OHL Stock Watch: Michael Misa and Igor Chernyshov are taking league by storm
With less than a month remaining in the OHL regular season, the playoff races are heating up in both conferences.
Out east, the Brantford Bulldogs sit atop the conference, but only barely – just three points separate them from the tied-for-second place Kingston Frontenacs, Oshawa Generals and Barrie Colts.
The Brampton Steelheads rediscovered their winning ways, ending the month by winning six of their last seven games. In doing so, they passed the free-falling Niagara IceDogs for fifth place and appear to be picking up steam at the perfect time.
The playoff picture looks a little clearer in the Western Conference, with the top three teams locked into home-ice advantage in the first round and the Saginaw Spirit putting distance between themselves and the Erie Otters for fourth place. However, just one point separates the 7th-place Soo Greyhounds, 8th place Owen Sound Attack, and 9th place Sarnia Sting (at the time of writing).
Let’s take a look back at the month that was, starting with the prospects who took their games to new heights in February.
Stock Rising 📈
Igor Chernyshov, LW (San Jose Sharks) & Michael Misa, C (2025 NHL Draft), Saginaw Spirit
If his statline is any indication, Igor Chernyshov may be too good for the OHL. Perhaps that isn’t too surprising – after all, the winger spent a significant amount of time in the KHL last season. But there were still question marks about how he would adjust to the league after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, the lengthy recovery period preventing him from playing the first-half of the year.
With league-leading scorer Michael Misa and re-entry revelation Kristian Epperson, Chernyshov looked right at home on Saginaw’s top line. Chernyshov hit the ground running immediately, scoring twice in his first OHL game. His 33 points in 13 games in February were second only behind Misa, which included two five-point and two four-point outings.
Lead Scout David St-Louis noted in this game report that “Igor Chernyshov is very physically mature for the OHL, but we didn't expect him to arrive and dominate this much. On many shifts, he looks like the best player on the ice.”
As for Misa, the top 2025 NHL Draft prospect continues to prove why he should be considered a first-overall contender this summer. He became the first CHL player to reach 100 points this season, and scored his 50th goal of the season the night before his 18th birthday.
It’s not just the production, either. As Dir. of North American Scouting Mitchell Brown explained in this game report, Misa’s game is so much more than his gaudy numbers: “Misa is a machine. He never stops moving, engaging, and creating. The details are special, and his dynamism continues to rise… There are a lot of similarities to Celebrini in the details, physical skills, and ability to control the game from the walls and high cycle. A potential first-overall pick.”
Time will tell if that happens, but Misa is well on his way to putting the finishing touches on one of the most special NHL draft-eligible seasons in OHL history. With him and Chernyshov leading the way, Saginaw could make some serious noise in the postseason.
Ryerson Leenders, G, Brantford Bulldogs (Buffalo Sabres)
The Brantford Bulldogs didn’t necessarily load up at the OHL trade deadline the way some of the other teams in the Eastern Conference did. Instead, they made arguably their most important acquisition at the start of the year, when they landed Ryerson Leenders from the Steelheads.
Leenders has formed an excellent tandem with David Egorov this season, but truly found his groove in February. He started in every game the Bulldogs played last month, rattling off nine wins, boasting a 0.921 save percentage and making a league-high 352 saves to earn Goaltender of the Month honours.
Of course, it helps having goal-scoring machine Nick Lardis (Chicago Blackhawks) and playmaking wizard Patrick Thomas (Washington Capitals) drive the bus offensively, but Leenders has helped backstop Brantford to first-place in the East, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.
Finn Harding, D, Brampton Steelheads (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The Pittsburgh Penguins may have found a hidden gem when they selected Finn Harding with the third-last pick of the draft as a re-entry prospect last summer. The Steelheads blueliner currently sits fifth in league scoring amongst defencemen and recently set a franchise record for the most assists by a defenceman in a single season.
Harding had made strides to improve his rush defence, and his physical game has improved significantly as well. He is able to now consistently kill rushes before quickly transitioning up to join the play the other way.
Almost a point-per-game player this season, Harding has stepped into the number-one defenceman role and steadied a Brampton blueline that is prone to coverage breakdowns. His growth as a two-way defender hasn’t gone unnoticed. Yesterday, the Penguins announced that they had signed Harding to a three-year entry level contract, a well-deserved reward for the defenceman's stellar season.
Honourable Mentions: Ilya Protas (Washington Capitals), Liam Greentree (Los Angeles Kings), Nick Lardis (Chicago Blackhawks), Zayne Parekh (Calgary Flames), Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche), Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia Flyers), Porter Martone (2025 NHL Draft), Ethan Belchetz (2026 NHL Draft), Pierce Mbuyi (2026 NHL Draft)
Stock Steady ↔️
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (Anaheim Ducks)
Even if the puck wasn't going in as frequently for Beckett Sennecke as it had been in the first-half of the season, it was still a productive February for the dynamic Generals winger.
Sennecke recorded 13 points during his 9-game point streak last month, including a hat trick against the Guelph Storm. The versatility, frequency and deception in his play creation makes him one of the league’s most dangerous puck carriers. His unique blend of manipulation, high-end handling skills, and ability to execute at top speeds while absorbing contact has been on display all season long.
And don’t forget – Sennecke rises to the occasion when the stakes are highest. His postseason performance last year is what catapulted him up to third overall at the NHL draft. Now leading the Generals in scoring by a wide margin (the next closest teammates are 17 points back), Sennecke looks ready to lead Oshawa into what will hopefully be another long playoff run.
Stock Falling
The Niagara IceDogs
Niagara found a way to right the ship over the weekend in dramatic fashion. A Kevin He (Winnipeg Jets) hat trick and 40 saves from fourth-string goalie Hayden Jeffrey helped put an end to the IceDogs’ 12-game losing streak – against the London Knights of all teams.
However, February was a month to forget. The IceDogs lost every game that they played, largely due to injuries to their goaltenders. Backup Charlie Robertson was injured at the end of January, and their depth was tested further when starting goalie Owen Flores was hurt just a couple of weeks later.
Having to rely on their third and fourth-string goaltenders in a deep Eastern Conference has been difficult to say the least. But goaltending injuries weren’t the only problem during the losing streak, as goals were more difficult to come by than they had been in the first-half.
Niagara stood pat at the trade deadline and had benefited a bit from favourable shooting percentages in the first-half. At one point this season, the IceDogs sat atop the East, but they have since fallen down the standings. Now, a top playoff seed and home-ice in the first round seems out of reach.
However, Niagara’s win over London may have given them the momentum boost they need to get back on the right track. If they can end the regular season on a high note, the IceDogs shouldn’t be overlooked in the postseason.