Colby Barlow proved with Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League that he deserves to be not only the best forward, but also the best player in the OHL this season.
Left wing (6ft-1, 195lbs) Who is he? 12 in the final NHL Central scouting rankings for North American skaters Presented by BioSteel, Owen led the Sound with 46 goals, 79 points, and 13 goals in 59 games.
He set a team record with 10 consecutive goals (13 goals) from November 12 to December 4.
“I think Barlow has that talent in the way a kid can score goals and get into the scoring position,” said David Gregory, director of the Scouting Centre. “Obviously you have to score in order to win, and the goals get more and more difficult as the season progresses. He’s done that consistently in every environment he’s been in, and he’s gotten better with each passing year.”
Barlow had 30 goals and 47 points as a junior in the OHL in 2021-22, setting another Owen Sound record for most goals by a 16-year-old.
The 18-year-old is one of four OHL players among the top 20 North American skaters in Central Scout’s final rankings. Oshawa center Callum Ritchie (6-2, 184) is 13th, left winger Quentin Most (6-1, 200) is 14th and linebacker Oliver Bonk (6-1, 180) is London’s number. 20.
Two OHL players were selected in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft: Kingston center Shane Wright (#4, Seattle Kraken) and Saginaw DF Pavel Mentyukov (No. 10, Anaheim Ducks).
The OHL has 56 recognized players in the final North American Snowboard Scout Rankings. To break it down, here are five questions with Gregory:
Center Callum Ritchie wasted time with a shoulder injury and Oshawa struggled without him late in the season. What made Richie stand out in his second season in the OHL?
Oshawa struggled to win the match when Richie came out, but when he came back they started winning again. He is a leader, someone who competes hard and someone who improves the players around him. We use that old cliché a lot, but if you have someone like him, you can give them the disc, or if you’re looking for a free spot, they’ll find you with the disc. This makes him special and someone who would obviously be a very good choice.
Quentin Muste is part of the OHL line with Barlow and Ritchie who could be selected in the middle or late in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Why would this be a great option for an NHL franchise?
“Musti is a player who has all the tools. He thinks the game is very good, he’s very creative with the puck and when he’s on his game he’s able to disengage the play. He could easily be the best player in the game. Any time it suits him. Barlow, Ritchie, Musti “They are three very good players. NHL clubs are going to look for their needs at some point. Some teams take the best player available, especially in the first round. For these guys, they’re very close in our rankings because they all bring a skill set that makes them worthy of a first-round pick.”
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Oliver Bonk is the highest ranked defensive tackle in the OHL in the final North American Ski Center rankings. Why?
“He’s been the complete package for us and his development progress over the season has been very good. He plays on both ends of the rink and takes the game at a high level. It gave us confidence that this player would be able to succeed as the game gets faster and the competition improves as you progress into the professional game. He obviously comes from a great pedigree and probably knows the game from a young age now. He can produce points, he keeps getting better.”
Defensemen Andrew Gibson (6-3, 202; No. 31) of Sault Ste. Mary and Tristan Bertucci (6-foot-2, 175 pounds; 32 overall) of Flint are other potential first-round OHL draft picks in the final North American Skateboarding standings. What makes you think every second round match can be won?
“Gibson is a really unique player. His first year was in the OHL, where he got out of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. He was able to contribute and be a strength, and that was impressive for a rookie. He’s had some injury issues this year and we haven’t had as much games.” Which we’d love to see. I think his game would have evolved further, but we’re anticipating what we’ve seen, and he’s jumped into the OHL and kept winning over the years when you’ve seen someone progress and improve throughout the season, it’s a sign of saying, ‘Okay, he’s going to keep that projection. »
Bertucci has made a huge leap forward from last year to this year. He knows he can be the one who dictates the tempo, the one who dictates the course of the game. I think it’s very attractive for teams to say, ‘He’s a player I want for our team because I think he’s going to be a professional Really good. »
Are there any other players in the OHL that we haven’t discussed who you think could choose between a mid- and late-season pro to become a solid pro in 3-5 years?
“I think Erie center Carey Terrance (6-0, 178; No. 38) is a player who has really improved his stock since leaving our roster. It’s obviously a rare occurrence where someone makes it to the USA U18 Hockey National Team.” Their most important tournament was the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, but he was added to this team and contributed. He’s a great skater and plays at a pace that’s really ready for the National Hockey League. I think what happened is the rest of his game he realized how he could skate. His control of the game at a fast pace made him a real powerhouse.
“The other player for me would be left winger Nick Lardyce (5-11, 168; #27) from Hamilton. Another great skater who stands out in the game because he can play at a fast pace. He started the year in Peterborough and he wasn’t. He had the year we thought he was in OHL trade deadline, moved to Hamilton and had 46 points (25 goals) in 33 games; scored 19 points (12 goals) in 36 games with Peterborough. Ranked 96th in mid-season in January and advanced to the first round of the final roster in April .
Photos: Sam Bushbeck, Alison Kennedy Davis and Owen Sound (OHL)
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