NHL Prospect Roundup: Five under-the-radar early standouts from the OHL

Oct 13, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 10, 2025, 10:25 EDT

NHL Prospect Roundup: Five under-the-radar early standouts from the OHL

We’re more than three weeks into the OHL season, with almost every eligible player having been returned by their NHL teams to kick off the month of October.

The most notable OHLers sticking in the NHL are New York Islanders defender Matthew Schaefer and San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa – both of whom should stay there this year. Brady Martin, though, was a bit of a surprise, although most expect the Nashville Predators to return him to the Soo Greyhounds later this month.

Meanwhile, we’ve seen a few OHLers who don’t typically get a ton of national fanfare start the season on hot streaks. To kick off the fourth year of the NHL Prospect Roundup series, we’re going to look at five lesser-hyped prospects – guys taken outside of the top 100 in their respective drafts – who are making names for themselves right now:

Owen Griffin, C/RW, Oshawa Generals (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Drafted 160th overall in 2025

Griffin was known for his offensive stylings back in his U-16 days but had just six points in his OHL rookie season. He had a breakout 2024-25 campaign, finishing with 22 goals and 51 points, but it didn’t result in him getting selected high. His game has evolved into that of a smarter, more reliable 200-foot center, and he has done so without sacrificing his offensive tendencies.

This year, he’s already off to a flying start. He had four points in his season debut and started the year with a three-game point streak. He’s been on the top line and thriving, even without top forward Beckett Sennecke. Assuming Sennecke comes back to Oshawa, it could unlock even more offense out of the promising forward.

Jared Woolley, LHD, London Knights (Los Angeles Kings)

Drafted 164th overall in 2024

The Knights needed someone to step up after Oliver Bonk graduated to the AHL and Sam Dickinson started the year with the San Jose Sharks. Woolley has been that guy, stepping up with four goals in his first three games. He’s getting a ton of shot volume as well, which is crazy for a guy coming off a 28-point campaign.

It’s easy to look at his 6-foot-5, 207-pound frame and just assume he’s a shutdown, physical defender. But he has always shown some competency as a shooter, with his booming shot causing issues for goalies on occasion. Of course, he’s quite physical, and his ability to inflict pain in his own zone makes him so intriguing. Woolley’s skating still needs work, but he’s making his opportunities count in his biggest role in the OHL to date.

Jordan Charron, RW, Soo Greyhounds (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Drafted 154th overall in 2025

Wait a second – the Penguins drafted someone from the Soo? You don’t say! Charron had an eventful 2024-25 season, playing in the OJHL, GOJHL, and, primarily, the OJHL. He put up a solid 21 points in 48 games while also showing a serious physical flair. His energetic nature gave the Greyhounds a serious boost, and it led to him becoming a fifth-round pick after most scouts didn’t even have him on their radar near the middle part of the season.

This year, though, everyone in the OHL knows what Charron can do. He’s a solid skater who never stops moving. Charron loves to chase after pucks before going the opposite way to create his own chances. His shot was a bit lackluster last year, but he’s averaging a goal per game already this year. At this rate, don’t be surprised if Charron is in the top 10 in scoring by the end of the OHL campaign. He’s already there now, but I can’t wait to see what he does once Brady Martin returns home.

Harry Nansi, RW, Owen Sound Attack (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Drafted 153rd overall in 2025

A third-year OHLer, Nansi was never previously known for his exploits with the puck. He had zero goals and nine assists in 41 OHL games in 2023-24 and just two goals and 23 points in his first full campaign a year ago. He has always been a solid playmaker, but the big draw was his 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to push through battles. Nansi was never an overly physical player, but as he continued to add muscle, opponents couldn’t figure him out.

Some scouts thought that it was only a matter of time until he unlocked his potential with the puck. So far, so good for an Owen Sound team that looks like a legit contender out of the gate. He had a three-point performance against Kitchener on the opening weekend, which helped start a five-game point streak. As the only Attack forward with NHL ties, Nansi has been viewed as a leader for this team, and he’s playing some excellent hockey early on.

Riley Patterson, C, Niagara IceDogs (Vancouver Canucks)

Drafted 125th overall in 2024

Patterson has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now, dating back to his time with the North York Rangers. He had an extremely productive 73-point U-17 season in the OJHL before posting 62 points in his draft year. That led to him getting drafted in the fourth round by the Canucks, and, ultimately, an NHL entry-level contract ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Back in Niagara, where he was traded to during the offseason, he’s off to an extremely strong start. He already has a trio of multi-point games and has been an impactful player just about every night. Not many public lists have him high on Vancouver’s depth chart, but the team likes him. His playmaking game has continued to catch up to his already impressive shot. His decision-making still leaves a bit to be desired (he’s quite raw as a prospect) but he has the makings of a potential bottom-six scoring threat one day.

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