Chase Reid, Nikita Klepov headline best performers at OHL Top Prospects Game

PETERBOROUGH, Ontario – The Western Conference emerged victorious in the second annual Connor McDavid Top Prospects Game, featuring 40 of the OHL’s top 2026 NHL draft-eligible players.

Scouts and fans alike were treated to a closely contested, back-and-forth affair that saw both conferences trade goals in the first and second periods, before Team West finally pulled away in the third period. Top prospects and marquee names from both teams led the way, but there were also a few impressive performances from others, who likely established themselves as potential darkhorse candidates with their play. 

Here’s a look at the prospects who likely improved their draft stock and delivered upon expectations in front of NHL teams last night in Peterborough, along with a handful of honourable mentions. 

Chase Reid, RD, Top Prospects West

Chase Reid did everything but record a point in this game. Points be damned – the highest-ranked OHL player in this game delivered in every way that mattered. 

If he had the puck on his stick and a lane to the net, he was charging up ice with it. If there was space, he was activating into it. If there was an open lane, he was delivering pucks through. He was creating high-end plays on every shift. One of his best scoring chances saw him beat every opponent up the ice before being stopped in tight.

Confident and calm as the handler, Reid shook pressure as easily on retrievals as he did at the line in the offensive zone. He threw players out of his way as he attacked the middle, spun off checks in open ice, and passed through layers. He was a dominant offensive creator, and while his defensive game was shakier than normal at the World Juniors, he proved to be more than effective in his own end in this outing. 

Delivering more performances like this one could see Reid separate himself even more from the other defencemen in this draft class. And as the race for first overall tightens even further, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Reid play his way into that conversation, too. 

Nikita Klepov, LW/RW, Top Prospects West

Named Team West's Player of the Game after a goal and two assists, Nikita Klepov was one of the best forwards in this game. He created scoring chances in spades, layering both his deceptive playmaking and pace with inside-driven attacks. Here’s his no-look wizardry on the game’s first goal, for your viewing pleasure:

High-end creation has been more difficult to come by for Klepov in Saginaw as of late, so it was reassuring to see his skills come to the forefront of this game. His confidence was evident from puck drop – even before he helped set up that goal, he was leading rushes, gaining the zone, passing to trailers joining the play, shooting through traffic to create rebounds, and getting to the middle with ease. 

His best shift of the game came on Team West’s third goal, where he carved his way through the offensive zone, maintained possession while under heavy pressure along the walls, cycled high to the slot, and, after selling shot, delivered a no-look pass to an activating Rylan Singh. 

While Klepov has trended more as a checking, bottom-six forward with his league play over the last month, this game was a reminder that he has top-six skill. With hope that he will be able to carry momentum from this game into the second half, Klepov should maintain his spot inside our first round. 

Caleb Malhotra, C, Top Prospects East

A two-assist outing from Caleb Malhotra, who just continues to get better with every viewing. And he seems to have a habit of elevating his game in these top prospect showcases. He facilitated the rush on Team East’s second goal, one of several chances he helped generate off the rush: 

Malhotra’s dual-threat ability shone in this viewing. He delivered passes off the walls and cross-slot feeds to teammates, dangled defenders on multiple instances as he drove the inside, and got open in space to create a couple of scoring chances of his own. 

Away from the puck, details and physicality continue to power Malhotra’s game. He applies relentless backpressure on puck carriers to kill breakouts and force turnovers, and he supports the play and his defenders well. While the mechanics may not be as refined as other top prospects, it won’t matter for Malhotra at the next level. In a draft lacking centres, he continues to establish himself as one of the best options down the middle in this class. 

Adam Novotný, LW, Top Prospects East

Adam Novotný may have been snakebitten at the World Juniors, but since returning to Ontario, his goal scoring has returned in spades. Named the Player of the Game for Team East, Novotný scored twice, including a snipe from the top of the circle that brought his team to within one near the end of regulation: 

Ridiculously explosive in just a couple of steps, Novotný was a force in transition. Overwhelming defenders as he charged up ice with his linemates, he finished every route and timed his movements into space perfectly. He beat defenders to the front of the net, showed off his handling in motion and in small areas, and challenged goaltenders with difficult, heavy releases over and over again. 

Always effective away from the puck, Novotný shone at both ends of the ice. He’s a detailed, responsible player, a beast along the walls, and has skill in spades. His draft stock continues to rise, and should he continue to put up performances like this one in the second half, he could climb into the top 10. 

