Gabriel Eliasson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #21 Ottawa Senators – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:23 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 26: Carter Yakemchuk #58 of the Ottawa Senators follows through on a shot during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 26, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 21st (Last year - 25th)
GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023
COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024

After reaching the postseason for the first time in eight years last season, the Ottawa Senators appear to be slowly transitioning toward contention. The challenge, however, is that the organization currently sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: competitive enough to push for the playoffs, but without a particularly deep prospect pool to drive the next wave of improvement.

The club also refrained from making significant moves at the most recent trade deadline, electing to hold onto its current assets rather than signal a clear shift in direction. Ottawa will enter the upcoming draft with the 32nd pick in this year's draft, no second-round pick, along with three third-round selections, which should help add depth to the middle tier of the prospect pool.

Leading the current pipeline is Carter Yakemchuk, a skilled and physically strong defenseman selected seventh overall in the 2024 draft. He projects as a versatile “jack-of-all-trades” defender with legitimate top-pairing upside and has already shown well as one of the AHL’s premier rookie defenders. Forward Stephen Halliday has also emerged as a promising piece within the system. The 2022 fourth-round pick led the Belleville Senators’ rookies in scoring last season with 51 points in 71 games and has begun to see NHL opportunities during the 2025–26 campaign in Ottawa. The Senators also added another long-term piece on the blue line with the selection of Logan Hensler (23rd overall) in the 2025 draft, further reinforcing a defensive pipeline that could play an important role in the team’s future.

Still, Ottawa’s desire to translate promise into sustained playoff success could ultimately shape how these assets are used. If the organization pushes more aggressively toward contention, some of those young pieces could quickly become trade currency to accelerate the process.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Ott	1	Carter Yakemchuk	D	20	6-3/210	Belleville (AHL)	54	10	30	40	36
Ott	1	Carter Yakemchuk	D	20	6-3/210	Ottawa (NHL)	4	1	1	2	2
Ott	2	Stephen Halliday	C	23	6-4/210	Ottawa (NHL)	30	4	7	11	2
Ott	2	Stephen Halliday	C	23	6-4/210	Belleville (AHL)	29	2	27	29	16
Ott	3	Logan Hensler	D	19	6-3/195	Wisconsin (NCAA)	23	4	8	12	20
Ott	4	Jorian Donovan	D	22	6-1/180	Belleville (AHL)	61	4	17	21	89
Ott	4	Jorian Donovan	D	22	6-1/180	Ottawa (NHL)	2	0	0	0	0
Ott	5	Kevin Reidler	G	21	6-6/200	Penn State (NCAA)	18	11	7	3.31	0.901
Ott	6	Owen Beckner	C	21	6-1/175	Colorado College (NCAA)	30	8	15	23	4
Ott	7	Blake Montgomery	LW	21	6-4/195	Wisconsin (NCAA)	38	9	8	17	67
Ott	7	Blake Montgomery	LW	21	6-4/195	Belleville (AHL)	3	1	0	1	6
Ott	8	Matthew Andonovski	D	21	6-1/200	Kitchener (OHL)	24	1	13	14	43
Ott	8	Matthew Andonovski	D	21	6-1/200	Belleville (AHL)	3	0	0	0	0
Ott	9	Hoyt Stanley	D	21	6-3/200	Cornell (NCAA)	34	3	12	15	33
Ott	9	Hoyt Stanley	D	21	6-3/200	Belleville (AHL)	6	1	0	1	0
Ott	10	Lucas Beckman	G	18	6-2/180	BaC-Chi (QMJHL)	38	17	15	2.60	0.917
Ott	11	Tyler Boucher	RW	23	6-2/215	Belleville (AHL)	47	12	14	26	68
Ott	12	Xavier Bourgault	C	23	6-0/170	Belleville (AHL)	70	25	32	57	34
Ott	12	Xavier Bourgault	C	23	6-0/170	Ottawa (NHL)	2	0	0	0	0
Ott	13	Oskar Pettersson	RW	22	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	69	9	9	18	16
Ott	14	Javon Moore	LW	20	6-5/205	Minnesota (NCAA)	36	8	13	21	4
Ott	15	Gabriel Eliasson	D	19	6-7/220	Barrie (OHL)	61	2	6	8	122

