We went to all 20 OHL teams and asked 16 questions ranging from Who will win the scoring title to which team is the MasterCard Memorial Cup favourite. Only five answers came back with a majority of the coaches in agreement, and it seems they are expecting more than a few players back this season who fans of NHL teams—ahem, Leafs Nation—are hoping won’t be.
Here is your 2016–17 pre-season OHL coaches poll.
| Top scorer | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Strome | 30% |
| T-2 | Alex DeBrincat | 20% |
| Travis Konecny | ||
| 4 | Mitch Marner | 10% |
| T-5 | Logan Brown | 5% |
| Christian Fischer | ||
| Adam Mascherin | ||
| Matthew Tkachuk |
| Best overall player | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Strome | 25% |
| T-2 | Travis Konecny | 15% |
| Mikhail Sergachev | ||
| T-4 | Lawson Crouse | 10% |
| Matthew Tkachuk | ||
| T-6 | Anthony Cirelli | 5% |
| Mitch Marner | ||
| Michael McLeod | ||
| Blake Speers | ||
| Mitchell Stephens |
| Most underrated player | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Cirelli | 20% |
| T-2 | Cam Dineen | 10% |
| Adam Mascherin | ||
| T-4 | Kris Bennett | 5% |
| Jalen Chatfield | ||
| Domenic Commisso | ||
| Tye Felhaber | ||
| Christian Fischer | ||
| Travis Konecny | ||
| Kyle Maksimovich | ||
| Michael McLeod | ||
| Jacob Middleton | ||
| Petrus Palmu | ||
| Givani Smith | ||
| Mitchell Stephens |
| Best hands | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitch Marner | 35% |
| 2 | Dylan Strome | 20% |
| 3 | Travis Konecny | 10% |
| T-4 | Will Bitten | 5% |
| Jeremy Bracco | ||
| Logan Brown | ||
| Alex DeBrincat | ||
| Dante Salituro | ||
| Blake Speers | ||
| Matthew Tkachuk |
| Best bodychecker | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawson Crouse | 20% |
| T-2 | Cameron Lizotte | 10% |
| T-2 | Mikhail Sergachev | |
| T-2 | Givani Smith | |
| T-5 | Jeremiah Addison | 5% |
| Riley Bruce | ||
| Jacob Friend | ||
| Travis Konecny | ||
| Jaden Lindo | ||
| Jacob Middleton | ||
| Keaton Middleton | ||
| Nick Pastorious | ||
| Logan Stanley | ||
| Jacob Stos |
| Best pure sniper | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex DeBrincat | 70% |
| 2 | Adam Mascherin | 15% |
| 3 | Travis Konecny | 10% |
| 4 | Spencer Watson | 5% |
| Top playmaker | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Strome | 35% |
| 2 | Logan Brown | 20% |
| 3 | Travis Konecny | 15% |
| 4 | Mitch Marner | 10% |
| T-5 | Will Bitten | 5% |
| Jeremy Bracco | ||
| Dante Salituro | ||
| Blake Speers |
| Best forward | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitch Marner | 30% |
| 2 | Dylan Strome | 25% |
| 3 | Travis Konecny | 20% |
| 4 | Matthew Tkachuk | 15% |
| T-5 | Alex DeBrincat | 5% |
| Christian Fischer |
| Best defenceman | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikhail Sergachev | 60% |
| 2 | Mitchell Vande Sompel | 15% |
| T-3 | Jakob Chychrun | 10% |
| Vili Saarijarvi | ||
| 5 | Olli Juolevi | 5% |
| Best goalie | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Parsons | 60% |
| 2 | Michael McNiven | 20% |
| 3 | Jeremy Helvig | 15% |
| 4 | Michael DiPietro | 5% |
| Top 2017 NHL Draft prospect | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabe Vilardi | 60% |
| 2 | Owen Tippett | 15% |
| 3 | Ryan McLeod | 10% |
| T-4 | Sasha Chmelevski | 5% |
| Matthew Strome | ||
| Nick Suzuki |
| Best overage player | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spencer Watson | 20% |
| T-2 | Warren Foegele | 10% |
| Steven Lorentz | ||
| T-4 | Jeremiah Addison | 5% |
| Mike Amadio | ||
| Jalen Chatfield | ||
| Michael Cramarossa | ||
| Stephen Desrochers | ||
| Christian Dvorak | ||
| Jeff King | ||
| Darby Llewellyn | ||
| Matt Mancina | ||
| Andrew Mangiapane | ||
| Jacob Middleton | ||
| Niki Petti |
| Hardest road arena to play in | ||
|---|---|---|
| T-1 | London Knights | 30% |
| Owen Sound Attack | ||
| 3 | Peterborough Petes | 15% |
| T-4 | Windsor Spitfires | 10% |
| Kitchener Rangers | ||
| 6 | Barrie Colts | 5% |
| Which team will win the OHL championship? | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windsor Spitfires | 40% |
| 2 | London Knights | 35% |
| 3 | Mississauga Steelheads | 15% |
| T-4 | Sarnia Sting | 5% |
| Soo Greyhounds |
[polldaddy poll=9534914]
| Which team will surprise the most? | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owen Sound Attack | 55% |
| 2 | Hamilton Bulldogs | 15% |
| T-3 | Guelph Storm | 5% |
| London Knights | ||
| Mississauga Steelheads | ||
| Oshawa Generals | ||
| Ottawa 67’s | ||
| Soo Greyhounds |
| Which team (not your own or host Windsor) is the CHL’s Memorial Cup favourite | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London Knights | 45% |
| 2 | Mississauga Steelheads | 20% |
| 3 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | 10% |
| T-4 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 5% |
| Erie Otters | ||
| Portland Winterhawks | ||
| Sarnia Sting | ||
| Soo Greyhounds |