Anthony Romani
2023-24 team: North Bay Battalion (OHL)
Date of Birth: July 12, 2005
Place of Birth: Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Ht: 6-foot-1 Wt: 184 pounds
Shoots: R
Position: C/RW
Draft Eligibility: 2024 second-year eligible
Rankings
After being passed over in his first year of draft eligibility in the 2023 Draft, North Bay Battalion forward Anthony Romani must have used that as motivation to take his game to another level this season. In his first year of draft eligibility, he only totalled 43 points, but this season, he almost tripled that total with 111 points in the regular season.
Related: THW’s 2024 Draft Guide
What has truly helped Romani make this jump is that his high hockey IQ finally came through in the offensive zone. He uses his IQ to be a strong playmaker with the puck, finding his teammates and making plays that few others can see happening. His passing ability is comparable to that of a football quarterback, as he can use different touches on the puck to make certain passes.
But the third-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) veteran’s playmaking abilities are not the only factor that helped his game reach the next level; he has a high-level shot with a punch. He also has strong skating abilities and a shiftiness to his game, allowing him to start plays coming through the neutral zone and further into the offensive zone as well.
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While his offensive game is his strength, he truly needs improvement in the defensive zone. Despite being an OHL vet, he has still struggled to position himself in his own zone at times, and this is the one downfall to his game – although he doesn’t get too involved in the physical aspect of the game, either. What is also working against Romani climbing up the draft boards is that he is second-year eligible and an experienced OHL vet, which could explain his increased offensive numbers.
Other Draft Profiles
Anthony Romani- NHL Draft Projection
As one of the older prospects in the 2024 Draft, Romani’s improvements on the offensive side of the puck could see him shoot up some boards and hear his name called in the third round, depending on whether a team thinks they can help him develop a stronger defensive game and become a more all-around player.
Quotables
“Romani demonstrates elite hockey sense that few can match. His ability to evade coverage and get open for passes to unleash his much-improved shot is…
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