Carter Yakemchuk, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Among rookie defenceman in the AHL, Carter Yakemchuk is currently second in points. What made him a standout player in the WHL with Calgary is certainly translating over with Belleville right away. In the offensive zone, Yakemchuk is a nightmare for opponents. He manipulates the play from the blue line so well, has incredible vision and can dangle through the defence like no other. At this point, Yakemchuk struggles to recognize that there isn’t always a play to be made. He can often get caught out trying to make a play out of nothing, which puts his team in a bad spot defensively and is a large reason he finished as a -31 for the year. Belleville is pretty bad overall this year, Yakemchuk is one of the team’s TOI leaders and hasn’t ever been known to be world-class defensively. In his own end, he has been solid but doesn’t utilize his size enough when defending. It’s evident he’s still learning what makes a defenceman at the pro level vs. the junior level. Yakemchuk is still on track to be a prolific offensive defenceman and a potential two-way player.
Stephen Halliday, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

The emergence of Stephen Halliday has deepened what was already a deep pool of Senators centers. Halliday led Belleville in points last season and is a point per game this season. He’s split his games roughly equally between Ottawa and Belleville, with 11 points in 30 games for the former. In a depth role, averaging a hair over eight minutes a game, “The Disher” has been very productive. With the puck on his stick, Halliday is able to slow the game down to put the puck on the tape of his teammates’ sticks. He uses his massive frame to hold off defenders for an extra second, which often opens a lane he can thread. Halliday is hard to move when he plants himself in front of the net, and his reach makes him an easy target for deflecting pucks. Because of Ottawa’s center depth, Halliday will be almost certainly forced into a bottom six role short term but can progress into a middle six playmaker.
Logan Hensler, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Hensler has not had the breakout season in the NCAA that was hoped for this season. After a strong first season in Wisconsin, he averaged over 18 minutes per night, and was an excellent two-way piece. He was stout in his own end, with solid puck-moving abilities to allow him to push the play up the ice. While his offensive game was never a huge focal point in his game, an expanded role heading into year two was still expected. Instead, the opposite happened. He has averaged just over 16 minutes per game this season, and his game never took a step. His skating, which isn’t viewed as a negative necessarily but was an area to improve, also did not take a step. He also struggled mightily in the U20 World Juniors tournament, where the US did not medal after a disappointing run. With his game not taking a step forward, his NHL projection takes a bit of a hit. But he still projects as a reliable middle-pair defender who can get penalty kill time as well.
Jorian Donovan, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Jorian Donovan’s offensive numbers have quietly improved on a worse Belleville team compared to his first year. He's jumped from 12 to 21 points in six fewer games. Donovan’s bread and butter is still being in the right place at the right time defensively. Donovan is a very proactive defender. He reads the play before it happens and puts himself in a position to break up the play or take away an option consistently. He often acts as a safety blanket for his defence partner by being an easy and open option in the midst of forechecking pressure. Although Donovan’s scoring numbers are improving, a lot of it seems to be secondary offence. He’s not facilitating much offence himself, but he's around the play more, which is positive growth. Donovan projects as a third-pairing left-handed defenceman and will soon be able to provide valuable depth to an Ottawa team that wants to contend.
Kevin Reidler, G, Penn State University (NCAA)

Reidler, a large netminder, has certainly bounced around the last few seasons. From the Swedish junior leagues, to the USHL, to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. This year, he transferred to Penn State, where he has split starting duties. He’s a very poised goaltender, who is typically square to shots. His angles and overall mechanics are sound, and paired with his large frame, gives him enough traits to be a valued goalie prospect. However, his lateral movement and athletic ability need to improve. He tends to be very reactive, which allows shooters to get him down early with a fake shot, then make a move to beat him post-to-post. Additionally, due to his less-than-ideal lateral agility, he tends to stretch, as opposed to pushing off his strong side foot, which leaves his five-hole wide open. There are several examples from this season of players taking advantage of that mechanical flaw. He will likely get an opportunity in the NHL down the line, simply for his poise, mechanics and size, but he needs much more work to carve out a role as an NHL starter in the future.
Owen Beckner, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

