The OHL season gets underway next week and we’ll have all the action for you here right on FloHockey. As is the case any year in the O, a lot of attention is going to be paid to the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. 

• Get your FloHockey annual subscription now to watch the OHL all season long
• Top NHL-Affiliated Prospects To Watch In The OHL This Season
• OHL Commissioner, FloSports Brass Talk About New Partnership

Last year, five of the top eight picks including each of the first two in the 2025 NHL Draft, came from the OHL. Led by Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer at No. 1 and Michael Misa at No. 2 for the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, respectively, it was another strong showing for the league in June.

Much is left to be determined for the 2026 NHL Draft, but this is shaping up to be another strong year for the OHL as the picks start flying next summer.

With many of the league’s most recent drafted prospects currently at NHL rookie camps and sticking around for training camps, the 2026 NHL Draft eligbiles are among the most intriguing players to watch over the first few weeks of the junior hockey season.

To get you ready for the season ahead, here is a look at 10 of the 2026 NHL Draft eligible players you should be watching closely in the O.

2026 NHL Draft Prospects To Watch In The OHL This Season

Ryan Roobroeck, RW, Niagara IceDogs

This year’s draft class is highlighted by a pair of massive forwards at the top with Roobroeck most often being heralded as the potential top pick out of the league. There’s good reason expectations are high, coming off of a 41-goal, 87-point season for Niagara after a 51-point rookie campaign in 2023-24.

Roobroeck is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and a late 2007 birth date. Born just 10 days after the NHL draft cutoff, he will be one of the oldest players in this entire draft class, but the hockey sense and playmaking ability to go along with that big frame is going to have scouts paying special attention.

Ethan Belchetz, C, Windsor Spitfires

Another huge forward at 6-foot-5, 227 pounds, Belchetz plays the kind of style that resonates a lot with NHL teams. He can do a lot of good things offensively, but his ability to engage physically and play with aggression could put him in a very high position in this draft class.

Belchetz had a fair rookie season, posting 38 points in 56 games, but there were flashes of some higher-end capabilities and a year of experience should bring those to the forefront more. Despite being 16 in the league for most of last season, Belchetz initiated contact a lot and wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves when needed. 

After leading Canada in scoring at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, the former first-overall pick in the OHL draft looks poised for a big season with the Spits. The scout room in Windsor is probably going to be especially well traveled, like usual.

Ethan Belchetz scores a beauty on the power-play!#HlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/SuEA2r5PaM

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 16, 2025

Chase Reid, D, Soo Greyhounds

Among the most fascinating prospects in the O this season, Reid burst onto the scene last year after starting with the NAHL’s Bismarck Bobcats. The Greyhounds saw the potential and called him up, but I don’t think they could have anticipated what he was going to do for them.

Reid averaged better than a point per game with 40 points in 39 contests in the Soo. He has good skating ability, moves pucks extremely well and showed offensive confidence. On top of that, he’s a 6-foot-2, right-shot defenseman, which has given him some very early Top 15 buzz in this draft class.

Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough Petes

One of the best import additions of the offseason, Peterborough had to be thrilled when Novotný agreed to sign this summer. At 6-foot-1 and nearly 200 pounds, Novotný has some real physical maturity and plays a mature game.

He spent all of last season in the top pro league in Czechia, which never really allowed him to showcase the offensive toolkit he clearly has. That was more apparent internationally, especially at U18 Worlds where he was a top scorer for the Czechs. He also played at the World Junior Championship as an underager.

Novotný should bring some power and some scoring pop to Peterborough’s top six.

Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia Sting

A 6-foot-1 forward with solid hockey sense and some growing offensive tools, Edwards had a strong rookie season in 2024-25. He posted 25 goals and 45 points in 62 games and even put himself in the mix for Canada’s spring U18 team, though ultimately wasn’t selected.

He was selected for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, however, and performed solidly with four points in five games. There isn’t one tool that will wow you with Edwards, but he does enough things well and consistently well that he is going to probably have a really productive, impressive season.

