The Brantford Bulldogs are the next team up in the "draft in review" series, as they started things off with a wildcard pick at 14th overall.

The Brantford Bulldogs have concluded their first draft since relocating to Brantford, and they had 14 picks in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. They kicked things off with the 14th overall pick, which was a bit of a wild card selection. 

Their first, second, and third round picks all have the potential to play significant roles with the team next season.

1st Round, 14th Overall: Aiden O'Donnell, Steele Subaru U18

Aiden O'Donnell was a wild card pick because of his birthplace — Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. There are certain rules and guidelines with who is eligible for the OHL or the QMJHL out east, but O'Donnell made it clear that he was declaring for the OHL Draft.

O'Donnell is a player that teams would have to travel to see play, as he didn't play in any Ontario tournaments this season. Clearly, the Bulldogs did their homework on the centreman and he displayed enough to be selected at 14th overall. He played at the Youth Olympic Games with many other OHL top prospects this winter, and played his season with Steele Subaru U18.

He has the potential to be a "steal" in this draft because there were likely some teams who hadn't seen him play enough to evaluate and compare him to players playing in Ontario. O'Donnell was certainly a wild card pick for Brantford, but this selection could pay high dividends for them. 

2nd Round, 23rd Overall: Patrick Babin, Niagara North Stars U16

The Bulldogs selected a highly intelligent, reliable defender with their second round pick — Patrick Babin. Babin played this season with the Niagara North Stars, a very well-structured team. He fit right into this structure, and led this team from the blue line. Whether his team had offensive zone pressure, or were hemmed in their D zone, Babin was able to step in and play a mature game. 

Babin will transition seamlessly to the OHL level because of his level of maturity. He possesses creativity from the point in the offensive zone, and he has the ability to dictate offence with his passing decisions. He's not a player that you have to worry about in any situations — and that makes him effective.

Babin's puck control and poised decision making make him a calm and collected presence on any blue line, and you can expect him to do the same in Brantford.

3rd Round, 53rd Overall: Nik Rossetto, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U

For their third selection of the draft, the Bulldogs decided to look outside of the province once again by selecting Nik Rossetto. Rossetto played his draft eligible season with the Pittsburgh Pens Elite program, but he is from Sault Ste. Marie. 

He's a forward that's on the smaller side, but he has all of the offensive tools that a team could want in a winger. His upside is high, and his offensive creativity could make him a lethal threat at the OHL level. This is a pick with skyhigh upside, but a low floor if Rossetto isn't able to handle OHL-level physicality given his size.

Rossetto had 81 points in 58 games this year in Pittsburgh, and his tools give him every reason to be able to produce at the OHL level too. 

Here are Brantford's remaining eleven picks:

Round 4, Pick #73: Layne Gallacher, F, Oshawa Generals

Round 5, Pick #84: Maksim Corovic, G, Niagara North Stars

Round 6, Pick #116: Luca Diplacido, D, York Simcoe Express

Round 8, Pick #143: Reid Crossman, F, Buffalo Regals

Round 9, Pick #176: Ethan MacLeish, F, Oshawa Generals

Round 10, Pick #196: Heath Bogart, D, Huron Perth Lakers

Round 11, Pick #216: Kaden Wicklander, F, Sudbury Wolves

Round 12, Pick #236: Brock Schaus, G, Kitchener Jr. Rangers

Round 13, Pick #256: Easton Poirier, F, Niagara North Stars

Round 14, Pick #276: Cruz Doner, F, Markham Majors

Round 15, Pick #296: Brody Straus, F, Waterloo Wolves