The first round of the 2026 OHL Draft is in the books with 20 players hearing their names called in Kingston. It was quite the production at the Slush Puppie Place, making for an exciting first night of the long awaited return to an in-person format. As always a few surprises made for some fun moments and no shortage of talent on the board heading into day two.

Here are my instant thoughts on the night:

Kane Clouter – 1st Overall – Oshawa Generals
Kane Cloutier has been in this top group conversation all year, and it wouldn’t have taken much to convince me to take him at 1. The offensive tools are at the top of the class, the handling to evade checks, create lanes to attack, and lead with a strong playmaking layer have been consistent themes all year long. He handles the puck so well, is incredibly calm under pressure, and can really take over the game with his highly confident game. There’s a good crop of offensive talent in this class, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Kane ends up as the top point producer out of this group, either way he’ll be a lethal offensive force for the General.

Colin Kennedy – 2nd Overall – Erie Otters
Erie Otters selected Colin Kennedy out of the Detroit Little Caesars program. The pace, energy, and compete are certainly the calling cards, but under that is a really notable blend of hockey sense and offensive abilities, specifically a goal scoring touch. He’s always motoring, in the right spots, supporting the play, and just someone I think brings a lot of projectable elements to the junior level. It’s a really well-rounded set of abilities and even if we didn’t have him quite this high, I can see him being an impact player for the Otters.

Tanner Adams – 3rd Overall – Brampton Steelheads
It’s a bit of a wait and see here, but it sounds like this might have been a situation where a player was trying to pick his spot, and Brampton played spoiler. If Steelheads can sign him, they’re getting one of the most exciting players in the class. The combination of compete, physicality, and high-end offensive tools have been the calling cards of Adams all year, and he’s easily one of the most OHL ready skaters. Given the advanced physical profile, Tanner should have no issues translating to the junior level and someone that I think can really make an impact in the early stages of his junior career. If it ends up being a defected player situation, Steelheads will recoup their pick in next year’s draft presumably along with a boatload of picks.

Adrian Sgro – 4th Overall – Sarnia Sting
Homerun potential here for the Sting. All year long, Sgro has been the #1 Ontario defender on our list and there has never really been a moment of second guessing that. The package of skating, puck handling, and sheer desire to use those skills to manage the play has been remarkable this season. He can escape and weave out of pressure with ease and control the game from the back-end, taking over whenever he’s on the ice. Adrian is a tremendous player today, and has all the signs of things trending in the right direction, and someone that has #1 defender potential for Sarnia.

Kash Kwajah – 5th Overall – Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury goes with Toronto Jr. Canadiens’ offensive dynamo Kash Kwajah. In terms of offensive skill, Kash is in a very small group at the top of this class. He plays with so much deception, showing the confidence to slow the game down, draw defenders toward him, and then beat them with a slick move. His handling is always the focal point, allowing him to fool defenders and open passing lanes, and just make for some highlight reel moments. The raw skill, shot, and creativity point to a highly productive offensive player in the OHL, and I would expect Kash to add tons of fun to the Wolves’ top six.

Drew Bate – 6th Overall – Saginaw Spirit
Speaking of fun, Drew Bate. He has been one of my favourites all year long and it was great to see him get selected this high by the Spirit. He’s certainly not the biggest, but the non-stop motor, work-rate, and pesky playstyle, layered with tons of offensive skill makes for a really exciting player to bet on. He drove so much for the London Jr. Knights this past season, elevates everyone he plays with, and someone that was constantly generating offensively. The pace and small area handling are both high-end, and make for some really impressive moments when combined to navigate through pressure and attack the middle of the ice. I wasn’t sure where Bate would go, but this is a great landing spot.

Declan McNally – 7th Overall – Guelph Storm
On our mock draft show, I mentioned Landon Roulston as a fit here for Guelph, given the Memorial Cup hosts and him being one of the more OHL ready players in the class, and McNally falls under the very same theme. A 6’5 defender who moves well and has the desire to engage defensively yields a really projectable profile to the OHL. He’s one of the better rush defenders in the class, using his stick and frame to take away options and shut things down. Long term, I think there is some offensive upside, getting him more confident to walk the line and use his puck skills to assert himself more and more, but should be someone who can step in immediately and be a solid piece for the Storm.