Colin Fitzgerald, C, Peterborough Petes

A right-shot center with some size is always going to catch a scout’s eye and Fitzgerald certainly has their attention. He had 28 points in 48 games last season as a rookie for Peterborough and earned a spot on Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup Team this year. 

At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Fitzgerald merely needs to prove he can be difficult to score against and his offensive game is starting to take hold more. With a year of OHL experience under his belt and the addition of a high-profile teammate in Novotný, it’s up to Fitzgerald to take some control and prove he belongs in the first-round discussion that has surrounded him thus far.

Hometown @PetesOHLhockey talent is soaking in the opportunity 🇨🇦

Colin Fitzgerald is attending @HockeyCanada U18 Selection Camp in Oakville, hoping for the chance to wear the red and white again! pic.twitter.com/uTdoqn3x4P

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) July 30, 2025

Alessandro Di Iorio, C, Sarnia Sting

A versatile, 6-foot-1 right-shot center, Di Ioirio has the kind of game that can fit in a lot of different places. His offensive numbers haven’t exactly popped in a major way yet in his young junior career, but he keeps getting invited to Hockey Canada events because of the variety of roles he can play. He won gold at last year’s U18 World Championship as an underager, was part of the Hlinka Gretzky Team and a couple of years back was a top player at the Youth Olympics.  After posting 38 points in 58 games with Sarnia, I’d expect to see a significant jump in that production. 

Braidy Wassilyn, RW, Niagara IceDogs

There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the sturdy Wassilyn heading into the season. At 5-foot-11 and nearly 200 pounds, he can be difficult to get off the puck and when his motor is running, he can be hard to stop. He posted 39 points in 62 games with Niagara last season. A big point of emphasis this year is going to be able finding that consistency and being an every-shift kind of player that will put the other team on notice. He has the capability to make some good things happen and with NHL scouts heading to St. Catharines an awful lot this year, it’s going to be a great opportunity for him to show what he is made of.

Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound Attack

No rookie had more goals or points than Mbuyi’s 29 and 52 last season. He earned the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s rookie of the year and put himself firmly on the map as a player to watch fot this draft season. A tepid showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer may have knocked a little of the momentum off of Mbuyi’s rise, but once we get into the games here in the OHL, the expectation is he will shine again. The 5-foot-10 winger doesn’t have size on his side, but he does have plenty of skill and offensive know-how to break through. He should be in for a big season with Owen Sound to keep his name on a lot of scouts’ lists.

2025 #OHLAwards 🏆

With 29 goals and 52 points, Pierce Mbuyi becomes the first player in @AttackOHL history to earn the Emms Family Award as #OHL Rookie of the Year.

DETAILS 📰: https://t.co/jTZGxKG0wh pic.twitter.com/6DNF7CxqId

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 22, 2025

Oscar Hemming, LW, Kitchener Rangers

We’re still waiting to learn for sure if Hemming will be able to play for Kitchener this season. The Finnish forward was expected to follow in his brother Emil’s footsteps to the OHL, but Kitchener is awaiting Hemming’s transfer approval from Finland as there is reportedly a dispute about the contract he terminated with Kiekko-Espoo over the summer. Until that is resolved, Hemming can’t suit up.

However, if and when he gets the chance, he could be a huge boost to Kitchener’s offense. Hemming is 6-foot-4, 190 pounds and was an absolute force at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August. He scored four goals and had six points in five games. 

Last season, he primarily played in Finland’s U18 league where he was absolutely dominant, averaging better than two points per game. When he moved to the U20 ranks, he was very productive and showed some of his best skill during the U20 playoffs with nine points in 13 games.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Hockey Hits Harder On Flo

Every game. Every goal. Every hit. All Season Long. FloHockey gives you access to the most live hockey anywhere, including leagues like the AHL, ECHL, OHL, QMJHL and USHL. Watch your team, follow top prospects and stay on top of all the action. Subscribe to an annual plan now and get 7 months free.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
• Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
• Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook