2024 OHL PRIORITY SELECTION PRIMER
The 2024 OHL draft has arrived: A look at recent Knights selections
By Yannis Economopoulos
LONDON, ON – Every year, scouts, coaches, and general managers carefully evaluate the talent pool, searching for the next diamond in the rough. As the future London Knights eagerly wait to hear their name called, let’s look at some of the top selections the green and gold have made since 2018.
2022
- Sam O’Reilly, RW
- Round 2 – 37th Overall
In his first OHL season (2023-24), Sam O’Reilly tallied 20 goals, 36 assists, and 56 points, good for ninth in team scoring. The 6-foot-1 forward, eligible for the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) draft, played a middle-six role for most of the year and has continued to impress NHL scouts.
2021
- Denver Barkey, C
- Round 1 – 16th Overall
After being selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round of the 2023 NHL draft, Denver Barkey quickly became one of the organization’s top prospects. This past season (2023-24), the Newmarket, Ont. native led the Knights and finished fourth in league scoring, with 102 points. Through 178 OHL games, Barkey has 176 points.
- Easton Cowan, C
- Round 2 – 25th Overall
A first-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs last June, a member of Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships (WJC), and by ending the regular season on a 36-game point streak, he set a franchise record – Easton Cowan must be loving life right now. In his sophomore OHL campaign (2023-24), the Maple Leafs’ top prospect broke out by notching 34 goals and 96 points in 54 outings. The Mount Brydges, Ont. native has 151 points in 129 games as a Knight.
- Oliver Bonk, RD
- Round 2 – 26th Overall
Oliver Bonk, who represented Canada alongside Cowan at the WJC, finished second on the team and fifth league-wide amongst blueliners with 67 points. The Ottawa, Ont. native was selected 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023.
2020
- Jackson Edward, LD
- Round 2 – 22nd Overall
A physical force on the Knights blue line, Jackson Edward was selected in the seventh round by the Boston Bruins in the 2020 NHL Draft. Edward had a career year in 2023-24 recording 30 points and an outstanding +43. Edward signed his NHL contract with the Bruins in October of 2023.
- Landon Sim, C
- Round 3 – 46th Overall
Not a shift goes by where you don’t notice Landon Sim on the ice. His energetic and gritty presence has been a staple in the Knights lineup the last three seasons. Sim was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
- Isaiah George, LD
- Round 4 – 68th Overall
Isaiah George’s smooth skating immediately caught the eyes of Knights fans and NHL scouts during his rookie season in 2020-21. George was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Draft by the New York Islanders. George’s 2023-24 season saw him collect a career high 30 points and a +26 rating.
2019
- Logan Mailloux, D
- Round 2 – 33rd Overall
Logan Mailloux broke records in his final season in a London Knights uniform. The Belle River, ON native led the league in goal scoring by a defenseman in 2023 with 25 goals and set a London Knights record with 24 points in 21 playoff games, the most points by a defenseman in a single playoff run. Mailloux was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
- Max McCue, C
- Round 2 – 34th Overall
In his final OHL regular season, Max McCue registered career highs across the board with 27 goals, 34 assists, 61 points, a plus-27 rating, eight power-play goals, and 116 shots. He was a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks, but in March 2024, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2018
- Luke Evangelista, RW
- Round 1 – 14th Overall
Luke Evangelista collected 78 goals, 96 assists, and 174 points in 151 games as a Knight. In his final campaign with the organization (2021-22), the right-winger had 55 markers and 111 points. Evangelista was selected in the second round, 42nd overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2020.
- Brett Brochu, G
- Round 6 – 114th Overall
When Brett Brochu was drafted in 2018, he probably didn’t think he’d become one of the best goaltenders in franchise history. After three seasons with the Knights, Brochu ranks fourth in games played (132), 10th in save percentage (.910), second in wins (89), and fifth in shutouts (6). The Belle River, Ont. product is currently with the Fort Wayne Komets in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
The 2024 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore takes place on Friday, April 12th, and Saturday, April 13th.
Friday night coverage gets underway at 7:00pm. Rounds 1-3 airs on RogersTV or listen to the live draft reaction with Mike Stubbs on AM980. Day 2 is Saturday as coverage of Rounds 4-15 begins at 9:00 am. The Priority Selection also streamed for free online on OHL Live.