Ben Harpur – McKeen's Hockey

Ottawa – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:32:44 +0000

2011 marks the last time that the Ottawa Senators came out of the draft with a multitude of pure skill players. Armed with three first rounders and ten picks in total, they could afford to take a few risks, but that focus on productive players has resulted in a class from which a remarkable eight of ten players now have NHL experience. Their draft haul starred Mika Zibanejad and also included players like Shane Prince, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Ryan Dzingel.

Since that time, nearly every player drafted by the team was lauded first for his character and ability to play in his own zone before talk ever turned to offensive skills. That is not to say that they did not draft skilled players, but that the skill component of their player profiles was of secondary importance. So it should come as little surprise that of the eight teams in the Atlantic Division, only two have seen their drafted players experience less of the NHL than the bunch drafted by Ottawa from 2012 onwards. Further, those two, Boston and Detroit, were generally trading picks for present gains and picking further down when they did pick. Between Ottawa’s haul and the fifth ranked team lie 150 games of combined NHL experience.

The situation is actually worse than that for Ottawa as, 464 of the 492 games of experience those five draft classes have accrued have come from two players, Cody Ceci and Curtis Lazar. No one else has yet had any sort of NHL impact.

Looking at Ottawa’s system right now, there are three players who sit heads and shoulders above everyone else. These three – Thomas Chabot, Colin White, and Logan Brown – would fit on many teams’ top threes. But after that trio, the system is lacking in both quantity and quality. The reason for the former issue is that Ottawa has also been a generally competitive team, only once picking more than the standard allotment of seven players (eight in 2015) and only nine players drafted in total across the last two draft classes.

The reason for the latter issue is that the team has drafted very conservatively when they have drafted. As mentioned above, the team has stressed character and two-way play, with a secondary stress of size, at the draft table. Even of the three top prospects, White was more known as an ultra-smart two-way player before he was drafted while Brown packaged decent skills with two-way play into a massive body. Outside of Chabot, the only players drafted by the Sens who could be argued as being skills-first players are Francis Perron and Christian Wolanin. One seventh rounder and one fourth rounder.

Once Chabot, White, and Brown begin their NHL careers in earnest – the former two are expected to be NHLers this year – the numbers for Ottawa will change. But until then, for a team that has loudly and publicly scoffed at the analytics movement, their inattention to scouting, reportedly having one of the smallest scouting staffs in the game, will prevent them from bringing in the next generation of cheap, impact talent.

Ottawa Senators Thomas Chabot (72) . (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

1 Thomas Chabot – Along with Boston’s Charlie McAvoy, one of the most dynamic blueline prospects in the game. His skating is elite. His offensive skills are all high end. He has a hard slap shot from the point that he can get through a crowd and is a precise and effective passer. Wrapping up those skills is his commitment and intelligence off the puck and in his own zone. Uses his stick very effectively and can land a play changing hit when the situation calls for it. If Ottawa didn’t already have Erik Karlsson, Chabot would be their future #1.

2 Colin White – Drafted with the expectation that he could develop into a strong, two-way center, White has instead seen tremendous growth in his offensive game across two seasons at Boston College. His hockey IQ is still plus-plus, but he has learned to combine his high-end skating and skilled puck play into a player with strong offensive projections. He plays the puck with great confidence and patience. He is always thinking the game one step ahead of his defenders.

June 24, 2016: Logan Brown is congratulated by Ottawa Senators management and coaches after he was selected as the 11th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

3 Logan Brown – Limited by injury to 35 games in his first post draft year, Brown was nonetheless very effective when he was able to suit up. He will always have amazing size and he uses that to advantage, not so much as an intimidation factor, but he has the reach of a condor and he is willing to stretch out to block passing and shooting lanes in his own end. He is also a delight with the puck, dishing off sweet pass after sweet pass. Skates well for his size.

