Who are the NHL prospects Ottawa 67's will look to lead them during OHL season?

Ottawa 67s forward Spencer Bowes is a contender to lead OHL in goals. Photo by Supplied /Ottawa 67s

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Both Spencer Bowes and David Bedkowski shrugged when asked if they had added some size over the summer, but inches and pounds aside, both are expected to play big roles for the Ottawa 67’s this season.

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Bowes as a legitimate threat for the OHL goal-scoring title, and Bedkowski as one of the most physically imposing players in the league.

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Bowes, a soon-to-be 19-year-old winger from Carleton Place, should carry the bulk of the scoring for the 67’s after coming on strong in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, finishing with 23 goals, the sixth-most on the team.

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Selected in the fourth round (102nd overall) of June’s entry draft by the New York Rangers, he returned from the NHL team’s summer development camp to “train, skate and golf”, and when the 67’s played their first pre-season game last Sunday against the Kingston Frontenacs, he included dominating on his list of August activities.

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Working on a line with rookies Hannu Packalen and Lucas Balanyk, Bowes had two goals and an assist, along with five shots on goal and a plus-5 rating in the 6-2 victory.

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“You definitely get a little bit more confidence knowing that a team has put their faith, trust, and development in you,” Bowes said when asked if being drafted by the Rangers gave him a boost heading into this OHL season. 

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He also admitted he’s ready for the pressure that comes with being relied on to put up the numbers when the games count.

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“I’m expecting that,” he said of the challenge. “I know that it’s going to sort of be my role this year. So I’m going to live up to the expectations, hopefully. I want to succeed this year, and I want to produce this year.”

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Bedkowski’s responsibilities will also be clearly defined.

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Already one of the OHL’s biggest players at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, the 19-year-old defenceman has noticeably added muscle that should intimidate opponents as they see him walk into the arena.

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There are players in the league who stand taller — the North Bay Battalion lineup boasts giant defenceman Alexander Karmanov, a 7-foot-1, 280-pound Moldovan who is a sixth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators second-round prospect Gabriel Eliasson, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound blueliner who plays for the Barrie Colts — but it’s hard to imagine any more jacked.

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“My weight’s pretty similar, but I was definitely in the gym,” Bedkowski said of his summer.

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The Buffalo Sabres prospect says the NHL team wants to see him improve his game, “be more efficient, move pucks, defend better” this season. 

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As an overager, he also relishes the leadership role the 67’s will expect of him.

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“I’ll try to help the young guys out as much as I can, as well as some of the older guys,” said Bedkowski, who scored five times and had 24 assists with 118 penalty minutes while splitting last season between the Owen Sound Attack and 67’s, but doesn’t look at stats as his “goals” in 2026-27.  “Just try to push myself every day … I really want to keep on track with everything I’m doing in practice, and just have good day-to-day habits. Really improve upon those and maximize everything out of our group.”