North Bay Battalion star forward Romani drafted in the sixth round, 162nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks
It was all smiles for Anthony Romani as he walked down the steps of the Sphere to put on his brand-new Vancouver Canucks jersey.
The North Bay Battalion forward led the OHL in goals this past season with 58 and finished second in points (111). He was a plus-43 and has become a superstar since entering the league in 2021 as a 16-year-old.
Romani had to go through the disappointment of being undrafted in the 2023 NHL Draft. But he used that as motivation to come back better than ever and tear up the OHL, forcing NHL teams to take notice of his game and reconsider drafting him.
He increased his goals total by 35 goals(!) from 23 in 2022-23 and his points total from 43 to 111. Romani’s release is lethal. The puck flings off his stick with remarkable precision and accuracy and beats goalies consistently upstairs.
Romani despite his incredible production isn’t regarded as an offensive play driver. More notably, he slides himself into high-danger areas to make himself available and then makes no mistake when the puck gets to him.
The new Vancouver Canucks prospect isn’t just a pure sniper, he’s also an efficient playmaker and has shown a knack for finding his teammates and setting them up for scoring opportunities.
There have been mixed opinions on his skating from scouts. Some consider him an above-average skater who can weave his way through the neutral zone and create off the rush. While others have said his skating is an area that may hold him back from translating to the pro level.
He suffered a lower-body injury in the OHL playoffs, which greatly impacted North Bay losing in the Eastern Conference Finals this past season.
However, there are no concerns about the injury he suffered and will be ready for the OHL season.