Max Fransen – 8th Overall – Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound lands one of the smartest defenders in the class with Max Fransen. He is a tremendous puck-manager and a player who really leads with his processing and thinking. He’s so calm under pressure, plays with confidence, rarely rushes a decision, and brings a sense of composure whenever he’s on the ice. He makes breakouts and retrievals look easy, quickly picking up pucks, and turning play around in the blink of an eye. There’s all the offensive and powerplay quarterbacking abilities, but to me, the smart puck-managing and transition facilitation have been what has drawn me in with Max. He’ll bring a really smart and calculated game to the Attack blueline and offer tons of value as a puckmover.

Max Lappan – 9th Overall – Niagara IceDogs
IceDogs bring in Honeybaked captain Max Lappan. While the Americans are never really my focus, I’ve seen Honeybaked enough to speak on his game. I always come away thinking there is a really projectable well-rounded toolkit and one that should project well moving forward. He’s a 6’2 mobile defender who can do it all, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that he slotted in above some of the Ontario defenders. He’s excellent at shutting plays down, clogging up lanes, forcing turnovers, and then swiftly moving pucks up ice to spring his talented forwards on rushes the other way. Similar to Fransen, Lappan can quarterback a powerplay and do more than his fair share of offence from the blueline, offering no shortage of upside to go along with the well-rounded game.

Logan Prud’homme – 10th Overall – Kingston Frontenacs
I really had no idea where Prud’Homme would fall, but somewhere in this 7-15 group was my thought so it doesn’t surprise me that Kingston took the swing here. He is one of the most interesting case studies I’ve seen come through Ontario since I’ve started. At 6’7, with his handling and offensive tools, there is so much promise for what he can develop into. His ability to use his long reach to drag a puck around a stick and absolutely unleash a shot can really make for high-end plays that get you excited. I’ve always liked how he uses his stick to win pucks on the forecheck, fish out pucks from the wall, and add a disrupting presence with his long reach. Of course, there is some refining to come, getting more fluid on his feet, but it should all come together with time. You don’t get a chance to develop a player with these physical tools often and I’ll be fascinated to see what he looks like in a few seasons.

Owen Loftus – 11th Overall – North Bay Battalion
The Battalion sprinkled in a little bit of spice to round 1 and certainly caught me off guard. I’ve known Loftus was a highly touted goaltender in the class and whenever I’ve watched Don Mills I’ve always thought he looked like a strong netminder, but I can’t say I had this on my bingo card. Goaltending isn’t my area of expertise, so I can’t say much on the pick, but if was on a scouting staff and our resident goalie expert felt strongly about Owen’s upside of developing into an elite starting goaltender, I’d be all ears to hear what they have to say.

Jaden Licastro – 12th Overall – Soo Greyhounds
The Greyhounds add a 6’2” mobile defender who relies on his skating and lateral mobility to make his mark. Licastro brings a sense of confidence to the Marlboros’ blueline, never hesitating from making a play to escape a forechecker and dictate things in transition, and a play confident push the play style. The ambition comes through in the offensive zone, where Jaden is often looking to activate and get involved and try to spark a chance, contributing plenty on the scoresheet this season. There’s a really promising set of tools to his game, and a good foundation Soo can continue to work with and mold into a really promising player.

Landon Roulston – 13th Overall – Peterborough Petes
In our mock I went with Lauder, but if Roulston was still on the board I would have had a hard timing passing for the Petes. Roulston is one of the most explosive and engaged forwards in the class, and it doesn’t surprise me that he is who Peterborough landed on. He is always going, always hunting down pucks, and never gives up on a play. The 6’2 frame and strong skating are a promising set of physical tools, and are a big part of the projection moving forward. A player who can fight for pucks and then explode to transition them up ice will always be a useful piece on a roster, and Landon brings that night in and night out. The primary calling cards are certainly the work rate and 200 foot game, but Roulston has no shortage of offensive tools, can protect pucks, drive the net, and finish from in tight. Landon is a really projectable player to a middle of the lineup centerman with a good chance of developing into a higher place on the lineup sheet as the years go on.