Shane Bowers of the Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL

4 Shane Bowers – An occasionally frustrating player to watch in the USHL, Bowers’ pace was often too much for his teammates and some of his more interesting offensive attempts unfortunately ended meekly. An impressive skater with a power forward approach to offense, he can look dangerous when rushing the puck. He can push through checks and has the possession skills to establish the offensive zone. Should see his production improve playing with skilled teammates at Boston University.

5 Christian Jaros – Signed to an ELC after finally spending the full season in the SHL with Lulea, Jaros has slowly, but steadily improved his overall game since the Senators used a fifth round pick on him in 2015. He profiles as more of an offensive defenseman than one who stays at home and will sometimes act like a fourth forward once his side has established the offensive zone. Pace may be a concern, but his physical play and NHL size portend to an NHL future.

6 Marcus Hogberg – Four years after being drafted, Hogberg put together a lights out season for Linkoping in the SHL and earned an ELC and the presumptive title of “goalie of the future” for Ottawa. He has prototypical size, competes well for every puck and tracks the puck nicely. He should get the bulk of the starts this year as the Senators move their AHL affiliate to Belleville.

7 Ben Harpur – Another super-sized prospect at 6-6”, 225, Harpur was a late arrival to defense. He has come a long way in the past few years, in terms of his mobility, his puck moving skills and especially his positional play. He will never be a big point producer, but he is at least efficient at getting the play moving in the right direction. He can handle the toughest shifts, including heavy time in the PK rotation. Keep expectations low, but he will do alright.

8 Filip Chlapik – While his first post-draft season was a disappointment, Chlapik ended his QMJHL career with a bang, including both over 90 points with Charlottetown, often alongside Daniel Sprong, and a stronger repeat performance at the WJC with the Czech Republic squad. He will never be a great skater, but he has the ability to slow the game down when he is on the puck. A very intelligent player who knows his limitations and plays within them.

9 Andreas Englund – Englund came to North America for the first time last season and basically was the same player he was while developing in Sweden. He is a no-frills, no-nonsense, stay-at-home blueliner with offensive production that you can count on one hand. He can be used for tough shifts and on the penalty kill. Think a shorter Ben Harpur with less puck moving ability and more of a nasty edge to his game.

10 Francis Perron – A rare prospect drafted by the Senators for his skill, Perron exploded in his final QMJHL season, winning the league MVP award for both the regular season and the playoffs. It would be unfair to call his rookie pro season a no-show, but it was disappointing. He is very slight of frame and was all too often neutralized on the ice by bigger, stronger opponents. He can still flash his strong puck game and creativity, particularly with his playmaking, but more should be expected.

11 Alex Formenton – A curious prospect, Formenton has near elite skating ability, speed that can make a scout sit up straighter, but little else. To be fair, it is not that he cannot shoot, or handle the puck, or pass, or any of the other things that make a good hockey player. It is that he doesn’t do those things often enough. Needs to overthink less often and relax with the puck. Unfortunately, players who struggle to produce offense as much as he does, rarely figure it out down the road. But he can fly.

12 Drake Batherson – A late bloomer, Batherson was not drafted in his first year of eligibility, still playing in the Maritime Hockey League. He then joined Cape Breton in the QMJHL and quickly rose up prospect lists due to his impressive hockey smarts and a simple overall game that can get the job done at both ends of the ice. A fairly typical Senators prospect in many regards. Expect a lot more promise in a second major junior season.

13 Christian Wolanin – While Batherson is a typical Senators draft pick, Wolanin is fairly atypical for this team. Drafted in his third year of eligibility as a puck moving blueliner in the USHL, his development over two seasons in NCAA with North Dakota has been promising. He has a decent point shot and solid puck protection ability. His defensive zone play still has rough edges to be smoothed up, especially in man-on-man coverage, but he has a nice offensive edge to his game, at times even looking dynamic.

14 Max Lajoie – At his best, Lajoie is a solid puck moving blueliner, capable of starting the transition, or manning the point on the man advantage, all traits he has exhibited throughout his three year career with Swift Current. At his worst, he does those things, but not well enough to get away with it. He can be loose on the puck. His shot is OK, but not especially threatening. He still plays well enough in his own end that he should receive his share of opportunities to continue developing as a pro.