Alex Kostov, RW, Top Prospects West

One of two 2006-born players participating, Alex Kostov dominated his shifts. He carved through the offensive zone, dragging defenders as he circled, opening up lanes, threading the needle to his teammates, and delaying for as long as necessary to create the highest-value play. 

Kostov’s handling under pressure and playmaking vision made him a constant threat. Perhaps his most memorable play was his fantastic downhill cross-slot pass to Reid, who had snuck to the backdoor. But he was constantly working quick passes with his linemates Ethan Belchetz and Alessandro Di Iorio to overwhelm defenders, break down structure, and wreak havoc in the offensive zone. Constantly circling, cycling, and reloading, Kostov was nearly impossible to knock off the puck as he attacked the middle of the ice. 

As one of the oldest players in this game, it may not have been too surprising to see Kostov emerge as one of the best players. However, he has been passed over in the NHL draft in both of the last two years and is on pace for a career-best season in the OHL. Perhaps this impressive viewing will force NHL scouts to take another closer look.  

Jaxon Cover, LW/RW, Top Prospects West

If you saw Jaxon Cover listed on the fourth line and thought he might not get a ton of opportunities to impact this game, you would have been wrong. The London Knights winger was a menace on his shifts, charging to engage opponents, win pucks, and then create chances with relentless fervour. 

He battled, pressured, forced turnovers, retrieved pucks, and started breakouts. The skill appeared early and often, highlighted by several impressive passes off the walls after he fended off backpressure and found teammates driving the slot. One of his best sequences in the entire game saw him skate up the ice, dangle a defender, and then crash the net trying to stuff the puck in, drawing a penalty as he was hauled down.  

As he gets better at leveraging his frame and playing through contact, Cover could become a dominant OHL player and an exciting NHL prospect. His skill is undeniable, and combined with his desire to get inside often, he’s a play-creation machine. He more than held his own amongst his peers in this game; he outplayed several who are ranked higher. 

Ryder Cali, C/LW, Top Prospects East

Ryder Cali has missed a lot of time with injury compared to everyone else in this game, but he appears to have shaken off the rust quickly. One of the most physical forwards on both rosters, his contact skills were on full display in this outing. 

It’s no secret that those contact skills allow Cali to thrive in the middle of the ice. He wins positioning on defenders, slips away from checks, and screens goaltenders easily. Also an impressively effective wall player, Cali forechecked heavily, cycled pucks down low, and drew a penalty. Less than a minute later, he beat a defender to a rebound to score Team East’s first goal on that power play while parked in front of the net. 

He also generated several other Grade-A scoring chances in the slot, including a couple of one-timers. He was more of a shooter in this game than a distributor, but his playmaking appeared in a couple of high-end flashes. With every viewing, Cali continues to look like a top-32 calibre prospect with projectable pace, physicality, and skill. Staying healthy in the second half will be important, but expect Cali’s stock to keep rising. 

Joe Salandra, RW, Top Prospects East

A late addition to the East roster after an injury to Aiden O’Donnell, Joe Salandra proved to be one of the team’s most consistent and effective players. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched him this season.

Leveraging his impressive motor to pursue pucks, Salandra pressured defenders, pinned them to the boards, and won battles down low. He threw two of the hardest hits in this game, one on Jacob Xu below the goal line to free the puck, and the other a reverse hit on Egor Barabanov in the neutral zone at the end of a shift. 

Detailed and intelligent, Salandra’s playmaking also emerged in flashes, with the ability to spot the higher value play and deliver the pucks to teammates activating into space instead of shooting through traffic. But he was equally as efficient at creating chances that way, as his shot created a rebound that was buried by a teammate in front on Team East’s first goal. 

Salandra was an honourable mention on our November NHL Draft top 50 ranking. Though he plays with a remarkable amount of pace, questions surrounding his footspeed at his size and how high-end his playmaking is still remain. However, this game was further proof that he can elevate his play alongside some of the best of his peers, and perhaps it could be enough to land him on more radars in the second half. 

Honourable Mentions: Rowan Henderson (East), Adam Levac (East), Ryan Roobroeck (East), Nathan Amidovski (East), Rylan Singh (West), Alexander Bilecki (West), Callum Croskery (West), Ryder Fetterolf (East)