame, solid skating, and strong physicality, but the production has not been up to the standard you would expect. If the breakout finally does come for Fitzgerald, he could be one of the bigger steals of the draft.
Weston Cameron – Kitchener Rangers
Rounding out the top-10 centermen is Weston Cameron. The former Malboros captain is in his first full OHL season, after scoring around a point per game as a rookie in the GOJHL last season. His totals do not exactly jump off the board, but he does not receive the largest opportunity on a contending Rangers team. The key to his ranking is projectability. At 6’4”, Cameron has an NHL-sized frame that he uses well physically. He plays a solid two-way game and has good hands for his size.
Wingers
The biggest strength of this year’s OHL class is likely its depth on the wings, with a few high-potential stars followed by some strong depth candidates.
Ethan Belchetz – Windsor Spitfires
The OHL’s top draft-eligible winger in 2026 is the league’s 2024 first overall pick, Ethan Belchetz. Standing at 6’5” and nearly 230 pounds, Belchetz is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. He knows how to use his frame to his advantage, with a strong ability to win puck battles and shield the puck once he has it. As you would expect, he is very effective along the boards, but he can also make plays in transition. Like many players his size, he is not the most explosive skater from a standstill, but he can move quite well when he reaches top speed. Belchetz is an imposing net-front presence, and he is not afraid to rip the puck either. With his rare blend of size and skill, he could develop into the perfect complementary top liner.
Ryan Roobroeck – Niagara IceDogs
Ryan Roobroeck is one of the most polarizing prospects in the entire class. He entered the season as one of the highest-rated skaters, but public consensus has begun to soften on him after a slow start to the season. On one hand, he is one of the most talented players in the league. He has the best shot in the class, soft hands, and great vision. On the other hand, he is a 6’4” forward who does not play overly physical, is not the fastest skater, and is an older prospect for the class as a September-born 2007. His effort level also raises concerns at times, but it worthy to note that his coaching staff trusts him on the penalty kill. Roobroeck is a very boom-or-bust prospect, but the talent level is undeniable.
Adam Novotny – Peterborough Petes
Contrary to Roobroeck, Adam Novotny is one of the most projectable prospects from the OHL this season. Novotny is an absolute hound off the puck, with great pace and competitiveness. He is a powerful skater with a strong shot, in a good frame, and profiles as a high end compimentary piece. Though the Petes are not the strongest team, Novotny proved his ability to play well off others at the 2026 Connor McDavid Top Prospects Game, where he found the back of the net twice. He will not be the top player on a line at the NHL level, but he is a guy who will make a team’s star’s life easier.
Nikita Klepov – Saginaw Spirit
Nikita Klepov is having the best statistical season of any draft-eligible skater in the OHL, as his 62 points are good for 4th league-wide. The Florida native is arguably the most creative OHL prospect with the puck on his stick. He can handle the puck on a string, with excellent vision, and a shot strong enough to keep goalies on their toes. He is surgical on the power-play, finding passing lanes and getting to high-danger areas, though he is not solely a power-play contributor. Klepov has also proven his ability to produce in big games, as he helped lead the States to their 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Championship, and looked dominant at the Connor McDavid Top Prospects Game with a goal and two assists. At his frame, Klepov will need to improve his skating to become a true star at the NHL level.
Jaxon Cover – London Knights
Jaxon Cover is probably the most interesting story in the 2026 NHL Draft. Growing up in the Cayman Islands, Cover started his hockey career with roller hockey before eventually transitioning to ice hockey at age 13. As you would expect for someone with so little ice hockey experience, Cover is one of the rawest top prospects in recent memory. The talent is there with sensational stickhandling and maneuverability, but he is still very much learning the high-level game of hockey. Like Roobroeck, he is a very boom or bust prospect, but if everything pans out, he could be one of the top players in the class.
Pierce Mbuyi – Owen Sound Attack
Pierce Mbuyi is one of the more slept-on prospects from the OHL due to his stature and streaky scoring. Production-wise, Mbuyi is in the upper echelon of OHL draft eligibles, scoring over a point per game after winning the OHL’s rookie of the year trophy in 2024-2025. He is a high-end skater who plays an aggressive game on and off the puck. Mbuyi is a dual-threat with the puck on his stick and has been the key cog in the Attack’s offence. Though undersized, he plays with pace and will be taking his talents to Penn State in the fall, where he will have the opportunity to play more physical competition.
