67's Draft Laurin
Ottawa 67's Select Andrew Laurin with 18th Pick in OHL Priority Selection
The Ottawa 67's opened the 2026 OHL Priority Selection by taking right-winger Andrew Laurin with the 18th overall pick, Ottawa Citizen reported. Laurin, a 6'2", 176-pound forward from Belleville, Ontario, posted 26 goals and 25 assists in just 34 games for the Quinte Red Devils U16 AAA last season — a 51-point haul that put him on the radar of every team in the first round.
The pick came one day after the 67's lost center Thomas Vandenberg, who confirmed he would attend Providence College to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, according to Shore Line Beacon. That departure left a major hole in Ottawa's top-six forward core heading into the 2026-27 season.
Laurin's Big Season Made Him Hard to Pass
Laurin's numbers at the U16 AAA level were hard to ignore. He scored 26 goals and added 25 assists in 34 games, racking up 44 penalty minutes along the way, according to Calgary Herald. That combination of skill and physicality made him stand out as a "skilled forward with a large frame" and a "force on the puck," as McKeen's Hockey described him.
Elite Prospects ranked Laurin 19th on their Consensus Ontario Top 100 list. Ottawa grabbed him at 18th, suggesting the 67's got solid value. General Manager Jan Egert had promised a "best player available" approach before the draft. He said the team targeted Laurin for his "motor, pace, and pressure" shown at the OHL Cup.
Vandenberg's NCAA Exit Shadows the Entire Draft
Just 24 hours before Ottawa stepped up to the podium, Thomas Vandenberg announced he would honor his commitment to Providence College, according to Fort Saskatchewan Record. Vandenberg had put up 25 goals and 25 assists in 59 games for the 67's in 2025-26. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 35th among North American skaters. Losing him stung.
The timing made the Laurin pick more complicated. Ottawa needed a center. They drafted a winger instead. Don Brennan of the Ottawa Citizen noted that the 67's "ignored a position of need" in favor of pure talent. While Laurin is a natural right-winger, there is some talk he could line up at center for Ottawa to fill the gap Vandenberg left behind.
NCAA Defections Are Reshaping OHL Draft Strategy
Vandenberg's move is part of a bigger trend. Recent rule changes around major junior eligibility have made it easier for top prospects to choose NCAA programs over the OHL, according to The Observer. More players are taking that path. The 67's are not the only team dealing with this. But the timing — one day before a live draft — made it especially painful for Ottawa.
The 2026 OHL Priority Selection was also the first in-person, live draft since 2000, held at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, Ontario. That backdrop added extra pressure and attention. For Ottawa, the opening round became as much about what they lost as what they gained.
What Comes Next for the 67's Roster
Scouts see Laurin as a "wildcard" with real upside. His offensive instincts are clear. But McKeen's Hockey pointed to his "consistent engagement and compete on the defensive side" as an area that still needs work. If he develops fully, he could be a top-line scoring winger. He is already projected as a strong candidate for the 2028 NHL Entry Draft, according to Woodstock Sentinel Review.
Ottawa may need to be aggressive on Day 2 of the draft to find center depth. The 67's also completed two pre-draft trades — one with the Saginaw Spirit and one with the Brampton Steelheads — that could shape their later-round options. Head Coach Dave Cameron now faces the job of building a competitive lineup around a promising but young new face.
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