Ryan Beaulieu – 14th Overall – London Knights
This was our selection on our mock draft, and I think it makes a lot of sense. Yes there’s the local element and his dad is an alumni, but I just think there is a seamless fit for what the Knights’ are usually looking for in a defender. Ryan is an incredibly active and mobile defender that likes to rover around the ice and always be at the centre of the play. He brings a smart puck-moving game, can shut plays down and then quickly turn them around, offering tons as a transition defender in both directions. It all seems to fit what the Knights are typically looking for, so it should be a good landing spot for Ryan to continue to develop his game.

Chase Schulburger – 15th Overall – Flint Firebirds
Another slight surprise with an NTDP commit going off the board in round 1. I didn’t get a chance to see Woodbridge this season, so I can’t personally speak on his game. He’s our 2nd ranked American defender from the OHL American region and listed with the US NTDP, so evidently a high-end player we’re talking about here. We’ll see what the future holds and maybe Flint is hoping to land Chase down the line in a similar fashion as Quebec looks to be getting with Carter Meyer.

Lauchlan Whelan – 16th Overall – Windsor Spitfires
Spitfires go with Quinte Red Devil Lauchlan Whelan, who for stretches of the season has looked like one of the top players in the class. He’s quick and explosive, shifty and nimble on his feet, and has strong off-puck game & hockey sense. Lauchlan can be a dominant two-way transition centerman that pushes the tempo and controls things up and down the ice, razzling and dazzling through checks in the neutral zone. There’s a lot going for him and I think someone Windsor can really work with to develop into a top end OHLer as all the building blocks are there to get a ton of value out of him.

Lucas Matheson – 17th Overall – Barrie Colts
Another local selection, but Lucas is certainly worthy of a pick in this range off his own merit. The technical skills are through the roof, he can maneuver in any direction all while handling the puck on a string and never backs down to flex those skills. His ability to problem solve his way out of tricky situations, handle pucks in tight quarters, and escape forecheckers has made for some really impressive moments this year and showcase the high-end tools to his game. If all goes right, there is serious potential for a premier offensive defender at the OHL level, offering no shortage of upside for the Colts at this stage.

Andrew Laurin – 18th Overall – Ottawa 67s
I had a hunch someone would snag Laurin in this range and I totally get it for the 67s. The package of 6’2 frame, puck protection game, and goal-scoring touch has the makings for a highly projectable player to the junior game. He leans first and foremost on the physical tools, being sturdy on his feet, difficult to knock off pucks, shields pucks well from opponents, all while having the footwork and handling to swiftly navigate around defenders. There are moments where it all comes together when he makes a strong power move off the wall, drives the centre lane, and blasts a shot that really jumps off the page. I think he’s a perfect fit to continue to develop and lean into that power forward game, and be a force for the 67s..

Braden Reilly – 19th Overall – Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener lands Toronto Marlboro Braden Reilly. There’s a really good mix of hockey sense and offensive tools here to bet on moving forward and this is the range I figured he’d enter the conversation. While he leads with skill and on-puck deception, I always like how he uses his handling in a tactical way to create space for himself. Braden smartly uses delays and little touches to work around sticks, leveraging his puck skills in a methodical way to attack seams and gaps. Without the puck, Reilly is always hovering around, timing himself in open pockets, and putting himself in prime locations to be open for a pass – and when he has his chances, he can finish with the best of them in the class. A well-rounded offensive game that I think could be a really solid piece for the Rangers.

Aiden Kelly – 20th Overall – Branford Bulldogs
From what I’ve seen of him and on talent alone. Kelly belongs much higher than this spot. His ability to slow the game down and pick apart the defence with his vision and playmaking have always impressed me. It just seems like there is a tactical and cerebral part to his game that is at the core of his success, playing a strong puck managing and offensive style that really can pop off down the line. Massive potential here for the Bulldogs to land a top end player at the tail end of the first round.