No matter how the playoffs end, the Senators will have the 18th overall selection at the NHL Entry Draft.
A few months ago, we were debating who the Sens should be pick in the 6-9 range where it looked like they would be drafting. Due to great play by Andrew Hammond, and recent prospect graduates Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Sens made the playoffs which downgraded their draft position. Although there's some good talent in the top ten, there's also some good talent in the top 20.
Top 5 Prospects at Each Position (per hockeysfuture.com)
LW
Nick Paul
Matt Puempel
Shane Prince
Alex Guptill
Max McCormick
RW
Tobias Lindberg
Cole Schneider
Buddy Robinson
Chris LeBlanc
C
Ryan Dzingel
Vincent Dunn
Robbie Baillargeon
Quentin Shore
D
Ben Harpur
Andreas Englund
Fredrik Claesson
Chris Wideman
Mikael Wikstrand
G
Chris Driedger
Marcus Hogberg
Matt O'Connor (not listed yet)
The strengths of Ottawa's prospect pool is clearly the left wing position, and goaltending depth. Although they have alright prospect depth, they lack top-end talent. With the 18th overall pick in the draft, the Senators should definitely target a boom/bust player. With a lot of young talent spread over the lineup and prospect pool, the Sens will have more than enough middle six players and bottom four defenseman.
Draft Picks
18th overall (Ottawa Senators)
42nd overall (Dallas Stars)
48th overall (Ottawa Senators)
109th overall (Ottawa Senators)
139th overall (Ottawa Senators)
199th overall (Ottawa Senators)
Who can they target?
Murray is known to draft the best player available at all times. Despite having a great prospect core of defensemen in 2010, Murray traded his draft pick for young defenseman David Rundblad, who he later flipped for Kyle Turris. It is unlike Ottawa will select a Russian, and very unlikely Ottawa will select a goaltender. Here are some of the players Ottawa could be looking at.
Nick Meakley (RW) - Kelowna Rockets - 5'10, 187lb
Meakley lacks size and the amazing skating you see from a lot of smaller guys. He's extremely competitive, has great hockey IQ and great vision. He put up 90 points (20-70) for Kelowna and was a huge reason Rourke Chartier put up one of the top goal totals in the WHL.
Paul Bittner (LW) - Portland Winterhawks - 6'4, 194lb
Bittner is a big bodied forward who already has NHL-ready size. He has talent with great skating for his size and a great release. However, he isn't always on his game and doesn't look great out there when he's not. He doesn't drive the net a lot, especially for someone his size. And his 71 points (34-37) could be a little inflated due to his linemates.
Oliver Kylington (D) - Farjestad - 6'0, 181lb
The hyped Swede had a year he'd like to forget after being demoted from Farjestad to AIK mid-season. He's a fantastic skater and can really move the puck, but his weaknesses come with physical play and strength.
Colin White (C) - U.S. National Development Program - 6'0, 183lb
White had an alright year in the USHL with 17 points (4-13) in 20 games. Playing for Team USA, he didn't get much power play time over Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. He also got mono and had a wrist injury. He has good speed and plays an NHL-calibre responsible game, but doesn't have a ton of offensive talent there. He'll be an NHL player, but how will he be a standout player?
Travis Konecky (C) - Ottawa 67's - 5'10, 172lb
The 67's made a controversial decision in 2013 when they opted to select Konecky over exceptional-status defenseman Sean Day on draft day. It did not take Konecky long to show off his skill in Ottawa, with 70 points (26-44) in his rookie season. However, while the 67's got better, Konecky stayed the same, with 68 points (29-39). Although scouts have concerns about his future as a centre in the NHL, Konecky has a lot of skill, effort and plays a very gritty game. He's gotten the label as a 'dynamic' player, but also was injury prone because of his small frame and playing style.
Evgeny Svechnikov (RW) - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - 6'3, 205lb
I'll start off by saying it's unlikely the Senators will select a Russian. However, with the need for top-end prospects and Tampa Bay's recent success with late-round Russian picks, I'd consider the option from the Senators point of view. He had a great season in the Q with 78 points (32-46) in just 55 games. His stick handling, release and size are selling points for him.
