After a deep overager class in 2026 for the Ontario Hockey League, these potential undrafted eligibles have the potential to hear their names called in the 2027 NHL Draft if things can go right
Not being drafted the first time in the NHL Draft can sometimes be a blessing. Having gone undrafted in his first two attempts, Saginaw's Egor Barabanov went 100th overall to the Calgary Flames after a 91-point effort with the Spirit.
Ben Wilmott's impressive season split with the London Knights and Barrie Colts also saw the double overager in the top-100, 92nd overall to the Vegas Golden Knights.
It's hard to say what makes an overager become draft worthy to NHL prospect status as every player has a different reason for improving their stock.
Sometimes it's an undersized player who wasn't viewed as draftable having a major scoring boost. It could be the big man who suddenly begins putting offense together. A goaltender who can become a starter. Sometimes, it's just a player putting more of the pieces together and improving off of his compete level.
Here are five prospects out of the OHL who may have missed out on the draft, but could hear their name called in 2027 with the right opportunity and improvements in their game. This article will focus on players who played in Ontario this past season, excluding newcomers and 2026 import draft selections, also not included are departing players such as Braidy Wassilyn.
Parker Vaughan - Right Wing - North Bay
Parker Vaughan was the biggest surprise having gone undrafted, having personally been ranked 70th in my rankings, Vaughan was someone who, although raw, looks that he could have a spot in an NHL lineup.
That rawness is something that likely kept Vaughan from being selected, but a big production boost next season could see him as an overager be taken quite highly. Vaughan has flashes of power forward potential, a 200-ft winger with a mix of strength and speed.
Vaughan's biggest question mark revolves around offensive consistency. There's times in which Vaughan is impressive with the puck offensively, but can go quiet at times and hasn't gotten the production he could.
Headed to Leafs development camp, it's evident that Vaughan is someone that teams are at least still tracking as an option, and someone who could very well become a likely draft prospect next season if he can find a way to be more consistent in his game.
JC Lemieux - Right Wing - Sudbury
If JC Lemieux played the entire season with the Sudbury Wolves rather than move out mid-season from the Windsor Spitfires, there's a good chance Lemieux would have been drafted this year.
Lemieux went from 10 goals and 18 points in 33 games in a depth role for a dominant Windsor team, to PPG in Sudbury with 10 goals and 25 points in 23 games, yet that scoring boost wasn't enough for Lemieux to earn a draft selection, even with a decent performance for Canada at the U18's.
Lacking elite tools while not being a very big forward at just 6’0 was likely a reason for Lemieux going undrafted. Proving himself in his D+1 to be closer to the player he was in Sudbury as opposed to Windsor could see Lemieux get drafted in 2027 if he can show that hot streak was no fluke.
Lemieux is at development camp with the Ottawa Senators.
Callum Croskery - LHD - Soo
Callum Croskery going undrafted came as a real surprise, especially as a similar defenseman who struggled more in Rylan Singh went in the seventh round. Croskery has an uphill battle, but has the tools to warrant a future draft look.
The Soo defenseman has some good offensive flair while playing a dependable defensive game. Croskery got unlucky by a wrist injury, as well as being overshadowed by fellow draft eligible Chase Reid on the Greyhounds blueline.
Headed to the NCAA with Boston College, Croskery will play one more OHL season, where he could eat even more minutes with the departures of Chase Reid and Lukas Fischer on defense.
Croskery is at development camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ulysses Lombardi - Centre - Erie
The younger brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Amadeus, Ulysses Lombardi shares the same offensive flair as his brother, but also the same question over being big and physical enough for the NHL consistently.
Having bounced between the GOHL and OHL this season, part of the tricky projection for Lombardi was a lack of OHL experience, but Lombardi impressed in half a season with Erie, netting six goals and 18 points in 32 games with the Otters.
Lombardi is a crafty offensive forward who plays with good mobility and creativeness, but like his brother is not the most physically demanding player. A big D+1 season could see Lombardi get selected as a re-entry, even if he remains a boom-or-bust prospect.
Cohen Bidgood - Right Wing - London
The two highest drafted OHL overagers were two double overagers in Wilmott and Barabanov, so looking at a D+2 for next season with promise would have Cohen Bidgood one of the more promising options to be a stock riser next season.
The 19-year-old had strong, yet inconsistent flashes with the London Knights this season. Like many in the Knights system, Bidgood spent much time below the OHL, playing most of his draft year in the GOHL with the St. Mary's Lincolns. Bidgood adapted well to full-time play in the OHL with London this season, having 14 goals and 39 points in 51 games.
Bidgood has a mixture of offensive creativity and solid skating, someone that could become a PPG player in the OHL next season and propel himself into a draft selection.
Bidgood is currently at NHL development camp with the Buffalo Sabres.