Beckner, a seventh-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, was drafted out of the BCHL thanks to his high-end IQ and detail-oriented game. As a freshman with Colorado College, the biggest takeaway from his first NCAA season despite playing a smaller role, averaging 15:20 time on ice per game, he still won his minutes via underlying stats, with Colorado outscoring their opponents 39-19 with Beckner on the ice. This season, he increased his scoring and showed notable improvement in his game. His confidence grew with the puck, as he began attacking the slot with more regularity than he had shown in any of his previous seasons. Once again, Colorado outscored their opponents with him on the ice, 31-17. While Beckner’s offence doesn’t jump off the page at any of his stops, he plays such an efficient game, and his confidence grows with each passing season. He projects as more of a bottom six forward who plays a detailed game with some playmaking abilities that are beginning to unlock a bit.
Blake Montgomery, LW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Montgomery, a draft selection of the Ottawa Senators, was drafted out of the USHL, before making the jump to the OHL. He performed well with the London Knights, especially in the OHL playoffs, where the magic would happen, as the Knights would go on to win the OHL and Memorial Cup Championship. This year, he made the transition to the NCAA with Wisconsin, where he has struggled a bit. When he was drafted by the Senators, he was lauded for his size and strong skating ability, paired with his solid puck skills and well-rounded play in all three zones. The biggest question mark was ultimately his ceiling, as he is more of a late bloomer, with a strange path to where he is now. But as mentioned, he has struggled, especially down the stretch this season. While Montgomery has all the raw traits, he’s never quite carved out a big role at any of his stops since joining the USHL and his upside has yet to truly take a step forward. He has the tools to be a fourth-line power forward with some depth scoring upside, but he needs to take that step in the NCAA to project as more than just a bottom six forward.
Hoyt Stanley, D, Cornell University (NCAA) (Currently with Belleville Senators, AHL)

Stanley, a big right-shot defender was drafted out of the BCHL for his puck-moving ability, in addition to his skating ability, confidence and poise with the puck, and his imposing frame. The question came down to whether those traits could translate up to the NCAA, which is a steep incline in competition. Since joining Cornell, his offensive abilities have had some difficulty translating. He has improved slightly each year from a production standpoint, but he's yet to truly find the confidence to be a true difference maker with the puck. His passing ability has improved the most, as he is looking to attack the slot area by finding teammates in those spots with more consistency. If Stanley can become a bigger impact for Cornell in the transition game, which was one of his biggest strengths coming out of the BCHL, there’s some middle-pair upside to be had. But for now, he projects as more of a bottom-pair defender, who plays a very steady game. Hoyt signed his ELC with Ottawa follow his season.
Matthew Andonovski, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Andonovski was picked in 2023 in the fifth round and has looked every bit worth the selection if you’re an Ottawa Senators fan. The 6-foot-2 physical defenceman uses his strength effectively and more efficiently than in his draft year, putting more emphasis on remaining composed in his positioning. He’s accumulated penalties at a lesser rate than the previous two years, but hasn’t lost his edge, dropping the mitts when the occasion arises and bullying opponents in front of the net. I see quite impressive strides in his overall smarts as he irons out his game and seeks a role on a pro hockey squad. He’s proven to be a nifty playmaker at times, timing his passes well to find teammates in shooting positions while under pressure. Looking back at this pick, it’s trending towards being a steal for Ottawa as they may have themselves a gritty bottom-pair defender who can make accurate reads with the puck, assisting the breakout. He’ll be a huge asset for Kitchener in the OHL playoffs, and should he impress there, I think it’s likely he’ll be playing with Belleville rather than the Allen Americans next year.
Lucas Beckman, G, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

