Late birthday forward comes from a family with no shortage of NHL pedigree with his older brothers already property of the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound centre is an excellent two-way forward who has really elevated his offensive game in the early going of the 2013-14 season. Reinhart shows an ability to produce in all situations and his excellent vision and offensive awareness bode well when projecting what type of offensive impact he can have in the NHL. At this point, you'd have to consider Reinhart a slam dunk to make the jump to the NHL next year, the only question remains whether or not he winds up being the #1 pick which appears to be all his right now.

Receiving exceptional player status in the OHL can be hard enough. You can magnify that when you’re only the second player to receive such status in league history; following in the footsteps of some guy named John Tavares. Aaron Ekblad was that guy, and he played the part well as he went on to become the OHL’s Rookie of the Year in his first season. The 17-year-old, Belle River, Ont. native is an imposing presence on the blueline as his tenacity and physical presence in combination with his size are an extremely rare combination. Ekblad’s offensive game has continued to evolve and his heavy shot and offensive zone skills project well to the next level. Ekblad has always been labeled as having ‘heavy feet’, but as he continues to develop it looks like an area of his game that is becoming less of a concern.

Oshawa’s prized sophomore forward will never be mistaken for a dynamic speedster, but Michael Dal Colle just continues to get things done. The 6-foot-2 forward is capable of playing both centre and the wing and possesses impressive puck protection skills and offensive zone creativity that project well on his ability to be a big-time producer at the next level. Dal Colle’s top-end speed is an area of continued improvement, but his elusiveness, stickhandling ability, and long reach create matchup problems for any OHL defenseman. Dal Colle has always been a dangerous goal scorer but has really become a great playmaker as he does a great job of finding open teammates and making some impressive feeds.

When you're a potential top five NHL pick playing in a town of less than 40,000 people, it's safe to say you're probably a local revelation. With no shortage of hype, Draisaitl is living up to that and then some as the 18-year-old WHL sophomore is looking to solidify his spot in the top five. With pro size, Draisaitl plays brings a consistently high compete level and has excellent hands and offensive talent. More of a playmaker than a scorer, Draisaitl has shown that he can be an offensive catalyst night in, night out, and should wind up having a good opportunity to make the jump to the NHL next year.

There are very few father/son duos who can say they've had the opportunity to play professional hockey on the same team; yet alone when that son happens to be only 17-years-old. Rarity aside, that's exactly the situation that William Nylander finds himself in this season playing alongside his father, former NHL'er, Michael. Checking in at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Nylander's agility and fluid skating makes him a puck wizard and a player capable of making things happen at top speed. He still needs some time to transition to the pro game to learn that he won't have as much time as he once did, but Nylander's offensive upside will be worth waiting for.

The former #2 pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, Ritchie looks to have put some injury woes from a season ago behind him, which has him primed for a big year. The hulking winger will have NHL teams salivating with a 6-foot-2, 220 pound frame, and speed to burn. Despite his gargantuan size, Ritchie has the explosiveness to take most defenseman wide but also shows an ability to mix up his attack by cutting in and driving the net. Ritchie's shot release is top notch and projects to grade out as a 30+ goal scorer at the next level. So what's holding his game back? Ritchie can be a mixed bag as you never know what you're going to get out of him on any given night. If the soon to be 18-year-old can find some consistency, it could help push him into the top three.

After being selected in the second round of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Fleury quickly solidified himself as a top flight NHL prospect last season with the Rebels, logging considerable minutes in all situations. The Regina, Sask. native has been very impressive in the early going, elevating his offensive play with eight points through his first 11 games, while playing a vital role as one of the team's key shutdown defensemen. Finding players with Fleury's size and puck moving ability is tough to come by so don't be surprised to see Fleury in firm contention for a top ten spot in 2014.

If you've been following the OHL this year, you probably know a little bit about the '96 class playing for the Kingston Frontenacs; a group that could be primed to net the revamped Frontenacs three first round NHL picks in 2014. Leading the way is McKeown, a 6-foot-1, 185 pound, riverboat gambler who might be one of the biggest wildcards in the top half of the draft. McKeown's skating, willingness to jump into the rush and initiate the play, as well as his overall offensive upside is a tantalizing package. But it doesn't come without concerns. McKeown is prone to being caught out of position and being overzealous at times which can result in him being a primary culprit for defensive mishaps. Red flags aside, there's no doubting McKeown's natural talent and he could wind up being one of the premier players (or flops) from this draft. 

