The 2016 NHL Draft is unique in the fact that it is dominated heavily by American and international skaters, as opposed to the usual Canadian majority we have seen in recent drafts. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of OHLers who are mentioned quite often in scouts’ circles: the Sarnia Sting’s Jakob Chychrun; the Mississauga Steelheads’ Alexander Nylander, Michael McLeod and Sean Day; and the London Knights’ Matt Tkachuk, Max Jones and Olli Juolevi, to name a few.
But there are three lesser-known OHLers – all top-30 scorers in the league right now – who are making their cases for first-round consideration this season, and they are slowly becoming household names ahead of the 2016 draft.
Will Bitten, C – Flint Firebirds
Right-handed center Will Bitten was selected 7th overall by the former Plymouth Whalers (now the Flint Firebirds) at the 2014 OHL Priority Selection Draft. The Ottawa native had quite the minor midget hockey career, putting up 78 points in just 29 games in his final season with the Ottawa Jr. 67’s. His dominance in that 2013-14 season put him on the map for teams looking to upgrade their center position, and Plymouth took a flier on him, even though his size isn’t exactly ideal (5’10″/167 lbs.).
This year, Bitten leads the Firebirds in scoring with 27 points (10G, 17A) in 19 games. He’s currently riding a five-game point-streak during which he has scored a remarkable 11 points (that’s over a two-point-per-game scoring rate). Bitten’s improvement from last season has been incredible – the forward has already surpassed his former career-high in assists (16) and is just four points away from matching his career-high in points (31).
He’s a leader even though he’s only in his second year in the league. He’s going to be a high draft pick and he’s playing like it. We need him to be Will Bitten and it’s a luxury for us to have him and its fun to watch.
– Firebirds head coach John Gruden
In the wake of the departure of former offensive stars Sonny Milano and Matt Mistele, Bitten has become the Firebirds’ new standout – and he’s making great strides for first-round consideration in his draft year.
Adam Mascherin, LW – Kitchener Rangers
When the Kitchener Rangers selected winger Adam Mascherin second overall at last year’s 2014 OHL Priority Selection Draft, the organization hardly could have expected what would happen in the 2015-16 season. A little under a third of the way into the season, the Rangers are currently tied for first place in both the OHL’s Western Conference as well as in the entire league. And it wouldn’t be possible without their 17 year-old budding star.
A little short at just 5’10,” the versatile forward (he can play wing or center) makes up for his height in body mass (he weighs 205 lbs.). A few years back, he scored 129 points (including 67 goals) in minor midget hockey, so clearly the kid knows how to play offensively. The 2014-15 season was a transition year for him, as he became acclimated to the fast-paced OHL and learned more about playing a two-way game.
Had to record this play from Adam Mascherin last night. Draft eligible 2016 #OHLRangers #OHL pic.twitter.com/FZlgKgaTXe
— Mark Gillis (@Mark__Gillis) November 14, 2015
This season, Mascherin ranks second in team scoring behind Kitchener teammate Ryan MacInnis with 22 points (8G, 14A) in 18 games. He’s registered at least one point in 15 of his 18 games played so far this season, and he looks poised for a 70+ point season. The talented forward may not be a top-15 pick at the 2016 NHL Draft, but it would be a surprise (at this point, at least) to see him fall out of the first round entirely.
Logan Brown, C – Windsor Spitfires
Another beneficiary of being on a top team in the OHL, Logan Brown is third in scoring on the OHL’s second-place Windsor Spitfires roster with 22 points (4G, 18A) in 15 games. At 6’6″/218 lbs., the hulking centerman from Missouri has duel-citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada.
Brown was drafted 6th overall at the 2014 OHL Priority Selection Draft by the Niagara IceDogs. The Spitfires made a deal for him prior to the 2014-15 season that sent six draft picks the other way, but they knew that they wanted Brown and they were willing to pay a hefty price for him. He earned rave reviews from Spitfires head coach and president Bob Boughner early on in his OHL career:
You can just see so much potential in Logan and imagine how good he is going to be when he is a finished product. I think he is a ‘can’t miss’ National Hockey League player not only because of his size, but because of his skill level. He’s played heavy minutes for us up the middle at centre and for a 16-year-old to do that is difficult to do in this league at that age. I’m very impressed with his play away from the puck and in his own end. He is a responsible player. Not many players are as good as he is in their own end. He is blessed with great hockey talent.
– Bob Boughner
It’s no wonder that nearly a year later, Brown is living up to those expectations and then some. NHL teams are looking for the ever-elusive combination of size and scoring ability, and Brown’s got both, so expect to see him off the board before the conclusion of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
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