The OHL Playoff Round-up / Prospect Ramblings:
Andrew Barrett
2025-05-31
The OHL Playoffs have come and gone, with the London Knights crowned OHL Champions, for the second year in a row. With the playoffs still on going in the NHL we are seeing the difference between the players who shy away from playoff type hockey, and those who thrive in it. Let’s look at some NHL Prospects who raised their level during the OHL Postseason.
****
Kasper Halttunen – San Jose Sharks: For the second playoff run in a row Halttunen showed he has another gear when it comes to goal scoring. The Helsinki native has shown off his NHL caliber shot all post season. During the regular season he scored at a 0.55 goals per game (GPG) clip, while in the playoffs he netted 15 goals in 17 games to produce at 0.88 GPG rate. He beats goalies with ease from the slot, with a shot that is just not fair at the junior level. His scoring prowess led to Halttunen to being named the 2025 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award Winner as the OHL Playoff MVP.
Slips into a quite spot in the slot, demands the puck, rips it home in a hurry:
********
Easton Cowan – Toronto Maple Leafs: Just like Halttunen, Cowan’s production has risen in another march to helping London win back-to-back OHL championships. After a dip in production in his regular season, had some questioning if the Leafs first rounder in 2023 was worthy of the hype he was receiving. He put everyone on notice with another dominating playoffs, leading the OHL in playoff scoring with 39 points in 17 games played, scoring at a 2.29 PPG for that span. Simply put, this young man was electric, controlling the play, showing his dazzling skill with the puck and great vision setting up his teammates.
Cowan showing off the pirouette, then sets up the trigger man:
****
Luca Marrelli – Columbus Blue Jackets: I wrote about this young defenseman last month, but he continued his great production into the OHL Finals for Oshawa. Finishing second for all skaters in playoff points in 21 games he had six goals, 30 assists for 36 points and 1.71 PPG. This young man quarterbacked the Generals powerplay all post season like Doug Flutie in the 90’s.
Running the PP, shot pass, for the assist:
******
Becket Sennecke – Anaheim Ducks: The highly skilled centre for Oshawa, showed he has another level for playoff hockey as well. After a solid regular season putting up 86 points in 56 games for 1.54 PPG, he ratcheted it up a notch for the playoffs with 32 points in 18 games and 1.78 PPG. He also notched 14 goals in those 18 games played scoring at a 0.78 GPG rate. The third overall pick in 2024 was physical as well, using his size and strength in the hard areas of the ice, which is what Anaheim Ducks fans will love to see in future playoff runs.
Now this is playoff hockey, big hit in the corner, regroups and snipes:
******
Anthony Romani – Vancouver Canucks: After a breakout season in the OHL last year, that saw Romani put up 111 points to finish second in OHL scoring. This campaign was quite the roller-coaster for the Pickering native. Starting the season with the North Bay Battalion, he missed three months with a broken clavicle. While injured he was then shipped off to the Barrie Colts to help bolster their line up to help the Colts go on a deep playoff run. In 35 games split between the two clubs he scored 21 goals, 15 assists for 36 points, producing 1.03 PPG. During the playoffs he played a big part in Barrie’s run to the third round raising his game from the regular season putting up 24 points in 16 games played and producing at a 1.50 PPG rate. Romani showed in could score big goals in key moments and didn’t shy away from the physical playoff style game.
******
Nick Lardis – Chicago Blackhawks: After scoring 71 goals in the regular season he couldn’t possibly match his regular season output, could he? Well guess what, he did! In seven games Lardis scored 11 goals, and four assists for 15 points and 2.14 PPG. While 71 goals is amazing, that’s “only” 1.09 GPG, his 11 goals in the playoffs through seven games put him at a 1.57 GPG. Unfortunately, the playoffs ended with a sour taste for Lardis as he suffered a leg injury in the second game of the second round against Oshawa.
The one-timer from the goal line, for the hattrick:
**********
Luke Ellinas – Ottawa Senators: The fourth rounder for the Ottawa Senators had a big playoffs and saw his production jump by 0.4 PPG. After a so-so regular, that saw Ellinas in and out of action due to injury and only play 50 games. The Toronto native showed how his game truly suits playoff style hockey, in 14 games played, he scored eight goals, and eight assists for 16 points and 1.14 PGP. His play helped carry the Kitchener Rangers to the third round eventually losing in four games to London.
Showing off the hands in tight:
***********
Liam Greentree – Los Angeles Kings: After a great regular season for the Windsor Spitfires that saw him finish third in points in the OHL. The 26th overall pick in the 2024 draft had 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in 11 games played. His production from the regular season was 1.86 PGP, while in the playoffs he produced at a 2.18 PGP rate. Unfortunately, he scored his 24 points in his first eight games, while, in the last three games against Kitchener he was held pointless. During the playoffs he showed his great release, excellent hands and his ability to be a playmaker in the playoffs.
An absolute snipe, for his fourth of the night:
Thank you for reading! Follow me on X/Twitter @AndyB21
Andrew Barrett
LATEST PROFILE UPDATES
LATEST RADIO & DRAFTCASTS
Dobber’s DraftCast S2E8: Atlantic Division Prospects with a chance to make the roster
On this episode: Pat is joined by Ben to discuss prospects in the Atlantic Division who have a chance to make the roster to start, have cups of coffee, or may be up after the trade deadline. This talk is to help fantasy hockey GMs decide on prospects to add, watch or invest in for […]
Dobber’s DraftCast S2E7: Metro Division Prospects with a chance to make the roster
On this episode: Pat is joined by Ben to discuss prospects in the Metro Division who have a chance to make the roster to start, have cups of coffee, or may be up after the trade deadline. This talk is to help fantasy hockey GMs decide on prospects to add, watch or invest in for […]
Dobber’s DraftCast S2E6: Central Division Prospects with a chance to make the roster
On this episode: Pat is joined by Ben to discuss prospects in the Central Division who have a chance to make the roster to start, have cups of coffee, or may be up after the trade deadline. This talk is to help fantasy hockey GMs decide on prospects to add, watch or invest in for […]