After a very strong year last season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, finishing the season with a save percentage of .914%, it was clear that Lucas Beckman was sought after at the draft by many teams. It was finally the Ottawa Senators, in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL draft, that drafted him. The current season started a little bit tougher for Beckman with the Drakkar, struggling to get some wins with a team much weaker than last year. That was before he was traded to Chicoutimi, one of the best teams in the league right now, where he will help them go even further in the playoffs. While average sized, Beckman tracks pucks very well thanks to his high-end vision and anticipation. He doesn't have to rely on athleticism because he's always in the right position to make saves. However, given his lack of size, there's still room for improvement in his quickness, especially in and out of the butterfly. With the right improvements, he could end up being a capable depth goaltender for the Senators in the future.
Tyler Boucher, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Injuries have really stunted his development, including, yet again this year. However, he’s actually had his best pro season and there may just be a glimmer of hope for him.
Xavier Bourgault, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Solid bounce back season for Bourgault, his second in the Ottawa organization following a trade from Edmonton. The former first rounder may be a long shot to be an NHL’er at this point, but Ottawa seems happy with his development.
Oskar Pettersson, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

The offensive upside is limited; his on puck play just hasn’t developed the way Ottawa hoped it would. However, he’s solid enough away from the puck and as a high energy guy that he could end up seeing time as a fourth liner in the future.
Javon Moore, LW, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

Drafted out of Minnesota high school hockey, Moore was always going to be a long term project. But, the big winger is having a solid freshman season at Minnesota and could still end up as an NHL player down the road.
Gabriel Eliasson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Eliasson was seen as a major reach when the Sens took him early in 2024 and thus far the criticism seems fair. He’s physical and a decent athlete for his size, but he still struggles with discipline and puck management.

NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – Ottawa Senators Edition

Victor Nuño — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:00:54 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 01: Carter Yakemchuk (58) of the Ottawa Senators looks on during the first period of the NHL pre-season game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens on Oct 1, 2024, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Team Outlook

The Senators look to build on their first postseason qualification following the 2024–25 season, their first playoff appearance since 2016–17. They currently sitting outside of a playoff position by six points but appear to be entering a competitive window built around stars in their prime such as Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Jake Sanderson. With Linus Ullmark providing stability in goal, the organization believes its window can remain open for several years, assuming it continues to draft and develop the right complementary pieces to round out its depth. Below are six candidates that you might want to either buy or sell for your dynasty squads.

Buy Candidates

Carter Yakemchuk, D

Why Buy?

Yakemchuk brings the kind of profile dynasty managers should be targeting from the blue line, size, confidence, and a clear desire to drive offense. After nearly cracking the NHL roster out of camp, his transition from the WHL to the AHL has been extremely encouraging, pushing his projected star potential from 44% to 65%. He attacks space aggressively, is comfortable shooting through traffic, and shows little hesitation jumping into the rush, traits that translate well to power play usage. The offensive instincts have always been the selling point, and early pro results suggest that projection is beginning to materialize.

There is still defensive refinement ahead, but Ottawa’s system is actively searching for blue liners who can create offense, which should give Yakemchuk meaningful runway. While Jake Sanderson may command the heavier all situations workload, Yakemchuk’s value is likely to come primarily through power play deployment, a role that could remain available even as the team’s core solidifies. If his reads continue to mature and his risk management tightens even slightly, the fantasy ceiling rises quickly, making this a strong buy window before opportunity and production fully align.

Dmitri Isayev, LW

Why Buy?

Isayev has quietly developed into one of the more intriguing left-wing prospects in Ottawa’s pipeline, built around smart positioning, efficient puck movement, and composed decision making that allows him to impact shifts without needing to dominate the puck. His game leans more toward awareness and timing than pure flash, traits that often translate well as competition increases. After being selected in the fifth round in 2025, he has taken steady steps forward, improving his offensive production at the MHL level while also earning more opportunities at both the KHL and VHL this season, even though most of his development time has still come in the MHL.

Isayev’s relatively low name recognition compared to other prospects in the system creates a potential buying window for dynasty managers. His Hockey Prospecting star probability has risen from roughly eight percent to 20%, reflecting tangible developmental growth rather than hype-driven momentum. At five-foot-nine, he will need to continue proving he can produce against stronger professional competition, but Ottawa’s ongoing search for depth scoring gives him a pathway if his offensive instincts continue to translate. In deeper formats, he profiles as a speculative addition whose value could climb if his transition to higher leagues keeps trending upward.

