2021 OHL Draft Results

Round 1

The 2021 OHL Draft has future NHL talent on display. Find out who went to what OHL team and our grades for all 19 first round picks.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 7, 2021.

1. Sudbury Wolves: Quentin Musty, RW, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-3 181 lb Quentin Musty is playmaker at forward who is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Musty prefers to play right wing. He gives the Sudbury Wolves their first blue chip prospect since Quinton Byfield who the Wolves took three years ago with the first pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Sudbury won the 2021 OHL Lottery after the 2020-2021 OHL season was cancelled due to Covid-19.
   
   
   
   Quentin Musty is a natural shooter as well as a passer who sets his teammates up to score. If he becomes half the player Byfield was, this will be a fantastic pick.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 15, Musty has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Quentin Musty has a chance to be a special player for the Sudbury Wolves.
   
   
   
2. Oshawa Generals: Calum Ritchie, C, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-1 174 lb Calum Ritchie entered the preseason as the top prospect in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection after having 20 goals, 39 assists, and 59 points in 30 games as a rookie in 2019-2020. He didn't get a chance to play this year due to Covid-19. This playmaker center has a chance to be a special player for the Oshawa Generals.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Ritchie has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, ability to win face offs, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Calum Ritchie like Quentin Musty is a player that has a chance to be a top 15 pick in a very stacked 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Guelph Storm: Cameron Allen, D, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-0 185 lb Cameron Allen is models his game after Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. He had 14 goals in 33 games. Cameron Allen is already considered a top 10 defenseman in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Allen has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He's probably the best defenseman the Guelph Storm have drafted since Drew Doughty.
   
   
   
4. Windsor Spitfires: Ethan Miedema, LW, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-4 185 lb Ethan Miedema dominated as a rookie in 2019-2020 with 44 goals, 51 assists, and 95 points in 2019-2020. Covid-19 kept players from competing in 2020. Miedema seems deserving of this pick as the top left winger in this years 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Allen has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. The only objection some may have is that Ethan Miedema is not a bruiser. I'm willing to look past that since this guy is a natural at taking control of shifts giving the Spitfires their best left winger since Taylor Hall.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Kingston Frontenacs: Matthew Soto, RW, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 160 lb Matthew Soto was the best right winger in the draft not named Quentin Musty according to most OHL scouts. Matthew Soto had 21 goals, 23 assists, and 44 points in 2019-2020 before the 2020 season got cancelled due to Covid-19.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Soto has the explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. The only knock with Soto is he lacks top end speed. He makes up for this in a big way with his agility, zone entries, and exceptional hockey IQ. If he can work his way up to the first line next season, he could take a lot of pressure off of Shane Wright who is the front runner to be the first pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
6. Peterborough Petes: Nick Lardis, RW, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 154 lb Nick Lardis led the Oakville Rangers in points in 2019-2020 with 40 goals, 34 assists, and 74 points. He was teammates with Calum Ritchie and Matthew Soto producing more points than both players.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Soto has the explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Nick Lardis is a fantastic pick for the Peterborough Petes in my opinion as he gives this team a difference maker at right wing.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Flint Firebirds: Tristan Bertucci, D, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-2 180 lb Tristan Bertucci was team captain of Toronto's Marlborough's Under 16-team prior to 2020 cancelling the season due to Covid-19 with Bertucci being an alterate captain the year before. I'm always on board with drafting a team captain.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Soto has the explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tristan Bertucci could end up being a star defender on the Flint Firebirds first line at some point down the road.
   
   
   
8. Owen Sound Attack: Colby Barlow, RW, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 6-1 190 lb Colby Barlow had 23 goals, 24 assists, and 47 points in 2019-2020. He didn't get to play much due to Covid-19 in 2020-2021 and did enough to get promoted to alternate captain.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 16, Barlow has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy to succeed in the NHL. His decision making and hockey IQ is effective, but inconsistent. Barlow can be a first round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft if he improves this area of his game because everything else is there. There's a reason he was a top 5 prospect on some OHL draft boards which is why the Owen Sound Attack get an eighth straight A+ grade.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Mississauga Steelheads: Luke Misa, C, (2024) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 161 lb Luke Misa had 31 goals, 31 assists, and 62 points in 2019-2020 on the Oakville Rangers. He outperformed a bunch of guys on the Oakville Rangers that were drafted ahead of him. He has the raw talent you want, but he wasn't able to show that consistently which is why he fell to 9.
   
   
   
   Luke Misa's game is built around speed. He's got the offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed. The rest of his game needs to develop in the OHL if he hopes to be a first round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
10. Erie Otters: Carey Terrance, C, (2023) A Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 170 lb Carey Terrance is known for his skating and hard play. He has the skating, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ. He needs to develop the rest of his game, but shows a lot of promise after getting 14 goals, 14 assists, and 28 points with the Toronto Titans back in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    
    
11. North Bay Battalion: Owen Outwater, LW, (2023) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 170 lb Owen Outwater had 27 goals, 25 assists, and 52 points in 2018-2019. Outwater followed that up with 30 goals, 32 assists, and 62 points in 2019-2020.
    
    
    
    Despite being only 16, Outwater has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Owen Outwater is one of the bigger steals in the first round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
    
    
    
12. Ottawa 67's: Christopher Barlas, C, (2023) A+ Grade
    
    
    The Ottawa 67's got the best player on the board at 12. Christopher Barlas was right in Ottawa's backyard making this a superb addition for the Ottawa 67's.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Sarnia Sting: Angus Macdonell, C, (2023) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 5-10 172 lb Angus Macdonell was once a team captain. That leadership could come in handy with an organization like the Sarnia Sting.
    
    
    
14. Hamilton Bulldogs: Alex Pharand, C, (2023) C Grade
    
    
    The 5-10 150 lb Alex Pharand is the first head scratcher pick fourteen picks into the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. It's a reach, but a pick I can live with. A solid, but not spectacular selection by the Hamilton Bulldogs.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Saginaw Spirit: Luke McNamara, C, (2023) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 170 lb Luke McNamara is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Luke McNamara had 13 goals, 16 assists, and 29 points i 2019-2020. Luke McNamara 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points in 2020-2021 being one of a few players to play a full season in 2020-2021 without it affecting Covid-19.
    
    
    
    Luke McNamara has the playmaking and stick handling. The rest of his game needs to improve. McNamara got an A+ grade for playing the full season in 2020-2021.
    
    
    
16. London Knights: Denver Barkey, C, (2023) C- Grade
    
    
    The 5-7 134 lb Denver Barkey is undersized. He didn't produce as many points as last years first round pick that the London Knights got at center in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. That's why this pick got a C- grade.
    
    
    
    
    
17. Kitchener Rangers: Carson Rehkopf, C, (2023) F Grade
    
    
    Kitchner is already stacked at center. Carson Rehkopf has a USHL deal in place which is why the Kitchner Rangers get an F grade for wasting this pick.
    
    
    
18. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds: Justin Cloutier, RW, (2023) D Grade
    
    
    The 5-8 165 lb Justin Cloutier felt like a reach. There were better players on the board, but one positive is this guy has playoff experience.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Barrie Colts: Beau Akey, D, (2023) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 170 lb Beau Akey was the Waterloo Wolves captain in 2019-2020 when he had 11 goals, 11 assists, and 22 points. Akey would have had two seasons of experience as team captain on the Waterloo Wolves if it wasn't for Covid-19. Barrie knows how to develop elite defenseman. Aaron Ekblad and Brandt Clarke are two examples of this. Beau Akey has a chance to be the next elite defenseman prospect to come out of Barrie.