Daniil Chayka Included on NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 46 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft.

The list includes 25 forwards, 16 defencemen and five goaltenders.

“At this point in the evaluation process and considering the lack of a summer scouting season, it’s much too early to identify a strength for the 2021 draft class other than to state that there are a number of good prospects at every position,” Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said.

A total of five OHL players were assigned an ‘A’ rating indicating a potential first round NHL Draft candidate. Those names include a 2019-20 first all-rookie team member in Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke along with a second team member in Peterborough Petes centreman Mason McTavish. Guelph Storm defenceman Daniil Chayka joins a recently committed Hamilton Bulldogs prospect in Russian countryman Artyom Grushnikov in the ‘A’ column alongside Kitchener Rangers forward Francesco Pinelli.

An additional six OHL skaters along with three goaltenders were assigned ‘B’ rankings, indicating a potential second or third round candidate. Those include former first round 2019 OHL Priority Selection choices Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds), Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires), Brett Harrison (Oshawa Generals) and goaltender Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting). Sudbury Wolves forwards Chase Stillman and Nick DeGrazia join recently committed Windsor Spitfires prospect Daniil Sobolev in receiving a ‘B’ listing along with goaltenders Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) and Joe Vrbetic (North Bay Battalion). An additional 30 skaters and two goaltenders were assigned a ‘C’ ranking, indicating a potential fourth, fifth or sixth round candidate.

All 20 of the OHL’s member teams are represented on the list led by the defending Hamilton Spectator Trophy recipient Ottawa 67’s with five players followed by the Hamilton Bulldogs with four and the Barrie Colts, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Peterborough Petes and Sarnia Sting each with three.

2021 NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List – OHL:

SKATERS:

GOALTENDERS:

*– indicates player committed to OHL for 2020-21

Players have been identified using the following criteria:

• A Rating – Indicates a first round candidate
• B Rating – Indicates a second or third round candidate
• C Rating – Indicates a fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate

For the complete list, visit NHL.com.