Leevi Meriläinen, G

Why Buy?

This season has been awful for Meriläinen. He entered the year as the de facto backup behind Linus Ullmark but struggled badly, with underlying numbers that rank among the weakest in the NHL according to Evolving Hockey. That downturn comes after a 2024–25 campaign where he performed slightly above expected, making the regression even more noticeable. The situation deteriorated enough that Ottawa felt compelled to bring in James Reimer despite him not being on an NHL roster earlier in the year, a clear signal that the organization lost confidence in Meriläinen’s short-term reliability.

Even with those struggles, Meriläinen still profiles as one of the better goaltending prospects in Ottawa’s system, which admittedly lacks strong competition. Attempts to lean more heavily on Mads Søgaard have not produced consistent results, leaving the door open for a rebound if Meriläinen can stabilize his game. His technical foundation and previous trajectory suggest this may be more of a confidence and adjustment phase than a permanent step backward. With some refinement and a reset mentally, he could work his way back into a tandem role with Ullmark, making him a speculative buy-low target for dynasty managers willing to tolerate volatility at the position.

Sell Candidates

Mads Søgaard, G

Why Sell?

You can see the appeal with Mads Søgaard. He’s huge, and at six-foot-seven he takes away a massive portion of the net simply by being in position. That size, combined with flashes of athleticism, has long fueled optimism that he could grow into a high-volume NHL goaltender if everything clicks. At lower levels, that frame can overwhelm shooters and allow him to survive on reach and coverage alone.

The downside is that his large frame and slower movements can leave exploitable holes against elite shooters. At the NHL level, tracking, rebound control, and recovery speed have remained inconsistent, and Søgaard has repeatedly struggled when facing top NHL talent. Even during stretches of AHL success, the NHL results have followed a similar pattern, and we saw hints of those challenges internationally as well, though one Olympic appearance against a stacked American roster should not be over-weighted. Perhaps someone in your league still believes in the old Hockey Prospecting model projection that gave him a 58% chance of becoming an NHLer, but that probability likely trends much closer to zero now after several failed attempts to establish himself. With Ottawa no longer desperate for goaltending options, this may be a practical window to sell before opportunity becomes more limited.

Logan Hensler, D

Why Sell?

Hensler continues to project as a reliable, well-rounded defender built on skating, positioning, and intelligent reads. He plays a clean, efficient game and rarely looks overwhelmed, traits that should translate to NHL minutes in a real-life role. However, his development curve this season has been relatively modest. His scoring has ticked up slightly at the University of Wisconsin, but not to a level that meaningfully shifts his offensive projection, and his Under-20 World Junior Championship performance did little to elevate his long-term fantasy outlook.

From a dynasty perspective, the concern is ceiling. Hensler profiles as the type of defenseman who may provide stability on an NHL blue line without driving fantasy production. Even using the Rank King application, which tends to inflate defender scoring projections, his pNHLe sits at 46, a number that aligns more with depth defensemen than offensive catalysts. Comparable outcomes like Justin Barron illustrate the risk of waiting for offense that may never fully materialize, though an optimistic projection might see him reach something closer to a Seth Jones-lite profile. If another manager is valuing the strong real-world traits as future fantasy upside, this may be the right window to sell rather than waiting for a breakout that may never come.

Gabriel Eliasson, D

Why Sell?

Eliasson brings a very clear identity to the ice, physical, aggressive, and heavily involved in contact, but the overall profile remains fairly one-dimensional. He racks up hits at a high rate, which can hold value in leagues that heavily reward peripherals, but that physicality often inflates his perceived upside beyond what his overall game currently supports. Too frequently he chases contact at the expense of positioning, pulling himself out of structure and limiting his effectiveness in transition and defensive coverage.

