Throughout the 2025-26 season, I’ve had the opportunity to write monthly features highlighting some of the league’s top-performing players. From October to now, we’ve covered 15 standout names – all pushing to earn their place at the next level. With playoffs now underway, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at how each month’s top performers have progressed over the course of the season. 

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2026 NHL Draft – Ethan Belchetz, LW (Windsor Spitfires) 

57GP – 34G, 25A, 59PTS 

Height: 6-5; Weight 225 lbs 

DOB: Mar 30, 2008 (18 years old) 

Belchetz wrapped up the regular season at just over a point per game, recording 59 points in 57 games – a notable jump from the 38 points he put up in 56 games last year. Back in October, I was very high on him as a potential top-10 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. Now that the season has come to a close, I’m less confident in that projection – not because he had a bad year, but because other prospects have elevated their stock even further. 

That said, whichever team drafts him in June will be getting a very appealing player. Belchetz stands out with his blend of size and skill, fitting the mould of a 6-5 power forward with a sneaky offensive touch. I have no doubt he will draw significant interest from general managers looking to add that kind of presence to the team.

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SEA – Jake O’Brien, C (Brantford Bulldogs) – 8th overall, 2025 (Seattle Kraken) 

53GP – 28G, 65A, 93PTS 

Height: 6-2; Weight: 175 lbs 

DOB: June 16, 2007 (18 years old) 

O’Brien put together a monster season in Brantford, recording 93 points in 54 games. His 1.75 points per game led the OHL, and he also topped the league in assists with 65. When I wrote about him back in November, he was already off to a scorching start, fresh off being named October’s Player of the Month. From that point on, he never slowed down, producing at an elite level from start to finish. 

Seattle has a highly intelligent and skilled player of their hands, and it’ll be exciting to see how his game translates to the NHL. He reminds me a lot of Nick Suzuki in the way he slows the game down and operates with patience. O’Brien sees the ice extremely well and thrives as a pass-first playmaker, consistently setting up his wingers. I can easily see this player carving out a long and successful career at the NHL level – and it feels like only a matter of time before he makes his NHL debut. 

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NYI – Kashawn Aitcheson, LD (Barrie Colts) – 17th overall, 2025 (New York Islanders) 

56GP – 28G, 42A, 70PTS 

Height: 6-1; Weight: 200 lbs 

DOB: Sept 21, 2006 (19 years old) 

I first wrote about Aitcheson in December and was already impressed with his season at that point. That was before he went on to earn back-to-back Player of the Month honours in January and February – a testament to how dominant he became as the year went on. His performance only continued to rise, to the point that I couldn’t leave him out of my March OHL report after

he broke the Barrie Colts’ all-time scoring record for defensemen, reaching 164 points in 199 regular-season games. He finished the season leading all OHL defensemen on both goals (28) and points (70), while also ranking top five in plus-minus at +46. 

The New York Islanders have to be thrilled with Aitcheson’s development this season. He’s one of the most physical and hard-hitting players in the league, bringing a fierce, competitive edge every night. Aitcheson impacts the game at both ends of the ice and will be a key piece in the Islanders’ future success. 

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STL – Adam Jiricek, RD (Brantford Bulldogs) – 16th overall, 2024 (St. Louis Blues) 

55GP – 19G, 40A, 59PTS 

Height: 6-2; Weight: 185 lbs 

DOB: June 28, 2006 (19 years old) 

Jiricek really caught my attention at the World Juniors, where he emerged as one of the most dominant players in the tournament. He played a major role in helping Czechia capture silver, logging heavy minutes and delivering in key moments – including an overtime winner against Finland and a crucial go-ahead goal in the quarterfinals. His performance earned him the tournament’s Best Defenceman (Directorate Award), a well-deserved recognition. 

He carried that momentum through his season with Brantford, recording 59 points in 55 games. That placed him fourth in total scoring among defensemen and second in points per game at the position. His play throughout the season earned him Defenseman of the Month honours for November and March. 

The St. Louis Blues have an intriguing offensive defenseman in Jiricek. He brings a well-rounded toolkit for the next level, combining size, reach, and high-end vision with the puck skills to thread passes through tight lanes. It’s easy to envision him quarterbacking the Blues’ power play in the near future – and doing so effectively.

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2026 NHL Draft – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) 

67GP – 37G, 60A, 97PTS 

Height: 6-0; Weight: 180 lbs 

DOB: June 27, 2008 (17 years old) 

Klepov has been my favourite player to watch this season. He earned an honourable mention as early as my October article, when he was still being projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick – a range he has largely remained in. After following his progression all year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him climb as high as the top 10. 

It’s incredibly rare for a 17-year-old to lead the OHL in scoring. Notable players to accomplish that include Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner and John Tavares – and now Klepov joins that group. He finished atop the league with 97 points in 67 games, a remarkable feat highlighted by three Rookie of the Month honours (October, January, and February). Klepov is committed to Michigan State next season, where he’ll look to continue his development. All eyes will be on him in June – if he’s still available in his projected range, he has the potential to be one of the biggest steals of the draft. 

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It was a pleasure covering the OHL season here at Dobber Prospects! Stay tuned for my final OHL article of the season once the playoffs wrap up. 

If you want to see me rant about hockey on Twitter/X, you can follow me personally – @AlforqueE 

‘Til next time, 

Emmanuel Alforque