It's way too early to predict anything. Let's do it anyways. Here is a list of three teams that could make some noise next season.
Between the drama of the draft and the excitement of training camps lies a vast desert where hockey news grinds to a halt. There is however, no better time for speculation than when sitting idle in the very center of the becalmed seas of hockey news.
Hockey fans starving for a morsel of news or analysis look no further. Here are five teams to watch come the start of the 2024-25 OHL season.
1) Oshawa Generals
This may feel like an obvious pick considering Oshawa went to the finals during last year's OHL playoffs. However, what stands out about the Oshawa Generals is how young and star studded their team could be next season.
Their top-three scorers (Calum Ritchie, Dylan Roobroeck and Beckett Sennecke) are all eligible to return next season. All three should be expected to put up big numbers. Though the team lost Rasmus Kumpalainen, there are younger players who may be able to pick up the slack. Tristan Delisle, who had an excellent playoffs, and Owen Griffin should be expected to take a step forward as they enter their second season in the league. The team also added Finnish forward Lauri Sinivuori during the offseason. All together they should have a competent set of forwards with great upside. The one risk is that Ritchie could potentially start the season in Colorado. While that would be an excellent step for Ritchie, it would put a question mark on the team's proven scoring depth.
On the defensive side of the puck, Leafs' first-round pick Ben Danford and Blue Jacket's prospect Luca Marrelli are eligible to continue manning the blue line alongside Luca D'Amato and David Bedkowski. The team signed Czech defender David Svozil earlier this offseason. They have a very solid D-corps that will be big, tough and difficult to play against.
Their goalie tandem of Jacob Oster and Noah Bender are both eligible to return and tend the pipes next season.
Beyond the names on the roster, the team also learned what it takes to succeed in the playoffs last year. The team dug deep and went deep in the playoff. The continuity from last year's team, the skill and the experience all combine to make Oshawa a team that will be fun to watch next year.
2) Brampton Steelheads
The newly anointed Brampton Steelheads finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season, missing out on the top spot by only four points. Similar to Oshawa, Brampton's team is young and has some difference makers in key positions.
The team's top three scorers, Luke Misa, Porter Martone and Angus MacDonell are all eligible to return. All three forwards averaged better than a point per game last season. Everyone should keep an eye on Martone as he enters his draft year. The young forward seemed to put it all together while captaining Canada to an U-18 World Junior Championship gold medal this summer. He scored five goals and added 12 assists for 17 points in only seven games.
If 2006-born forwards Jack Van Volsen and Lucas Karmiris continue with their progress from last season, Brampton will have a strong set of veteran forwards to lean on.
Defensively, the team will have a strong trio in Jakub Fibigr, Finn Harding and Stevie Leskovar. Fibigr will need to take on the lead roll where scoring is concerned, though Harding is no slouch. If Parker Von Richter takes a step forward in his game, then the team could have a very solid group of defenders.
The Steelheads have a young goalie tandem in 2006-born Ryerson Leenders and rookie standout Jack Ivankovic. Leenders saw the majority of the work last season, though Ivankovic had the best GAA amongst all rookie goaltenders, and proved he can fight for starts. Either way, the Steelheads have two strong options to rely on in net.
The team is likely to be well rounded with strong players throughout their roster. If they take a step forward as a group then they could easily fight for one of the top spots in the league.
3) London Knights
They are almost always one of the top teams in the league and that does not seem likely to change next season. Their potential depth at both forward and defense are unparalleled throughout the league. The only major question that needs to be answered is in goal.
At forward 2005-born stars Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey are both eligible to return next season. The concern for London fans will be that these two could make a jump to the NHL or AHL given their performance over the last two years. Sharks' prospect Kasper Haltunnen as well as Oilers' prospect Sam O'Reilly will also return. Overaged players Ruslan Gazizov and Jacob Julien could also return depending on roster decisions. The forward group will be fast, skilled and dangerous.
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The D-corps is just as deep as the forwards. Oliver Bonk, Sam Dickinson and Jared Woolley could all come back as experienced defenders. Rookie defender Henry Brustewicz will also return with the opportunity to play increased minutes due to the graduation of Jackson Edward and Isaiah George to the AHL. With three experienced defenders and the possibility that Brustewicz could take a leap forward with more opportunity the group will be strong.
With Michael Simpson joining the Belleville Senators, 2004-born Owen Willmore is the only goaltender able to return for next season. In 23 games, Willmore had a 2.96 goals against average and an .899 save percentage. However, he has never played more than 25 games in a single OHL season.
Other than in net, London has all the answers and could be just as dominant as they have been the past several seasons. Th fear for London fans will be how many players end up moving up to higher levels. Even if certain key players do move on the depth is there for London to be very competitive.