The underlying numbers reinforce those concerns. According to his Fantasy Hockey Life skater card, Eliasson struggles to drive play and contribute meaningfully in transition, even at the OHL level. Without stronger puck-moving ability or offensive growth, his path to consistent NHL usage looks narrow, likely limited to depth roles where fantasy relevance is minimal outside of specialty formats. If another manager is valuing the hits without accounting for the broader play-driving limitations, this may be a good opportunity to move on.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Carter Yakemchuk	Buy	Offensive defenseman with size and power-play upside
Dmitri Isayev	Buy	Small, but crafty forward with upside
Leevi Meriläinen	Buy	Composed, technically strong goalie with rising value
Mads Søgaard	Sell	Big-bodied goalie with ongoing consistency concerns
Logan Hensler	Sell	Reliable defender with limited offensive projection
Gabriel Eliasson	Sell	Only valuable in leagues that reward hits and penalty minutes

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:49:15 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 26: Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) takes a drink during second period National Hockey League action between the Utah Hockey Club and Ottawa Senators on January 26, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 25th (May 2025 - 24th)
GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023
COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024

The Ottawa Senators drop ever-so-slightly in our rankings, anchored by one clear-cut potential star and a handful of promising supporting pieces.

At the top is Carter Yakemchuk, a skilled and toolsy defenseman taken seventh overall in 2024. While his production dipped slightly from his draft year, he remains a “jack-of-all-trades” asset with top-pair upside. Nearly making the NHL roster out of camp last fall, Yakemchuk is poised to challenge again next season. Should he stick, he’d join a young core headlined by Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and Brady Tkachuk, making Ottawa’s long-awaited breakout feel increasingly within reach.

Stephen Halliday, a 2022 fourth-round pick, emerged as Belleville’s AHL rookie leader with 51 points in 71 games. Up front, Blake Montgomery—the team’s highest-ranked non-AHL prospect—has impressed in his draft-plus-one campaign with London, producing 50 points in 51 games and setting the stage for another Memorial Cup push.

In net, Mads Søgaard and Leevi Meriläinen provide stability in the pipeline. Meriläinen, 22, posted an 8-3-1 record in his first extended NHL look and could be ready to step in as soon as 2025-26.

The Sens’ 2025 first-round pick, Logan Hensler (23rd overall), joins the fold as another long-term building block on the back end. Combined with the fact that most of Ottawa’s recent high selections remain in-house, the team is well-positioned to continue adding quality prospects.

Still, the organization’s hunger for immediate success could shift priorities quickly. In a push to finally move from potential to playoff presence, those same young assets might become trade chips if management opts to accelerate the process.

Ottawa Senators Top-15 Prospects

1 - Carter Yakemchuk

Some Sens fans might notice that Yakemchuk's production this season dipped compared to last year and then worry, in turn, that his actual on-ice performance has regressed. What actually happened was not so much a step backwards, but rather, an adjustment to a new head coach and a significant alteration to his role and playing style. While he's still an explosive offensive talent who can pull off highlight-reel moves that most other defenders his age could only dream of, he had fewer chances and a shorter leash to do that this season on a deeper, more balanced, and more structured team. This isn't necessarily a bad thing either, as these changes made his game more fleshed out and better suited to the professional levels, while cleaning up some of the things that had been holding him back. Yakemchuk still possesses an enormous ceiling as a do-it-all defenceman, and he will likely get another long look as a potential NHLer in Ottawa's next training camp this fall.

2 - Leevi Merilainen

Merilainen’s performance took a big step this season, taking over the starter’s crease in Belleville and having a very strong stint in the NHL. He’s a very good mover; he has good edges, strong pushes, and he’s quite flexible. He covers a lot of net and generally positions himself pretty well, which allows him to move through the crease quickly. He sometimes can let in a weaker goal with a far-side shot that he fails to get a hand on, which isn’t that concerning. He could fare to control his body better in movement when he’s put into more chaotic situations as well. But generally, he can be reliable in the crease and rather calm, which bodes well for him. He’s a goalie that is well rounded and good at many things but not necessarily elite at any or have many flaws. With his early success and runway in Ottawa, he’s likely to work out, and with his skill set, he should make for a great tandem goalie.

