This piece was written by Nathan Hutchinson — you can follow him on Twitter at @Hutch1760.
Almost a third of the way into the OHL season the top of class seem to be separating themselves from the rest of the pack, I wanted to go over a few names that I feel haven’t had the talk they deserve or are players I feel could breakout with plenty of season left.
Pierce Mbuyi, Owen Sound, LW
Mbuyi is a dynamic offensive weapon. The reigning OHL Rookie of the Year is off to a hot start for the Owen Sound Attack but has yet to see his stock rise on draft boards, despite his production being extremely impressive.
Mbuyi stands out primarily as a goal scorer. He is a major weapon on the power play, scoring in multiple ways—one-timers, net-front finishes, and catch-and-release shots from the tops of the circles. His shooting talent ranks in the top percentage of the draft class. An underrated element of his game is his passing ability; he can make cross-seam passes look simple and thread pucks through defenders to teammates. Despite this offensive skill, more than half of his early-season production has come on the power play. At 5-on-5, he struggles to consistently get the puck into high-danger areas.
His effort level away from the puck is high. He is relentless and will battle for loose pucks. Although he lacks the strength to consistently win physical battles, he has a good stick. He is a decent puck carrier in transition, but he is not relied upon as the primary entry option. Instead, he often chases down pucks and uses his tenacious motor to force defenders into mistakes.
While the shooting talent and production are impressive, Mbuyi’s overall profile comes with some questions. His size and general 5-on-5 impact will be key points of evaluation. Despite that, I believe the talent and motor are strong enough to warrant a top-45 grade in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Braidy Wassilyn, London, F
Wassilyn is a toolsy winger who plays with pace and shows a strong willingness to create for his teammates. He entered the season with legitimate first-round upside but struggled with a few early-season hiccups that lowered his stock. After being traded from Niagara to London on October 27th following just six games, he has returned to looking like a player with first-round talent.
Wassilyn excels as a creator. His ability to attack defenders and place pucks in areas where only his teammates can make a play is exceptional. He can execute every type of pass and consistently deliver them cleanly to his linemates. A shifty skater with quick cuts and a solid stride, he’s able to handle pressure in open ice by using his vision to move the puck. Since joining London, he has found tremendous success as a transition player. He’s excellent at exiting the zone with control and makes strong reads on offensive-zone entries attempts – an element of his game that will help keep him in a lineup as he moves toward pro hockey.
Physically, he doesn’t engage much. He’ll let teammates work along the walls while he looks for soft ice as an outlet. He isn’t afraid of the middle of the ice or the inner slot though. In the defensive zone he can be fairly one-dimensional, often waiting for opportunities to help exit the zone and not necessarily always helping with his positioning.
Wassilyn has several standout tools—his playmaking and transition ability show up in every viewing. However, there are holes in his game, and his shift-to-shift consistency can waver. Even so, I believe in the toolset, and London’s development program has a strong track record of ironing out similar weaknesses in players. There’s a strong chance he works his way back into first-round consideration by the end of the season.
Jaxon Cover, London, LW
Cover is a smart winger with plenty of good habits and some under-appreciated skill. He spent last season at St. Andrews College and appeared in only three OHL games as a D-1 player. He’s off to a solid start in his rookie OHL campaign, producing well in limited minutes for the reigning Memorial Cup champion London Knights.
He is a high-IQ winger who never looks rushed or out of control. He moves in and out of traffic effectively and consistently reads the play to find opportunities where he can support possession or attack open ice. A smooth skater with an effortless stride, he does float a bit too much out of possession for my liking, but his awareness generally keeps him from being caught out of position.
Cover’s skills are often overshadowed by his intelligence. He makes strong reads and has the ability to act as a connector in all three zones. He has the touch and precision of a quality passer, which shows on the power play where he can be effective in any spot and make sound decisions. His transition game will need to improve—he has some traits of a good puck carrier but isn’t relied upon as a consistent option. He has shown flashes of creating off the rush, however. He isn’t overly physical on the forecheck, but he takes efficient routes and has a good stick. He finds shooting lanes well, though his release lacks high-end quality and won’t beat many goalies clean. Still, his willingness to attack the inner slot and generate chances for himself is encouraging.
I see several NHL-quality traits in Cover’s game. His IQ and size are projectable attributes that should support his development. I would like to see continued growth in his puck-carrying ability and more physical engagement on the forecheck, but the intangibles—paired with flashes of skill—create an intriguing discussion around his draft projection. At this stage, I lean toward a second-round grade.
Carter Stevens, Guelph, C
Stevens is a smart two-way forward with a strong motor. After a solid start to his OHL season, he was injured on November 2nd and has not played since. In his first 15 games, however, he showcased a well-rounded game and opened some eyes.
Nothing jumps out immediately when watching Stevens—he isn’t an overly strong skater or a dynamic puck handler—but he does a lot of little things well when you break down his shifts. His defensive awareness is impressive for a 17-year-old. He covers the middle of the ice when needed and supports his defense along the wall effectively. His work at his own blue line is another standout area, where he helps progress the puck through tight lanes or supports teammates with touch passes and chips to relieve pressure.
Offensively, Stevens builds his game around making plays off the wall. He recovers loose pucks and puts them into open space for his teammates to chase. He rarely quits on plays and uses his stick-checking ability to generate second and third looks in the offensive zone. His overall offensive skill set is limited, and that may ultimately prevent him from being a producer at the next level. There are flashes of creating off the rush, and in a small early-2025 sample, his finishing ability was impressive.
Stevens brings several positive traits and does many things well, but a lack of high-end skating and puck skill may keep him from being selected in the earlier rounds. If he returns to Guelph and continues to produce, a 6th–7th round grade feels appropriate.
Ryan Brown, Sarnia, LW
Brown is a skilled winger who plays with energy and fire. Now in his third OHL season, and playing on a struggling Sarnia team, he hasn’t had the productive start some may have hoped for. However, despite the point totals, his play has been strong enough to keep him firmly in draft conversations.
His playmaking ability stands out immediately. He’s creative, attacks defenders and the middle of the ice with shifty movements and reads the play well. Brown consistently sets up teammates for shooting opportunities across the offensive zone and relentlessly hunts loose pucks to extend possessions. Much of his work comes from carrying the puck along the offensive-zone perimeter, allowing his teammates to find space as shooting or passing options.
Brown also handles a significant portion of Sarnia’s puck-transport duties. He is effective through the neutral zone, using his shifty skating to evade pressure. Sarnia is a younger team and consequently spends more time defending, yet Brown maintains energy late in shifts—a notable trait. He’s unafraid of contact and willing to be involved physically after the whistle. He is, however, slightly undersized and lacks some strength along the wall, and he can struggle to be a consistent shift-to-shift impact player.
Brown shows several quality skills and makes enough positive plays with the puck to warrant a 3rd–4th round grade. With the chances he creates and as Sarnia’s younger talent continues to develop, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his point totals rise in the coming months.