For the most part, when a player receives OHL exceptional player status, it’s a pretty good bet that they’re going to be a good NHL player someday.
Only four players have received exceptional player status before: John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and Sean Day. Sean Day is obviously the player that stands out as the one that hasn’t reaced quite the same level as the others, but he still got drafted in the third round. It’s also usually harder to evaluate defenseman at that age, because they might not be able to flash their skills quite as obviously.
Shane Wright, who played for the GTHL’s Don Mills Flyers, just received exceptional status and he has had no problem flashing his skill set.
Wright isn’t the only player to apply for exceptional status this year either. Matthew Savoie, who plays in the CSSHL, has also applied for exceptional status, but in the WHL. If two players receive exceptional status, you have to wonder if the 2022 draft could have another year of two players slugging it out for the number one spot in 2022. McDavid vs. Eichel, Matthews vs. Laine, Seguin vs. Hall, could the next in line be Savoie vs. Wright?
