Six OHL players featured in Bob McKenzie’s Draft Lottery Top-16 Rankings

The Ontario Hockey League continues to lead the way, with six players featured in Bob McKenzie’s Draft Lottery Edition Top-16 Rankings.

There have been no seismic shifts from TSN’s 2025 NHL Draft mid-season ranking from mid-January to the Draft Lottery Edition Top 16 rankings from this week. But upon further review, TSN’s survey of 10 NHL club team scouts does provide some interesting talking points leading into the NHL Draft Lottery, which will be held on Monday night in Secaucus, N.J.

1. Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters)

Erie Otters dynamic defenceman Matthew Schaefer, whose season ended with a broken collarbone at the World Junior Championship in December, remains solidly at No. 1, although it’s not quite unanimous this time. One of the 10 scouts surveyed by TSN this week has Saginaw Spirit centre Michael Misa at No. 1, followed by Schaefer at No. 2. That single scout went with Misa ahead of Schaefer largely on the basis of positional preference. That is, he said there’s little to choose between the potential No. 1 NHL centre and No. 1 NHL defenceman but that he would give the nod to a forward.

2. Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)

3. Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads)

7. Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)

12. Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds)

14. Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts)

The only fresh face in the Draft Lottery Edition Top 16 is Barrie Colt defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson, who went from No. 18 in January to No. 14 now. Erie Otter winger Malcolm Spence, who was No. 16 at mid-season — dropped out of the mix. Spence did not get a single vote in the Top 16 and the consensus of their scouts is that he’s slipped to be more of a bottom half of the first round consideration.

TSN’s final draft rankings survey will take place in June, with their final list unveiled in the week prior to the NHL Draft, which is taking place in Los Angeles on June 27-28.