Buchan has consistently stood out whenever I've watched the Rangers this season, and the Silver Stick was no different. It was nothing fancy, but James was constantly able to make the simple play to move pucks out of his zone. He was nearly perfect on retrievals, having the mobility to pick up dumped-in pucks without losing any speed, and he was patient once he secured possession. Whether it was a simple pass to his partner or moving pucks up to his forward, Buchan could spot the right path forward and help the Rangers exit their zone. Without the puck, I thought Buchan was excellent at applying pressure in the neutral zone, shutting down transitions, and winning back possession. He was eager to step up into space, take away options, and be difficult for opposing forwards to get by. Buchan had some flashes of showing confidence to rush the puck and jumping up in the play, which was just an added bonus to go along with the practical parts of his game. Everyone is looking for something different in defenceman, but for me, this is the sort of profile I'm looking for. Mobile, smart puck-mangers who can shut down plays are the ones who crack my list, and that is why James found his way onto my most recent rankings.

Buchan didn't do anything exceptional during the Draft Day Showcase, but he executed so many simple and effective plays that compounded into a fantastic showing. The first area where James added value was how often he broke up play with calculated and well-timed stick checks. He effectively defended his blueline, thwarted his opponent's zone entry attempts, and won back possession on so many occasions. After breaking up plays, James was patient with the puck, surveyed his options, and spotted the path to a controlled transition. Whether that meant skating the puck up ice himself or finding a passing outlet, Buchan executed in transition on almost every opportunity. James' frame and skating mechanics reminded me a lot of how Eric Frossard (Guelph 2024 3rd rounder) looked in the early days of last season. Eric's skating mechanics lacked fluidity in my first viewings, but it came a long way throughout the season, moving him further and further up my list with every month, and there's no reason why Buchan can't see a similar trajectory in his skating. The defensive details, transition impact, and physical tools all combined to make me think his game is highly projectable to the junior ranks, and I could easily see him being a highly sought-after player in the 2025 OHL Draft.

Buchan is another defender in this write-up who I was introduced to back at the Draft Day Showcase and entered the year as someone on my radar. With James, I thought he was excellent in everything transition-related and helped the Oakville Rangers maximize their time in the offensive zone. He was nearly perfect on retrievals and breakouts, always showing he could pick up a puck in his defensive zone, take a quick look, and then make a controlled pass up ice. It wasn't anything flashy, but just connecting on a high volume of passes to help the Rangers exit their zone with possession time and time again. In the other direction, he was aggressive in applying pressure early in his opponent's transitions, eagerly defending his blueline and denying zone entries. He forced plenty of turnovers in the neutral zone and, upon breaking up plays, was once again that smart and reliable passer, enabling the Rangers to spark a quick zone entry. James had some moments of offensive involvement, but this breakout and transition play was my main takeaway and what lands him on my radar to keep an eye on moving forward.

James was adjusting well on the PP after rush attempts with slip passes and solid control while in motion. It all works because his glides are wider and his approach comes from core strength. My favorite moment was when he joined a rush, dropped after the entry, and pushed past coverage to turn towards his teammate. The pass came to him down low and he chose a slick redirection tactic and almost caught the goaltender off guard. I think I came away impressed based on his mobility and his potential for growth in all areas of his play.