No. 15 – Will Bitten / C / 5’10” / 168 lbs / Ottawa, ON, CAN
Bitten was a third round pick, 70th overall by the Canadiens in 2016.
The centre was taken seventh overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.
He played his full rookie season and finished with decent numbers. He scored 31 points in 63 games, which was good for seventh in team scoring.
Bitten stayed with the Whalers, who became the Flint Firebirds in 2015-16. He led the team in scoring that season, finishing with a career-high 65 points, 17 points more than the second highest scorer on the Firebirds.
Then, prior to the 2016-17 season, Bitten was on the move once again. This time to the Hamilton Bulldogs via trade.
Bitten finished with 57 points on the year and helped the Bulldogs to the fifth seed in the OHL’s Eastern Conference.
They were eliminated from the playoffs in seven games by the Kingston Frontenacs. Bitten finished the series with three goals and eight penalty minutes.
Here’s what EliteProspects.com had to say about Bitten.
"A smart offensive catalyst that consistently displays outstanding work ethic, elite hockey sense, and an ability to stay ahead of the play in all three zones. Very naturally gifted skater who moves around the ice with ease. Excels in pressure situations and uses his vision to predict where the puck is going to be, and proactively gets his body into a position where he can either take it away or take off up the ice. Offensively, he has a very creative streak, and knows what kinds of plays he can make in all situations; he also has an exceptional release on his shot, which he can get off quickly. Defensively, he is a buzzsaw that will not let up on the opposition, creating problems for them by causing turnovers and playing strong positionally. Will Bitten has all of the tools to become a very dangerous two-way forward that can produce strong numbers at the next level."
As a 2016 pick, the logical choice for Bitten is another year in the OHL. It will give him the chance to bulk up some more and play as a top six forward on Hamilton.
He has the chance to be a very good centreman in the future, but at his size, he can use another year of development rather than rushing him to the AHL in 2017.