As games across the world begin to kick off the 2023-24 season, we’re looking at either notable former NHLers or future NHLers taking part in league play outside of the NHL. After looking at which drafted prospects are expected to play in the WHL a few days ago, we’re continuing to examine the Canadian major junior circuit with NHL-drafted prospects slated to play for OHL squads during the upcoming year.
The Chicago Blackhawks lead the way with five drafted prospects slated to suit up in the league in 2023-24, and all of them were selected within the first 100 picks of the 2022 and 2023 drafts. Montreal also has five players on this list, including 2022 first-round pick Filip Mesar, while the Ducks, Kraken and Blues also have a strong presence with four players each. Only the Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames do not have any players on their reserve list expected to play in the OHL next season.
Anaheim Ducks
D Rodwin Dionicio (Windsor Spitfires) – 2023 fifth round, 129th overall
F Coulson Pitre (Flint Firebirds) – 2023 third round, 65th overall
D Konnor Smith (Peterborough Petes) – 2023 fourth round, 97th overall
F Carey Terrance (Erie Otters) – 2023 second round, 59th overall
Boston Bruins
D Jackson Edward (London Knights) – 2022 seventh round, 200th overall
F Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm) – 2022 second round, 54th overall
Buffalo Sabres
F Ethan Miedema (Kingston Frontenacs) – 2023 fourth round, 109th overall
Carolina Hurricanes
G Jakub Vondras (Sudbury Wolves) – 2022 sixth round, 171st overall
Chicago Blackhawks
F Gavin Hayes (Flint Firebirds) – 2022 third round, 66th overall
F Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs) – 2023 third round, 67th overall
F Paul Ludwinski (Kingston Frontenacs) – 2022 second round, 39th overall
F Martin Misiak (Erie Otters) – 2023 second round, 55th overall
F Alex Pharand (Sudbury Wolves) – 2023 fourth round, 99th overall
Colorado Avalanche
F Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) – 2023 first round, 27th overall
Columbus Blue Jackets
F Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s) – 2023 fourth round, 114th overall
Dallas Stars
D Tristan Bertucci (Flint Firebirds) – 2023 second round, 61st overall
F Brad Gardiner (Ottawa 67’s) – 2023 third round, 79th overall
F Angus MacDonell (Mississauga Steelheads) – 2023 sixth round, 189th overall
Detroit Red Wings
D Andrew Gibson (Soo Greyhounds) – 2023 second round, 42nd overall
D Tnias Mathurin (North Bay Battalion) – 2022 fifth round, 137th overall
Edmonton Oilers
D Beau Akey (Barrie Colts) – 2023 second round, 56th overall
G Nathaniel Day (Flint Firebirds) – 2023 sixth round, 184th overall
Florida Panthers
F Liam Arnsby (North Bay Battalion) – 2022 seventh round, 214th overall
F Sandis Vilmanis (Sarnia Sting) – 2022 fifth round, 157th overall
Los Angeles Kings
F Kaleb Lawrence (Owen Sound Attack) – 2022 seventh round, 215th overall
D Matthew Mania (Sudbury Wolves) – 2023 fifth round, 150th overall
Minnesota Wild
F Hunter Haight (Saginaw Spirit) – 2022 second round, 47th overall
F Rasmus Kumpulainen (Oshawa Generals) – 2023 second round, 53rd overall
F Servác Petrovský (Owen Sound Attack) – 2022 sixth round, 185th overall
Montreal Canadiens
F Owen Beck (Peterborough Petes) – 2022 second round, 33rd overall
F Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound Attack) – 2022 fourth round, 127th overall
F Filip Mesar (Kitchener Rangers) – 2022 first round, 26th overall
D Daniil Sobolev (Niagara IceDogs) – 2021 fifth round, 142nd overall
F Florian Xhekaj (Brantford Bulldogs) – 2023 fourth round, 101st overall
Nashville Predators
F Joseph Willis (Saginaw Spirit) – 2023 fourth round, 111th overall
New Jersey Devils
F Cole Brown (Brantford Bulldogs) – 2023 sixth round, 164th overall
New York Islanders
D Isaiah George (London Knights) – 2022 fourth round, 98th overall
New York Rangers
F Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds) – 2022 third round, 97th overall
F Dylan Roobroeck (Oshawa Generals) – 2023 sixth round, 178th overall
Ottawa Senators
D Matthew Andonovski (Kitchener Rangers) – 2023 fifth round, 140th overall
D Jorian Donovan (Brantford Bulldogs) – 2022 fifth round, 136th overall
D Tomas Hamara (Kitchener Rangers) – 2022 third round, 87th overall
Philadelphia Flyers
F Denver Barkey (London Knights) – 2023 third round, 95th overall
D Oliver Bonk (London Knights) – 2023 first round, 22nd overall
Pittsburgh Penguins
D Nolan Collins (Sudbury Wolves) – 2022 sixth round, 167th overall
F Cooper Foster (Ottawa 67’s) – 2023 sixth round, 174th overall
San Jose Sharks
F Kasper Halttunen (London Knights) – 2023 second round, 36th overall
F Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves) – 2023 first round, 26th overall
Seattle Kraken
F David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves) – 2022 second round, 61st overall
D Ty Nelson (North Bay Battalion) – 2022 third round, 68th overall
F Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers) – 2023 second round, 50th overall
F Eduard Sale (Barrie Colts) – 2023 first round, 20th overall
St. Louis Blues
D Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm) – 2022 third round, 88th overall
D Quinton Burns (Kingston Frontenacs) – 2023 third round, 74th overall
D Matthew Mayich (Ottawa 67’s) – 2023 sixth round, 170th overall
F Landon Sim (London Knights) – 2022 sixth round, 184th overall
Tampa Bay Lightning
F Ethan Hay (Flint Firebirds) – 2023 seventh round, 211th overall
Toronto Maple Leafs
F Easton Cowan (London Knights) – 2023 first round, 28th overall
Vancouver Canucks
F Vilmer Alriksson (Guelph Storm) – 2023 fourth round, 107th overall
D Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers) – 2023 third round, 75th overall
D Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds) – 2022 seventh round, 208th overall
Vegas Golden Knights
D Arttu Kärki (Soo Greyhounds) – 2023 third round, 96th overall
F Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit) – 2022 second round, 48th overall
F Tuomas Uronen (Ottawa 67’s) – 2023 sixth round, 192nd overall
Washington Capitals
D Cameron Allen (Guelph Storm) – 2023 fifth round, 136th overall
F Jake Karabela (Guelph Storm) – 2022 fifth round, 149th overall
F Patrick Thomas (Brantford Bulldogs) – 2023 fourth round, 104th overall
Winnipeg Jets
F Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) – 2023 first round, 18th overall
G Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) – 2022 seventh round, 207th overall
F Jacob Julien (London Knights) – 2023 fifth round, 146th overall
I know goalie prospects are hard to project, but I’m downright shocked Brett Brochu went undrafted. I live in London, and I’ve seen a few Knights games… Guy was outstanding. My mind is kinda blown no one has taken a gamble on him.
Also gonna miss watching del bel Belluz on the Sting. Kid was a joy to watch. I think if he develops properly he could project as high as a second or third line center. Really curious to see if he makes the Blue Jackets roster.
Colby Barlow, the Winnipeg draftee, will be in the OHL this season, but he seems to be a candidate to enter the NHL at age 19, like Wyatt Johnston. Very mature kid.