OHL Stock Watch: Liam Greentree a lone brightspot for struggling Windsor Spitfires

There's been no shortage of turmoil in the OHL since we last checked in. By Nov. 20 alone, five teams had fired their head coaches, which feels like it almost certainly has to be a record.

The Flint Firebirds made the first change just two weekends into the campaign, followed by the Owen Sound Attack a week later, the Kingston Frontenacs at the end of October, and then the Niagara IceDogs two weeks after that.

But the change that many saw coming finally happened in Windsor, when the Spitfires let go of Jerrod Smith less than six months after he was promoted to head coach.

Needless to say, it’s been an eventful and surprising start to the season. But players across the league continue to rise to the occasion, and as they soar, so too do their stocks.

Stock Rising 📈

Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires (2024 NHL Draft)

It's been a tough year for just about everyone in the Spitfires organization. Everyone, that is, except for Liam Greentree.

The 17-year-old winger has often been the best player on the ice for Windsor, scoring at a 1.52 points-per-game clip, good for the lead among all first-time draft-eligible skaters in goals and is top-10 in OHL scoring period.

He’s a dynamic offensive presence, attacking the middle and driving play in spite of weak skating mechanics. He fakes out opponents, dangles through space, executes advanced passes through seams, and his intelligence shines on shifts.

Greentree was ranked 16th on Elite Prospects’ first 2024 NHL Draft ranking, but expect him to climb on our next board.

Carson Rehkopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (Seattle Kraken)

Carson Rehkopf's play in October could have just as easily made him a Stock Rising candidate in our debut edition, but he's kept it up since to the point that we have to include him in this one anyway.

In less than 30 games this season, Rehkopf has 29 goals and 50 points. Most nights, goaltenders can only look behind them helplessly after the Kraken prospect has beaten them cleanly with a laser beam of a shot.

And while his shot was always his best asset, Rehkopf has shown growth as a playmaker as well, creating space for his linemates while manipulating defenders before distributing the puck to them.

There is a vast difference between the player Rehkopf is now and what he looked like in his draft year, and if he continues to improve, the Kraken may have a second-round steal on their hands.

[Read more: Carson Rehkopf is the OHL's most lethal finisher]

Owen Beck, C, Peterborough Petes (Montréal Canadiens)

Owen Beck was in consideration for the Stock Falling part of last month's entry, but a prolific November has seen the Canadiens prospect bounce back in a big way.

He was the OHL’s Performer of the Night twice and is now tracking to set new career-highs in goals and points, thanks to two four-point games and five multi-point outings.

And with his resurgence, the Petes remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, an unexpected surprise given that Peterborough was expected to be rebuilding this season.

There’s still an outside chance he gets moved before the trade deadline in January, but first, he’ll get another opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors this winter, likely as the team’s only returning player.

The Sudbury Wolves’ Top Line

If there were any lingering concerns about Dalibor Dvorský’s (St. Louis Blues) transition to the OHL, he’s likely dispelled them all. Playing on Sudbury’s top line with Quentin Musty (San Jose Sharks) and David Goyette (Seattle Kraken), the trio has helped give some life to Sudbury’s struggling power play and combined for nearly 50 points in the month of November.

Musty, in particular, has been quite impressive. He’s clicking at a 1.94 points-per-game rate, thanks to a nine-point outburst in his final three games of the month. Goyette had at least one point in nine of Sudbury’s eleven games and the three have tremendous chemistry together in the offensive zone, clicking on both the rush and intricate passing plays in the offensive zone.

While Dvorsky will join Slovakia for the upcoming World Juniors, Musty and Goyette will hold down the fort over the next month. In a tight Central Division, expect the Wolves to rely heavily on their top line for the rest of the season.

Honourable Mentions: Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens), Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers), Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim Ducks), Matyáš Šapovaliv (Vegas Golden Knights), Zayne Parekh (2024 NHL Draft), Jett Luchanko (2024 NHL Draft), Cole Davis (2024 NHL Draft), Porter Martone (2025 NHL Draft)

Stock Steady ↔️

Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (2024 NHL Draft)

Sam Dickinson was expected to be the top-ranked OHLer in this upcoming NHL draft class, and the blueliner’s stock has held steady so far.

On a deep Knights blueline, Dickinson has played with a revolving cast of partners this season, from Oliver Bonk to Jackson Edward, and he’s playing significant minutes despite being one of London’s younger players.

Skating is Dickinson’s best asset, and at 6-foot-3, he’s mobile, steady on his edges, and has excellent moments where he uses it to create advantages for himself. But sometimes, he’s betrayed by his decision-making, whether it’s breakout passes to teammates that are turned over, or passive plays with the puck in the offensive zone.

However, his tools remain a tremendous asset, and until another contender emerges to challenge him for top OHLer in this class, expect Dickinson to remain in the top-5 conversation all season long.

Stock Falling 📉

Anthony Cristoforo, D, Windsor Spitfires (2024 NHL Draft)

Last season, Anthony Cristoforo was a dynamic offensive defenceman for Windsor. His game was filled with activations, manipulating opponents, and setting up teammates for scoring chances, along with his play-killing abilities on the rush and in-zone.

This season, little has gone right for the Spitfires, and Cristoforo’s game has taken a hit as a result. He’s a significantly more passive defender now. His breakout passes miss teammates, he takes heavy contact along the boards, and he forces far too many plays with the puck in the offensive zone.

Cristoforo had just four assists in November, which isn’t encouraging production given that the hallmark of his game is offence. However, there’s hope that he will be able to find his game again under a new head coach.

Until that happens, though, Cristoforo likely ends up as a mid-round selection instead of the first-rounder he was expected to be heading into the season.