Sens prospects

[matchesmalone]

I'm gonna keep tabs on some Sens prospects over the year here.

After two low-scoring losses, in which Mike McKenna played well, but the team in front of him failed to score, Filip Gustavsson came in for game three and the team's first win of the season. In a 6-2 Belleville victory, Gustavsson stopped 33 of 35 shots, Rudolf Balcers scored 2 goals on 6 shots. Drake Batherson (2+2) and Filip Chlapik (1+3) each had four point nights.

[Alfie11]

I'm really interested to see how Brown, Batherson and Balcers do this season. Gustavsson, too.

[matchesmalone]

Another big win for Belleville. Balcers and Nick Paul each with a goal and two assists. Batherson with three assists. That makes two goals and five assists in his last two games for Batherson.

[matchesmalone]

Holy shit I just noticed Josh Norris is currently sitting at 6th in NCAA scoring with 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points in just 7 games.

[matchesmalone]

On the downside, Gustavsson got pulled back-to-back nights over the weekend.

[matchesmalone]

Drake Batherson with a 6 point night tonight for Belleville! Ties him for first in the AHL in scoring with 19 in 13 games.

[Josh]

Drake Batherson with a 6 point night tonight for Belleville! Ties him for first in the AHL in scoring with 19 in 13 games.

Amazing. What a couple years it's been for him.

[matchesmalone]

Another goal for Batherson tonight. Although no longer tied for first, technically he was in 3rd before (given that goals are the official tie-breaker), and he is now in sole possession of 2nd place.

But the bad news, Gustavsson got lit the fuck up again tonight. He was left in for all 8 goals. Clearly not yet ready to be a starter at this level, this has got to be devastating for his confidence. I just hope they're not doing long-term damage to his potential.

I mean, I said I thought he'd be starting by the end of the year, but he had played, what, 4 or 5 AHL games before they handed him the reigns? And he was supposed to play himself into the role, not have it suddenly thrust upon him due to a kneejerk management decision.

[Josh]

I really don't understand the decision to waive Condon giving the circumstances. McKenna isn't faring much better and - as you point out - the situation it leaves Gustavsson in is inopportune.

[Matt the Aussie]

I really don't understand the decision to waive Condon giving the circumstances. McKenna isn't faring much better and - as you point out - the situation it leaves Gustavsson in is inopportune.

Money. Condon needs to play well now because money. Plan A was to get rid of him on waivers, but no one took him. Plan B, they feel if he plays well in the AHL he will magically play well again in the NHL when recalled.

If you can't figure out the reason for a really odd decision the Senators make, circle back to money...

[matchesmalone]

Of fucking course Batherson scores in his first NHL game.

[matchesmalone]

Belleville has won their last two games, both 5-4. One in overtime and one in a shootout. No prospects with any real standout stat cards, but thankfully Gustavsson was in net for both wins. Not exactly gonna pad his ratios, but hopefully he's gaining some confidence from just keeping the team in the game and getting the wins.

[thedaigle1]

I wanted to add this here for posterity. I'm curious to see how my stoke-levels have changed a year from now. This isn't meant to be empirical or objective or definitive or final. Although, I have spent a lot of time going over the numbers (production relative to league relative to age) to get here. Right now among players 25 or younger, here's my stokage:

Chabot

Tkachuck

White

Wolanin

Batherson

Brannstrom

Hogberg

Balcers

Brown

Norris

DeMelo

Daccord

Formenton

Duclair

Chlapik

Lajoie

Jaros

Tierney

Mandolese

Gustavsson

Paul

Abramov

Bernard-Docker

Crookshank

Veronneau

Davidsson

Tychonick

Novak

Gruden

Kelly

Nurmi

Ahl

Burgess

Beaudin

Ceci

Englund

Sturtz

Tambellini

Harpur

Loheit

Klimchuk

Luchuk

Gendron

Rodewald

Hollett

[Josh]

[matchesmalone]

Very encouraging. He's gotta be among the Calder favorites for next season? I mean, there's a lot of really good, NHL-ready prospects - Hughes, Kakko, Kravtsov, Texier, Bemstrom, Necas - but Batherson is right up there.

Something I just noticed - Colin White holds the all-time record for single tournament scoring at the U17s with 18 points in six games. Might be another instance like Stone, where we got a steal on a player due to injuries in their draft year.

Absolutely everyone is sleeping on his offensive upside.