Cole Zurawski – Owen Sound Attack
Cole Zurawski is another intriguing name to watch out for in Owen Sound. The former Flint Firebirds 6th overall pick was traded to the club at the 2025 deadline, and improved his scoring output with the Attack. Zurawski is one of the flashier players in the class, and he will wow you with his soft hands and strong shot. There are some concerns with his off-puck game, but similarly to Mbuyi, he will head to the NCAA next season with Notre Dame, which should help his development.
Jean-Cristoph Lemieux – Sudbury Wolves
JC Lemieux has been the posterchild for the phrase “opportunity matters” this season. After lighting up OMHA U16AAA alongside QMJHL top pick Maddox Dagenais, Lemieux was selected in the second round by the Windsor Spitfires. He had a shortened, but promising, rookie season, scoring nearly 20 points along with 7 points in 5 games at the U17s. He took a step forward for the Spitfires to start the year, but was eventually sent to the Sudbury Wolves as the headliner in a deal that brought back Nathan Villeneuve and Alex Pharand. The change of scenery has been wondrous for Lemieux so far, who leads all players traded at the deadline in goals with 9, while adding 6 helpers through his first 11 games. The knock on Lemieux is that he does not truly excel in any trait or tool, but he is a very smart player with a good compete level. While the offence may not be game-breaking at the next level, he has looked more confident and creative in Sudbury, and the production has been up there with the top draft-eligibles. He was ranked surprisingly low by NHL Central Scouting (184th), but he has the potential to be a guy that you pick in the late rounds, and in a few years, looks like a diamond in the rough.
Adam Nemec – Sudbury Wolves
Adam Nemec joined the Sudbury Wolves after a fairly productive World Juniors for Slovakia, and has been a key reason for their offensive regurgence post deadline. Nemec has shown his power play prowess at both the World Juniors and in the OHL, where he has proven to be a dangerous net front/backdoor option. He is a solid puck carrier for the junior level, but will need to improve as he reaches higher levels. Similar to Lemieux, Nemec has good IQ, solid finishing/playmaking, but is not elite in any areas. If he is not a top-six piece, where does his role lie? It will depend on how well he is able to round out his game.
Carter Stevens – Guelph Storm
Carter Stevens is an under-the-radar producer in this year’s class. The former Ottawa Valley Titans captain had a promising rookie year in the OHL with 26 points on a middling Storm team. His production has taken a big leap in year two, already tallying 24 points in half as many games. Stevens’ breakout opened up an opportunity for the Storm to trade their 2024 first-round pick, Alex McLean, to the Kingston Frontenacs for Maple Leafs prospect Tyler Hopkins. Like many in this range, Stevens is not going to wow you with flashy skill or a crazy frame, but he is a character guy who works extremely hard and has good goalscoring touch. The question marks for Stevens lie in what kind of player he will be at the next level. Without flashy offence or plus skating, will he be able to make an impact as a depth option? Only time will tell, but he will have an opportunity to play at a big stage next year with the Memorial Cup hosts.
Braidy Wassilyn – London Knights
Braidy Wassilyn is a very tricky player to evaluate. As a former 4th overall pick, his offensive ceiling is higher than most in this range, but he has yet to truly dominate offensively and lacks a consistent game around it. On a positive note, he has developed a more well-rounded scoring profile after being a primary passer in his rookie season. The flashes are very high with Wassilyn; he has great puck handling, playmaking, and is gaining confidence with his shot. As a smaller winger at 5’11”, he will likely need to become a more dynamic skater to truly pop at the next level. If he is not dominating offensively, is there a role for him at the next level? It is hard to project. Thankfully, Wassilyn will split time between two elite developmental programs with the London Knights and Boston University Terriers, who have a history of getting the most out of players.
Aiden O’Donnell – Oshawa Generals
Aiden O’Donnell looked poised for a sophomore breakout with 8 points in his first 14 games played, but with Brantford loading up, he was shipped to the rebuilding Generals. Despite the sudden drop in supporting cast, O’Donnell has continued to score at a nearly identical pace, while improving in other areas of the game. Like many discussed here, he will not wow you, but he has a lot of tools that project well into a depth role at the next level. He is an intelligent and responsible player who skates well and throws the body, while having a pro-level frame. As Oshawa gains more talent in their rebuild, his offensive game could blossom.