15 Fredrik Claesson – After that nice, brief interlude with players bearing some skills, we are back to the land of low upside. The difference between Claesson and some of the others of that type on this list is that Claesson has already reached his peak level. He fell two games short of losing his prospect eligibility last year and is likely to make the third pairing this year. He will stay there until he is passed from below.

16 Max McCormick – If Andreas Englund was a winger, he might be Max McCormick. The Ohio State alum has a strong motor. He is an above average skater with a nice wrist shot to boot. But despite below average size, his best attribute is his physical game. His offensive upside is moderate at best, but he plays to hurt. He should see a good bit of NHL ice time this year, likely losing his prospect eligibility.

17 Nick Paul – The most surprising thing about Nick Paul’s career thus far is that his development has stalled. He has a solid skill set, highlighted by strong possession ability and good net drive. He also impresses in his commitment to his own zone, a trait he showed from early in his junior days. While the effort is always there, his vision and creativity are lacking, putting a hard ceiling on his potential for future offensive production.

18 Filip Ahl – After utterly failing to make much headway as a teenager in the SHL, Ahl came to North America last year to kickstart his career in the WHL with Regina. The results were middling. He does everything at an OK level, from skating, to shooting, to puck handling, to overall situational awareness. He has good size and plays the requisite physical game, but we are basically looking at another low-ceiling player. Ahl is going back to Sweden for now.

19 Markus Nurmi – Tall and rangy, Nurmi may be able to separate himself from the mass of similar players in the middle regions of the Ottawa system by dint of a plus shot. A strong scorer in the Finnish junior reaches, he has had limited exposure to high level hockey thus far. He has already shown improvement in the season since being drafted, particularly in his skating ability and a strong season in Liiga with TPS will allow him to shoot up this list.

20 Gabriel Gagne – Seen as a reach when the Senators used an early 2nd round pick on him in 2015, Gagne has done nothing since then to dispel that notion. Gifted with great height, the best thing I can say about his game is that his hands are not overly hard. He was never one to drive the play, even in the QMJHL, and his rookie pro season was a disappointment.

With Chabot and White both expected to play in Ottawa full time this year, the system that they leave behind will be extremely barren, one of the weakest in the league. By consistently drafting “safe” players, the Senators have almost no upside to speak of at any position. Perhaps they believe that taller players just take longer to develop, as is often assumed with pitchers in baseball. Or perhaps, they simply need a new approach to keep this team relevant after Erik Karlsson stops being the best defenseman in hockey.

Youngblood: 2014 Memorial Cup – Prospects to Watch

Brendan Ross — Wed, 14 May 2014 14:58:07 +0000

We are mere hours away from the puck dropping on the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup and the City of London is gearing up to welcome one of the most competitive fields in recent years.

Returning for their third straight Memorial Cup appearance are the tournament hosts, London Knights, after the injury-riddled squad was bounced in the second round of the OHL playoffs by the eventual OHL Champions, Guelph Storm. Joining the Guelph Storm and London Knights are the Champs of the WHL in the Edmonton Oil Kings, and QMJHL victors, Val d’Or Foreurs, both freshly off game seven wins that punched their ticket to the illustrious major junior competition.

The past three Memorial Cups have been hoisted by the QMJHL representatives after Saint John Sea Dogs (2011), Shawinigan Cataractes (2012) and Halifax Mooseheads (2013) each tasted victory.

The Edmonton Oil Kings are looking for their first Memorial Cup Championship since 1966 when they captured it as members of the Central Alberta Hockey League.

Quebec’s Val d’Or Foreurs have participated in the Memorial Cup twice (1998 and 2001) but have yet to walk away victors, coming close in 2001 when the Foreurs lost to the Red Deer Rebels in the finals.

The Knights will be participating in their fourth Memorial Cup event and the team is hoping for similar results as when they last hosted in 2005, the year the Knights skated away as Memorial Cup Champions.

