Youngblood Draft Special: 2014 OHL Draft

 

Youngblood – 2014 OHL Draft Guide

 

For several Ontario Hockey League clubs, the season has came to a close but for other teams, they are focused on extending their season in hopes of winning the OHL Championship, earning a ticket to the illustrious CHL Memorial Cup. Regardless of whether teams are knocked out of contention or continuing on in their season’s journey, all twenty OHL front-offices are focused on April 5th – the day that marks the 2014 OHL Priority Selection Draft.

Youngblood: OHL Playoff Preview Edition

Robby Fabbri, Guelph Storm (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Welcome back prospect junkies and OHL fans. With hours until the puck drops on the 2014 OHL Playoffs, The Scouting Bureau is pleased to present its March Playoff Preview Edition of Youngblood. Inside the latest edition, you will find loads of information relevant to the Ontario Hockey League and it’s players.

2014 OHL Mock Draft

 

Marlboros Mikey McLeod destined for Top 5 selection (Photo: Brendan Ross/TSB)

The process of projecting and predicting drafts, at any level of competition, is relatively inconsequential. As soon as ink touches paper, the predictions are destined for failure with so many unpredictable factors contributing to the ultimate outcome of the draft. At the major junior level, it’s well documented that top end talents attempt to use methods to assure they arrive in their cities of choice. It is common procedure for players, parents and/or agents to play the NCAA card hoping to fall to their desired city and these games effect the final outcome of the draft substantially often forcing teams to pass on players they would normally draft based on pure talent. OHL teams have their lists sorted by talent, potential and organizational needs but when it’s time to step up and make their selection there are outside factors that, for better or worse, will dictate the player they choose and ultimately, the future of the franchise.

 

As a whole, the mock drafting practice is merely for entertainment purposes for hockey’s most loyal fans looking to gain perspective. Simple logical reasoning states that this entire activity should be taken with a grain of salt. The fact is, in one week from now when the OHL Cup Championships has passed us by as the season’s final scouting opportunity on the draft’s top prospects, this mock draft could look entirely different based on the tournament showings.