2016–17 pre-season OHL coaches poll

Tyler-Parsons;-London-Knights;-OHL;-CHL;-OHL-Playoffs;-MasterCard-Memorial-Cup;-2016-NHL-Draft;-Calgary-Flames;-Sportsnet

Tyler Parsons of the London Knights was the second goalie off the board when the Calgary Flames picked him in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

We went to all 20 OHL teams and asked 16 questions ranging from Who will win the scoring title to which team is the MasterCard Memorial Cup favourite. Only five answers came back with a majority of the coaches in agreement, and it seems they are expecting more than a few players back this season who fans of NHL teams—ahem, Leafs Nation—are hoping won’t be.

Here is your 2016–17 pre-season OHL coaches poll.

Top scorer  
1 Dylan Strome 30%
T-2 Alex DeBrincat 20%
  Travis Konecny  
4 Mitch Marner 10%
T-5 Logan Brown 5%
  Christian Fischer  
  Adam Mascherin  
  Matthew Tkachuk
Best overall player  
1 Dylan Strome 25%
T-2 Travis Konecny 15%
  Mikhail Sergachev  
T-4 Lawson Crouse 10%
  Matthew Tkachuk  
T-6 Anthony Cirelli 5%
  Mitch Marner  
  Michael McLeod  
  Blake Speers  
  Mitchell Stephens
Dylan Strome; Erie Otters; OHL; CHL; Arizona Coyotes; 2015 NHL Draft; OHL Playoffs; Sportsnet
Dylan Strome is hoping to be in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes rather than with the Erie Otters, but he finished top of the table in three categories. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)
Most underrated player  
1 Anthony Cirelli 20%
T-2 Cam Dineen 10%
  Adam Mascherin  
T-4 Kris Bennett 5%
  Jalen Chatfield  
  Domenic Commisso  
  Tye Felhaber  
  Christian Fischer  
  Travis Konecny  
  Kyle Maksimovich  
  Michael McLeod  
  Jacob Middleton  
  Petrus Palmu  
  Givani Smith  
  Mitchell Stephens
Best hands  
1 Mitch Marner 35%
2 Dylan Strome 20%
3 Travis Konecny 10%
T-4 Will Bitten 5%
  Jeremy Bracco  
  Logan Brown  
  Alex DeBrincat  
  Dante Salituro  
  Blake Speers  
  Matthew Tkachuk
Mitchell Marner; London Knights; OHL; CHL; Toronto Maple Leafs; 2015 NHL Draft; MasterCard Memorial Cup; CHL-NHL Agreements; Sportsnet
With the way things have gone for Mitch Marner with the London Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s doubtful he’ll be back in the OHL any time soon. (Rob Wallator/CHL Images)
Best bodychecker  
1 Lawson Crouse 20%
T-2 Cameron Lizotte 10%
T-2 Mikhail Sergachev  
T-2 Givani Smith  
T-5 Jeremiah Addison 5%
  Riley Bruce  
  Jacob Friend  
  Travis Konecny  
  Jaden Lindo  
  Jacob Middleton  
  Keaton Middleton  
  Nick Pastorious  
  Logan Stanley  
  Jacob Stos
Best pure sniper  
1 Alex DeBrincat 70%
2 Adam Mascherin 15%
3 Travis Konecny 10%
4 Spencer Watson 5%
Alex Debrincat; Erie Otters; CHL; OHL; Chicago Blackhawks; NHL; 2016 NHL Draft; Chicago Blackhawks; Sportsnet
Erie Otters winger and 2016 Chicago Blackhawks second-rounder Alex DeBrincat is coming off two straight 50-goal seasons. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)
Top playmaker  
1 Dylan Strome 35%
2 Logan Brown 20%
3 Travis Konecny 15%
4 Mitch Marner 10%
T-5 Will Bitten 5%
  Jeremy Bracco  
  Dante Salituro  
  Blake Speers
Best forward  
1 Mitch Marner 30%
2 Dylan Strome 25%
3 Travis Konecny 20%
4 Matthew Tkachuk 15%
T-5 Alex DeBrincat 5%
  Christian Fischer
Travis Konecny; Sarnia Sting; OHL; CHL; 2015 NHL Draft; Philadelphia Flyers
Travis Konecny finished the season with the Sarnia Sting after a blockbuster move from the Ottawa 67’s. His 71 assists were good for fifth in the OHL. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)
Best defenceman  
1 Mikhail Sergachev 60%
2 Mitchell Vande Sompel 15%
T-3 Jakob Chychrun 10%
  Vili Saarijarvi  
5 Olli Juolevi 5%
Best goalie  
1 Tyler Parsons 60%
2 Michael McNiven 20%
3 Jeremy Helvig 15%
4 Michael DiPietro 5%
Tyler Parsons; London Knights; OHL; CHL; OHL Playoffs; MasterCard Memorial Cup; 2016 NHL Draft; Calgary Flames; Sportsnet
Tyler Parsons of the London Knights was the second goalie off the board when the Calgary Flames picked him in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)
Top 2017 NHL Draft prospect  
1 Gabe Vilardi 60%
2 Owen Tippett 15%
3 Ryan McLeod 10%
T-4 Sasha Chmelevski 5%
  Matthew Strome  
  Nick Suzuki
Best overage player  
1 Spencer Watson 20%
T-2 Warren Foegele 10%
  Steven Lorentz  
T-4 Jeremiah Addison 5%
  Mike Amadio  
  Jalen Chatfield  
  Michael Cramarossa  
  Stephen Desrochers  
  Christian Dvorak  
  Jeff King  
  Darby Llewellyn  
  Matt Mancina  
  Andrew Mangiapane  
  Jacob Middleton  
  Niki Petti
Spencer Watson was drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2014. He had 43 foals and 89 points in 64 games with the Kingston Frontenacs last season. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)
Spencer Watson was drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2014. He had 43 foals and 89 points in 64 games with the Kingston Frontenacs last season. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)
Hardest road arena to play in  
T-1 London Knights 30%
  Owen Sound Attack  
3 Peterborough Petes 15%
T-4 Windsor Spitfires 10%
  Kitchener Rangers  
6 Barrie Colts 5%
Which team will win the OHL championship?  
1 Windsor Spitfires 40%
2 London Knights 35%
3 Mississauga Steelheads 15%
T-4 Sarnia Sting 5%
  Soo Greyhounds

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Which team will surprise the most?  
1 Owen Sound Attack 55%
2 Hamilton Bulldogs 15%
T-3 Guelph Storm 5%
  London Knights  
  Mississauga Steelheads  
  Oshawa Generals  
  Ottawa 67’s  
  Soo Greyhounds
Which team (not your own or host Windsor) is the CHL’s Memorial Cup favourite  
1 London Knights 45%
2 Mississauga Steelheads 20%
3 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 10%
T-4 Brandon Wheat Kings 5%
  Erie Otters  
  Portland Winterhawks  
  Sarnia Sting  
  Soo Greyhounds

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