Alex McLean – Kingston Frontenacs
Due to his size at 5’10”, Alex McLean is a bit of a long shot to make an NHL impact, but he is an easy player to root for. During his time with the storm, McLean was surpassed in the depth chart and was relied upon more as an energy guy, where he performed quite well. Like Lemieux, he broke out after a deadline deal to the Kingston Frontenacs, scoring over a point-per-game through his first 14 games. Though he does not have the flashiest toolkit, he is a very intelligent player who makes the right reads and has a well-balanced scoring profile. The key to McLean’s development will be mixing the workloads he has been tasked with. If he can provide the level of energy he brought to the Storm, while managing his offensive workload in Kingston, he could develop into a very effective depth contributor.
Defencemen
If there is a weaker skater positional group from the OHL this draft, it is the defence. That is not to say it is an inherently bad crop of defencemen, as there is still a projected star up top, followed by some possible early day two selections. The group does, however, lack some depth, and will fall short of the 5 defenceman taken in the top 33 picks in 2025.
Chase Reid – Soo Greyhounds
Chase Reid is the clear-cut number 1 defenceman out of the OHL this season. He has been a man on a mission since being cut from the United States U18 team last season. Reid started 2024-2025 in the NAHL, before making the jump to the OHL, where he was immediately the top defender on the Greyhounds, playing up to half the game on some nights. His offensive game is arguably the most well-rounded of any defenceman in the class. He skates very well, has good size, can manipulate space, find tough passing lanes, and has the second-best release among OHL draft eligibles, behind Ryan Roobroeck. His defensive game is far from polished, and the Soo’s acquisition of Lukas Fischer helps hide some of his flaws. There is a lot of Zayne Parekh in his game, albeit he is a tier down from me. Reid will have an amazing development path going forward, playing as Soo’s number 1 defenceman, then taking his talents to Michigan State, before graduating to the pro ranks. With all his offensive talent and more time to polish his defensive game, he could turn into a true top-pair star. With such high potential, he could challenge Keaton Verhoeff as the top defenceman in the class.
Alex Bilecki – Kitchener Rangers
Though Alex Bilecki is certainly a tier down from Reid, he is still a very promising prospect in his own right. There is a lot to like in Bilecki’s game. At 6’2”, he skates well for his size with good offensive instincts and a sneaky good release. With another Reid [Cam] ahead of him in the depth chart, Bilecki does not receive the most power-play time, but he did a great job running the Rangers’ second unit and will likely be able to do so at the next level. Though he is more offensive-minded, Bilecki is no slouch defensively due to his skating and reach. Even with his role shrinking post-deadline following the addition of Jared Woolley and the return of Matthew Andonovski, Bilecki is yet to take a step back. With a bigger role next season, Bilecki could be a guy who really pops post-draft.
Vladimir Dravecky – Brantford Bulldogs
Vladimir Dravecky may not have the statistical numbers of a pure offensive defenceman, but do not let those fool you. He is one of the rare cases where his role shrunk going from European juniors to the OHL, as he joined a loaded Brantford Bulldogs blue line. In this class as a whole, there are a lot of projectable two-way skaters and fewer boom or bust, high ceiling players. Dravecky is one of the latter mold. He is a very creative offensive defenceman with extremely high puck skill and mobility, allowing for highlight reel plays. Dravecky likely will not be much of a shutdown guy at the next level, but he has held his own at the OHL level, albeit on the most loaded blue line in the league. With a late 2007 birthday and a sheltered role, it will be interesting to monitor how teams value his upside.
Callum Croskery – Soo Greyhounds
Callum Croskery is an extremely difficult prospect to evaluate. He was regarded as the top defenceman in the 2024 OHL class, but NCAA ties caused him to slip to the end of the second round. He was in a rough situation for his pre-draft year, playing for the USHL’s second-worst team in the Chicago Steel, which was hardly a positive developmental environment. He had high expectations going into his first OHL season, but an injury held him out of the lineup until late November. With how stunted his development has been, it is hard to blame him for a slowish start production-wise. He has been getting better as the season progresses, but similar to many in the class, he does not excel in an individual area. With a hopefully healthy end to the season, a bigger role next year, and a future commitment to Boston College, Croskery appears to finally have a good development path ahead.