With four previous attempts at winning the Memorial Cup, the Guelph Storm are rolling into their fifth tournament red hot looking to take home the 95-year-old hardware.

Regardless of which team skates off Budweiser Gardens’ ice as Champions, the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup is loaded with talented major junior players looking to take the next step in their development. As the electric atmosphere takes over London, Ontario, here are several players to watch throughout the tournament.

Edmonton Oil Kings

Curtis Lazar (Senators – 2013, 17^th overall) Arguably the best leader in major junior, Lazar will eat up a ton of minutes, taking important faceoffs and seeing top line offensive minutes along the way.

Tristan Jarry (Penguins – 2013, 44^th overall) Jarry’s 2.19 GAA and .925 save percentage are impressive stat lines but his ability to make the clutch save behind a strong defense core allows the Oil Kings the opportunity to play a stifling defensive game.

Griffin Reinhart (NY Islanders – 2012, 4^th overall) He’s got great draft pedigree and has slowly progressed with each passing game to become a suffocating shutdown defenseman, utilizing his large wingspan and strength against top WHLers.

Henrik Samuelsson(Coyotes – 2012, 27^th overall) Playing a gritty-in-your-face style of puck that would make his father Ulf proud, Henrik has balanced his aggressive attack and skilled offensive bursts well. Led the Oil Kings in playoff scoring with 23 points over 21 games.

Mitch Moroz (Oilers – 2012, 32^nd overall) Not the prettiest skater or the most refined skilled player, Mitch Moroz’ offers a nice blend of size and soft touch around the net to create room and offensive chances. His size could prove to be an asset against some larger Guelph Storm players when the two teams face off Saturday afternoon.

Brett Pollock(2014 NHL Draft) Industrious and versatile, Brett Pollock forced his way up a veteran laden Oil Kings’ depth chart to find a home in the top six, posting near point-per-game numbers during Edmonton’s WHL Championship run.

Dysin Mayo (2014 NHL Draft) An emerging offensive defenseman, Dysin Mayo has earned the trust of Head Coach Derek Laxdal and his game-changing rushes are only improving his draft stock.

Aaron Irving (2014 NHL Draft) Edmonton’s 9^th overall 2011 selection, Aaron Irving is one of the defensive pillars on the Oil Kings’ blue line who has made life hell for intruding forwards with his physicality and nastiness.

Cody Corbett (Signed by Avalanche, 2014) The third year defenseman played his way to a contract with Colorado after posting 61 points in 65 games from the blueline.

Mads Eller and Ashton Sautner (Re-entries for 2014 NHL Draft) – Two mobile skaters, forward Mads Eller (younger brother of Canadiens’ Lars Eller) and defenseman Ashton Sautner use their speed and edge work to force opponents into uncomfortable positions.

Val d’Or Foreurs

Anthony Mantha (Red Wings – 2013, 20^th overall) Big time sniper brings his 81 combined regular season and playoff goals, the most by any CHLer, to Bud Gardens for all to witness. He will be the focus of defences as the tournament’s most natural goal scorer. It is hard to believe that Detroit traded down to acquire this stud prospect.

Ryan Graves (NY Rangers – 2013, 110^thoverall) Brought over from Charlottetown in trade to boost their blue line, Graves has provided a stabilizing presence using his size and strength to contain opposing team’s top forwards.

Antoine Bibeau (Maple Leafs – 2013, 172^nd overall) Selected in his second attempt at the NHL Draft, it appears the selection of Antoine Bibeau has been a shrewd move after the big goaltender earned QMJHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (2014 NHL Draft) Taken 7^th overall by Val d’Or in 2012, Aubé-Kubel’s offensive emergence has provided the team with secondary scoring and this skilled responsible forward looks to use the Memorial Cup as one final showing before heading to Philadelphia for the draft.

Louick Marcotte(Re-entry for 2014 NHL Draft) Fourth year forward, Marcotte, nearly doubled his production playing on the Foreurs’ top line and his 42 goals and 100 points may be enough to draw interest at the draft.

