The 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft Lottery concluded today, awarding the Saginaw Spirit the first overall pick for the first time since 2003. The OHL’s lottery system, which determines the top four draft spots completely at random among the four non-playoff teams in the league, awarded the Erie Otters second overall, the Sudbury Wolves third overall, and the league-worst Niagara IceDogs fell to fourth.
It was a rough season for Saginaw, who finished just one point ahead of last place Niagara and allowed 305 goals in 68 games, finishing with a 24-43-1 record. There were some standouts, though, especially 2022 NHL Draft-eligible defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, who looks like a sure-fire first-round talent after leading the team with 62 points in 67 games. A surprise pick last season, Buffalo Sabres third-rounder Josh Bloom led the team’s forwards in points, while New York Islanders netminder prospect Tristan Lennox led Saginaw goalies with a .888 save percentage.
Saginaw will likely be choosing between a pair of forwards from the GTHL’s Mississauga Senators with the first-overall selection. There’s Michael Misa, who was just granted exceptional status in the OHL after the 15-year-old netted 20 points in just seven games at this year’s OHL Cup. While his upside makes him the more likely pick, there’s also the older Malcolm Spence, who also had a very solid run with 13 points in seven games at the same tournament.