Maksim Sokolovskii – London Knights
Maksim Sokolvskii is a fairly under-the-radar name that will go higher than you expect in June. His appeal is somewhat obvious. At 6’8”, 238lbs he has an exceptional defensive frame. He is not just a big body that throws hits without defending well, either, as he has held his own remarkably well for a 17-year-old making the jump from 16U AAA. He can move extremely smoothly for his size, and his reach allows him to kill opposing rushes. His positive defensive results are not just coming in a sheltered role, as he has logged big minutes following Jared Woolley’s deadline departure. The offensive game has not been as impressive, only tallying 4 assists, but his production at the 16U level gives optimism for at least serviceable puck-moving ability.
Lucas Ambrosio – Erie Otters
Lucas Ambrosio is another defensive defenceman that teams could covet in the mid rounds. With good size at 6’4”, Ambrosio is a physical defender who can lay the boom. His defensive results have been a mixed bag for the Otters this season, but it is hard to blame him with the league’s weakest roster. He has the tools to be a plus defender with his size and skating, but he will likely be a bit of a project developmentally.
Ondrej Ruml – Ottawa 67s
Ondrej Ruml is cut from the same cloth as Callum Croskery, though, in a bit smaller frame. He skates fairly well, can chip from the blue line, and holds his own defensively. Though he does just about everything at a decent level, will that be enough for teams to value him and his slightly undersized frame? He plays a very safe and reliable game, so you can not call him boom or bust, but will he be able to make a pro impact without excelling in any area? It will likely depend on the development path, but at the very least, Ruml will continue to be an effective OHL player.
Goalies
The 2026 OHL goalie class is very similar to the 2025 group, with no clear-cut NHL starters, but a few guys that could go in the mid rounds and could blossom into a starter with the right development.
Ryder Fetterolf – Ottawa 67s
Ryder Fetterolf has not only been the best draft-eligible goaltender in the OHL, but simply the best goalie period. He is currently the runaway favourite for the OHL goaltender of the year trophy with the best goals against average and save percentage in the league. He is a very similar stylistic match to Jack Ivankovic out of Brampton last season, as a smaller goalie that relies upon athleticism and reaction to make saves, though he has been even better than Ivankovic’s draft year. His frame will likely prevent him from going as high as he could, but he is easily the most talented netminder out of the OHL this season. Like Ivankovic, Fetterolf will make the jump to NCAA competition next season, joining a top program at Penn State, which should help his development.
Zach Jovanovski – Guelph Storm
Zach Jovanovski has been pegged as the OHL’s top goaltending prospect for most of the season, suiting up in both the OHL and CHL top prospects games. He has a solid frame at 6’3”, and plays a very calm and positionally sound game. The numbers have been a little concerning for Jovanovski this season, but the Storm are far from stalwarts defensively in front of him. He has been one of the most tested goalies this season, seeing the 5th highest shots league-wide, and playing 37 of Guelph’s 47 games.
Matthew Humphries – Oshawa Generals
There is no getting around the fact that it has been a very small sample size, but what Matthew Humphries has done since being acquired by the Generals has been nothing short of spectacular. Through 13 games, Humphries has posted a 0.913 save percentage on the last-place team in the Eastern Conference. It is not a result of the system either, as Generals’ other netminders have a save percentage lower than 0.880%. There is a lot more to like than just numbers, too, as Humphries has a great frame at 6’4”. He is not the most mobile in the crease, but he positions himself very well and has lightning-fast reflexes. Since he started the season in the OJHL, it is easy to understate why he was ranked 34th among NA goalies by NHL Central Scouting, but by year’s end, he could be upwards of 15 spots higher. The sample size is still too small to pass those ahead, but if he can keep up his stellar play, he could push for the top netminder in the OHL class.
Overall, the 2026 OHL draft class may not have the most stars at the NHL level, but with the amount of depth in the league, there will likely be a large number of future NHLers taken from the league in June.
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