A few months ago, we were debating who the Sens should be pick in the 6-9 range where it looked like they would be drafting. Due to great play by Andrew Hammond, and recent prospect graduates Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Sens made the playoffs which downgraded their draft position. Although there's some good talent in the top ten, there's also some good talent in the top 20.
Top 5 Prospects at Each Position (per hockeysfuture.com)
LW
Nick Paul
Matt Puempel
Shane Prince
Alex Guptill
Max McCormick
RW
Tobias Lindberg
Cole Schneider
Buddy Robinson
Chris LeBlanc
C
Ryan Dzingel
Vincent Dunn
Robbie Baillargeon
Quentin Shore
D
Ben Harpur
Andreas Englund
Fredrik Claesson
Chris Wideman
Mikael Wikstrand
G
Chris Driedger
Marcus Hogberg
Matt O'Connor (not listed yet)
The strengths of Ottawa's prospect pool is clearly the left wing position, and goaltending depth. Although they have alright prospect depth, they lack top-end talent. With the 18th overall pick in the draft, the Senators should definitely target a boom/bust player. With a lot of young talent spread over the lineup and prospect pool, the Sens will have more than enough middle six players and bottom four defenseman.
Draft Picks
18th overall (Ottawa Senators)
42nd overall (Dallas Stars)
48th overall (Ottawa Senators)
109th overall (Ottawa Senators)
139th overall (Ottawa Senators)
199th overall (Ottawa Senators)
Who can they target?
Murray is known to draft the best player available at all times. Despite having a great prospect core of defensemen in 2010, Murray traded his draft pick for young defenseman David Rundblad, who he later flipped for Kyle Turris. It is unlike Ottawa will select a Russian, and very unlikely Ottawa will select a goaltender. Here are some of the players Ottawa could be looking at.
Nick Meakley (RW) - Kelowna Rockets - 5'10, 187lb
Meakley lacks size and the amazing skating you see from a lot of smaller guys. He's extremely competitive, has great hockey IQ and great vision. He put up 90 points (20-70) for Kelowna and was a huge reason Rourke Chartier put up one of the top goal totals in the WHL.
Paul Bittner (LW) - Portland Winterhawks - 6'4, 194lb
Bittner is a big bodied forward who already has NHL-ready size. He has talent with great skating for his size and a great release. However, he isn't always on his game and doesn't look great out there when he's not. He doesn't drive the net a lot, especially for someone his size. And his 71 points (34-37) could be a little inflated due to his linemates.
Oliver Kylington (D) - Farjestad - 6'0, 181lb
The hyped Swede had a year he'd like to forget after being demoted from Farjestad to AIK mid-season. He's a fantastic skater and can really move the puck, but his weaknesses come with physical play and strength.
Colin White (C) - U.S. National Development Program - 6'0, 183lb
White had an alright year in the USHL with 17 points (4-13) in 20 games. Playing for Team USA, he didn't get much power play time over Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. He also got mono and had a wrist injury. He has good speed and plays an NHL-calibre responsible game, but doesn't have a ton of offensive talent there. He'll be an NHL player, but how will he be a standout player?
Travis Konecky (C) - Ottawa 67's - 5'10, 172lb
The 67's made a controversial decision in 2013 when they opted to select Konecky over exceptional-status defenseman Sean Day on draft day. It did not take Konecky long to show off his skill in Ottawa, with 70 points (26-44) in his rookie season. However, while the 67's got better, Konecky stayed the same, with 68 points (29-39). Although scouts have concerns about his future as a centre in the NHL, Konecky has a lot of skill, effort and plays a very gritty game. He's gotten the label as a 'dynamic' player, but also was injury prone because of his small frame and playing style.
Evgeny Svechnikov (RW) - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - 6'3, 205lb
I'll start off by saying it's unlikely the Senators will select a Russian. However, with the need for top-end prospects and Tampa Bay's recent success with late-round Russian picks, I'd consider the option from the Senators point of view. He had a great season in the Q with 78 points (32-46) in just 55 games. His stick handling, release and size are selling points for him.
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