Where McKeown is tougher to project, teammate Sam Bennett is one of the most complete forwards you'll find in 2014. The 6-foot centre had a terrific rookie season and capped it off by representing Team Canada at the Under 18 World Championships as an underaged player (alongside McKeown). Bennett is a true 200-foot player and is capable of playing on the powerplay, penalty kill, and is never one to cheat his defensive responsibilities to initiate something at the other end of the ice. That's not to downplay his offensive game, however, as Bennett is a very crafty player who has a deceptive shot release and underrated playmaking ability. His overall ceiling might not match that of some of the guys in front of him but there's no doubting his ability to be a top six player in the NHL and more.

If you haven't noticed yet, the 2014 NHL Draft is on track to be one to remember for the OHL. Our sixth ranked OHL player in the top ten, McCann is a dynamic forward who can play down the middle or on the wing. The Stratford, Ont. native is a relentless possession player who can menace the opposition with his excellent top-end speed and acceleration. McCann is a true goal scorer and has natural offensive instincts and outstanding finishing ability. He is prone to going through stretches where the puck doesn't seem to go his way, but McCann is yet another forward in this draft with excellent upside at the NHL level.

Big things were expected from Barbashev after the Wildcats made him the first overall selection in the 2012 CHL Import Draft; and so far, it's safe to say he has more than lived up to expectations. Barbashev was eased into the league last year and went on to become a point-per-game producer with 62 points in 68 games; a number that will surely increase in 2013-14. After starting out on the wing, Barbashev has also seen time as a centre and has responded well to the increased responsibility of the position. The 6-foot Moscow native won't blow you away with his size, but his compete level and grit is refreshing and bodes well for his NHL hopes. With an above average skill level across the board, Barbashev projects nicely as surefire NHL player who should be at worst case a third line type player.

Karlsson burst onto the scene internationally last season; wearing the captaincy for Sweden at the Under 17 Championships and following that up with a very impressive performance as an underager with the Swedish entry at the Under 18 Championships. The 6-foot-1 forward has already filled out to 203 pounds and has a motor that is rivaled by few prospects at this age. Karlsson is a tireless worker who is always making an impact with his hardwork and physicality. The 17-year-old is relentless on the forecheck and is excellent at creating turnovers and driving offensive zone puck possession with great board-work and puck protection. Karlsson is underrated offensively and his ability to be around the puck bodes well for him at the next level as he should develop into a forward who is capable of complimenting a first or second line centre.

The NHL Draft has been a dark place for the Czechs in recent years, but players like Jakub Vrana could help to stem the tide of some bleak years. Vrana made the move to Sweden two years ago to continue his development and the move appears to have paid off as he has already made his way up to Sweden's top professional flight as a 17-year-old. Vrana has speed to burn and can be a dynamic player when he's not trying to over-do himself off the rush. Capable of playing either wing, Vrana has had some struggles finding icetime with Linkoping since his promotion but the offensive winger should have an excellent chance to showcase himself in an offensive role at the World Juniors this year.

After being selected with the number one pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, it took Virtanen some time to get his feet under him at the Major Junior level last season; but when he did, you could see the upside. Virtanen is a power forward who plays his off wing and while the offensive numbers won't blow you away right now (seven points through nine games), his big shot and ability to overpower defenders translates well to the next level. In order to be effective, Virtanen needs to play a power game and really impose his impact on the game; which is something he started to show at the start of the pre-season. Virtanen will be watched closely this season but looks to be a solid pick in the teens.

Like many 16-year-old players in Major Junior, Perlini's career was slow to develop in its initial stages as he struggled to get icetime with a loaded Barrie Colts squad. However, in the footsteps of Ryan Strome only a few years ago, a mid-season blockbuster trade to the Niagara IceDogs is just what the doctor ordered for Perlini who has been one of the top offensive players in the OHL this season. The 6-foot-3, 195 pound winger is an excellent possession player who plays the game with great pace and determination. Perlini's skill level is high-end and his ability to take what the defense gives him allows him to create offense naturally rather than forcing plays. If he can add an extra gear to his stride this season there might not be much holding Perlini back from the top ten.