Guillaume Gélinas (Undrafted) Undersized overager who dominated every offensive category by a defenseman in both regular season (67GP-23G-92P) and playoffs (24GP-11G-34P) is also playing for a professional contract.

Anthony Richard (2015 NHL Draft) Diminutive speedy centerman with a case of danglitis experienced a breakout sophomore campaign after being selected 16^th overall at the 2012 QMJHL Draft.

Julien Gauthier (2016 NHL Draft) Selected 6^th overall, rookie Julien Gauthier is a budding power forward to watch heading towards the 2016 NHL Draft as he learns how to use his size and strong shot to take over the offensive zone.

Guelph Storm

Kerby Rychel (Blue Jackets – 2013, 19^th overall) Windsor GM Warren Rychel traded his own son, along with LA Kings’ prospect Nick Ebert, at the deadline to Guelph. The Storm may be forever in debt with Windsor after Kerby buried the tying goal and game winner to clinch the OHL Championship.

Zack Mitchell (Signed by Wild, 2014) The Guelph Storm journeyman has bled maroon and grey in his five years of service and after being rewarded with an NHL contract back in March, Mitchell is keen on capping off his OHL career with a Memorial Cup Championship.

Scott Kosmachuk(Jets – 2012, 70^th overall) Among the OHL playoff scoring leaders, Kosmachuk was one of only three players to clear the century mark in points during the regular season and is called upon when the team needs a goal or a big hit.

Brock McGinn (Hurricanes – 2012, 47^th overall) After returning from an eight game suspension, Brock McGinn scored points in all but two playoff games while playing his usual irritating brand of hockey.

Jason Dickinson (Stars – 2013, 29^th overall) Drafted in the opening round in 2013 as a unfinished lanky prospect, the third year Dickinson has really came into his own learning how to use his size as a skilled power forward. Dickinson is one of five Storm players who recorded over a point-per-game in the post-season.

Matt Finn (Maple Leafs – 2012, 35^th overall) Awarded the Mickey Renaud Trophy as the league’s most dedicated and passionate captain on and off the ice, Matt Finn is a true leader and a stabilizing presence on the blue line.

Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings – 2013, 58^th overall) Ironically, the Red Wings traded down at the 2013 draft to select Anthony Mantha and received the 58^th pick as a result. That pick was used to select agitating forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Now, Foreurs’ Mantha and Storm’s Bertuzzi will be competing, at all costs, to take home the Memorial Cup. Mark it, Bertuzzi will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenses.

Nick Ebert (Kings – 2012, 211^th overall) Nick Ebert wasn’t the centrepiece of the trade that brought Kerby Rychel to Guelph but he’s been, arguably, the most crucial piece. Leading the team in playoff scoring from the backend, Ebert elevated his game as a member of the Storm.

Zac Leslie (Kings – 2013, 178^th overall) Drafted into the Ontario league in the middle rounds from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Leslie has improved on his production with each passing season giving the Storm depth on the blueline and a dangerous powerplay option.

Ben Harpur (Senators – 2013, 108^th overall) The towering 6-foot-6 blue liner will wreak havoc on attacking forwards as he wields his active stick and staples trespassers to the boards.

Robby Fabbri (2014 NHL Draft) No player has experienced a larger potential draft rise than Robby Fabbri, who is coming off OHL Playoff MVP Honours. The undersized yet competitive and skilled forward refuses to lose and his draft rise is reminiscent of former Kitchener Rangers’ forward Jeff Skinner after his 2010 standout playoff performance.

Phil Baltisberger (2014 NHL Draft) Another player exceeding expectations in his draft year, Swiss import Phil Baltisberger displays a strong two-way game with an ability to push the pace with his smooth skating stride. Eats up big minutes on the blue line.

