Continuing along the path of 2025 NHL Entry Draft prospects, which we most recently did in our latest installment by way of the analysis of Boston College commit/US NTDP product James Hagens and previously delved into with OHL exceptional status player/Saginaw Spirit star forward Michael Misa, we have a player from Misa’s past. This left-winger is an exceptional two-way talent and primed for big moments, with a work horse mentality. While projected to go high in the draft, it is possible that he is simultaneously unheralded for his overall game and profile. Let us spend some time looking at this 17-year-old’s talents, careers, and accomplishments to this point. He is yet another product of the CHL that is absolutely can’t-miss, and deserves to have some light shed on him as his development continues with the same club that gave the NHL a certain player by the name of Connor McDavid.

Malcolm Spence was born in Mississauga, Ontario on September 22nd, 2006. Like Michael Misa (with whom he has long been a close friend), he is largely a product of the GTHL’s Mississauga Senators. These two devastated the Greater Toronto Hockey League together, and their fates seem in a way intertwined. Before we get to that, however, we should discuss some of Spence’s earlier accomplishments with which he first indicated his top-end potential. He participated in the World Selects Invitational in two consecutive years with Pro Hockey Selects, in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons as a U12 and U13 player respectively. In the first of these two appearances, he scored 7 goals and tallied 1 assist in 8 games. In the next, this time playing 7 games, he had 9 goals and 6 assists to his name, an over 2 points-per-game pace. The latter especially was a true statement about and testament to his offensive prowess. He carried this with him to the Mississauga Sens, with whom he posted an impressive statline of 29 goals and 27 assists in 28 games as a U16 player in 2021-22. As you may recall, this was the same season where his teammate and friend Misa lit the OHL Cup on fire with his historic offensive output. For his own part, Spence did quite well, also. He scored 7 goals while gathering 6 assists and a +9 in 7 games. His performance in 2021-22 was good enough to where he was drafted second overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection by the Erie Otters, behind only Misa, which indicates that Spence would have gone first if not for Misa being granted exceptional player status.

The manner in which this past season unfolded for Spence was satisfactory on an individual level despite not being the best year for Erie, which has become a somewhat standard turn of events. The Otters were placed bottom of the standings in the OHL’s Western Conference and likewise finished last in the Midwest division, the latter being the fifth season in a row this has occurred in a long skid as the team seems to continue to wander lost after having been marred by financial difficulties (and an unusual court battle) even in the several season stretch that included success both during the Connor McDavid era and in the two seasons after. Spence, however, tallied 42 points in 64 games, good for second on the team behind C Carey Terrance (2nd round, 59th overall in 2023, Anaheim Ducks). Beyond that, he had some international success, winning gold with Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In five games, he tallied five points and impressed with his defensive play and ability to perform in the clutch. Like James Hagens, Spence is already getting eyes on him with his all-around play.

As of right now, Spence is an alternate captain for Erie this season (2023-24). He is yet to post a point in his two appearances to this point, but has an even plus/minus despite the team’s two defeats and -7 goal differential. This will be the first of two remaining seasons before he becomes draft eligible, and he is determined to make meaningful strides in them. While Spence, who is black, has a chance to make history, as (as noted by the above-linked article from the Toronto Star) his being picked first overall would make him the first ever POC to be taken first overall in the NHL Entry Draft, he is, as also noted, very focused on making an impact on the OHL/CHL and does not get caught up in comparing himself to others. He appears good at blocking out the noise, which will benefit his development and growth going forward. I am excited to see where Spence goes from here, both in his remaining time in Pennsylvania with the Otters and in the NHL. The talent and work ethic of a pro are already there, and his capabilities will only increase with time and even more energy.