Justin Nichols (Undrafted)and Matt Mancini (2014 NHL Draft) Acquired from Sault Ste Marie prior to the season, Justin Nichols’ game hasn’t been perfect every night but this undersized goaltender has had some of the most electrifying performances in the league. He’s getting noticed just as his understudy, Matt Mancini, is. Mancini is a highly touted young goaltender who continues to learn the intricacies of the game

London Knights

Max Domi (Coyotes – 2013, 12^th overall) Coming off a disappointing post-draft season, albeit by Domi’s standards, the Knights’ leading scorer was medically cleared to play after injuring his shoulder in the post-season. Look for the refreshed Domi to put on an offensive clinic as London attempts to prove their team is deserving of the Memorial Cup host spot.

Bo Horvat (Canucks – 2013, 9^th overall) The astute two-way forward with underrated offensive skills may be playing in his final OHL season and would love to add the elusive Memorial Cup title to his resume. With a history of scoring big goals, Horvat will be leaned upon in every possible situation.

Chris Tierney(Sharks – 2012, 55^th overall) Living up to his 2^nd round NHL Draft status after many questioned San Jose’s thought process, Chris Tierney went on an absolute tear during the playoffs ringing off 17 points in just nine games attempting to single-handedly advance the Knights.

Josh Anderson (Blue Jackets – 2012, 95^th overall) Anderson is a big bodied winger who won’t always fill up the game sheet but his heavy, physical approach and strong cycle game could tire out opposing defenses in a long intense tournament.

Ryan Rupert (Maple Leafs – 2012, 157^th overall) A skilled agitator in every sense of the word, Ryan Rupert, along with twin brother Matt (Undrafted), provide the Knights with outstanding depth as they make an impact by crawling under opponents’ skin or by crashing the net for a goal. The home fans will enjoy them but the road teams certainly will not.

Gemel Smith (Stars – 2012, 104^th overall) A true sniper who relies on his shot and blazing speed, Gemel Smith has had an okay transition to the Knights after coming aboard mid-season but he’s eager to pick up where he left off after a better OHL playoffs (12 points in nine games).

Michael McCarron (Canadiens – 2013, 25^th overall) The big power forward experienced a rather slow transition to OHL life but Michael McCarron has stepped up his game over the final few months showing the skill set that gave Montreal reason to draft him in the first round.

Mitch Marner (2015 NHL Draft) In a similar mold as Guelph’s Robby Fabbri, Marner is a sneaky player who makes an impact on every shift. No player does more with limited playing minutes as Marner and his ability to dance around defenders and find open teammates is only one reason he’s considered a top 2015 NHL Draft prospect. He’s been London’s best player, as a rookie, on most nights.

Christian Dvorak(2014 NHL Draft) One of several Knights returning from the infirmary, Dvorak is hoping to suit up for the first time since December 14^th when he injured his knee. His draft season viewings were limited but positive before being sidelined.

Nikita Zadorov (Sabres – 2013, 16^th overall) The only NHL drafted player on the Knights with NHL experience (seven games), Nikita Zadorov is undoubtedly the most crucial defender on their blueline. His offensive game has progressed to new heights and he’s still capable of intimidating with his bone-crushing open-ice hits.

Brady Austin (Sabres – 2012, 193^rd overall) Cleared to play after battling mononucleosis, overage defenseman Brady Austin is a huge returnee to what was a spotty blue line. After dealing with his illness and the passing of his father, Austin and his teammates will be playing inspired hockey.

Zach Bell (Undrafted) Bell is a bruising defenseman that has his own feel-good story after quickly recovering from a broken leg and his presence will be felt defensively.

Brett Welychka (Undrafted) It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider Welychka one of the most versatile players in the league, after the forward logged big minutes on the blue line when injury struck the Knights’ backend. Look for Welychka to return to the front lines adding to London’s incredible offensive depth.

Anthony Stolarz (Flyers – 2012, 45^th overall) Flying under the radar somewhat is the fact that Anthony Stolarz’ eight-game suspension for his slashing incident was reduced to six, after the Knights were knocked out of the playoffs early. Whether right or wrong, London’s biggest returnee for the Memorial Cup is between the pipes in Stolarz because he is capable of stealing games.

The 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup action begins Friday evening with the London Knights taking on Val d’Or Foreurs.

Follow @RossyYoungblood for all the #MemorialCup action.