3 - Logan Hensler

Few draft year defencemen had a better season than Logan Hensler this past season. Slotting in at third for all Senators prospects, Hensler projects to be a very solid two-way defenceman that could make Ottawa’s roster sooner than many think. Wisconsin chucked Hensler into a lot of tough defensive situations this year, initially it challenged the previously offence-first defenceman. However, after New Years, he really blossomed as a great two-way defenceman who should only get better next season. Making the U.S. World Juniors team this past season was a big step. He will have a bigger role this year in the hopes that the Americans can three-peat. Beyond that, Hensler should get as good a chance as any player to make the Senators in two or three years from now.

4 - Stephen Halliday

Stephen Halliday had an impressive season as the top offensive contributor for the Belleville Senators. The best part about Halliday’s game is his intelligence with the puck. Even though he’s not the best skater in the world, Halliday is able to use his skill to draw in opposing defenders, which creates open seams all around the ice for his teammates. Halliday is also very strong on his skates; he’s very difficult to move when he’s around the net, he can tip pucks, and he can shield pucks away from opposing players. With these skills, Halliday projects as a top six NHL forward who can hold his own through heavy and physical play at both ends of the ice. He probably won’t become a first line player in the NHL, as his skating still needs improvement, but he should become a consistent top six or middle six option in one or two seasons for the Ottawa Senators. Halliday is a nice find for a player who had been passed over twice in the NHL draft before being selected.

5 - Blake Montgomery

Montgomery entered the OHL on a crazy hot streak, after signing with London out of the USHL. The big winger had 16 goals in his first 25 games, before cooling off considerably down the stretch. He’s an impressive physical specimen with a unique upside. His combination of size and speed makes him such a dangerous north-south attacker. When he builds a head of steam coming through the neutral zone, few defenders can handle him in transition. Montgomery is skilled too; he can beat defenders one on one and has the hands to create extra time and space for himself when his speed does get neutralized. The decision making does leave something to be desired and he can disappear for stretches. When his physical attributes are less of an advantage at higher levels, how effective will he be? The Senators should be patient with him. Let him attend Wisconsin next year and play a few seasons of college to help him refine his game. Then bring him into the fold at the pro level. Montgomery is unquestionably a project, but one with an intriguing upside as a middle six contributor.

6 - Jorian Donovan

Jorian Donovan played well in limited minutes as a first-year pro for the Belleville Senators. The key to Donovan’s game is his mobility, particularly with regard to his skating. He’s good on his edges and has good gap control, and these skills allow him to skate and compete with players that are older and more mature than he is in the pro game. It did take some time for Donovan to get acclimated to consistently playing against men, but he made real strides last season as a first-year pro straight out of the OHL. As of right now, Donovan looks like he projects as a number five or six NHL defenceman, but with more offence Donovan could develop into a top four defender. These next couple of seasons in Belleville will be really important for Donovan, as he should get increased opportunity on the power play and the penalty kill. With the right coaching, it’s not hard to envision a path to the NHL for Donovan in the next couple of seasons.

7 - Donovan Sebrango

Donovan Sebrango has had an up-and-down experience in the pro game, as he has seen time in the NHL, the AHL, and the ECHL over recent years. Although Sebrango has not yet been signed to an NHL contract by the Ottawa Senators, there’s a lot to like about his game. He’s a capable defensive defenceman who competes hard against opposing players for time and space, and he can be an effective member of any team’s penalty kill. Sebrango has even improved his offensive and transitional play over recent years, as he has become better at getting the puck up to his forwards out of his own zone. As of right now, Sebrango probably projects as a number six or seven NHL defenceman who can kill penalties, but his overall game is trending in the right direction. There’s a good chance he gets more games with the Ottawa Senators this upcoming season, even though he may not develop into that bona fide top four defenceman that some might have thought when he was originally drafted by Detroit.

8 - Luke Ellinas

Ellinas’ draft plus one year with the Kitchener Rangers wasn’t the smoothest; he battled a few nagging injuries that led to inconsistencies. Yet, his end to the year with a dominant playoff performance really has Ottawa fans excited for the future and what this season in the OHL will bring. Ellinas is best described as having a work-man-like mentality. He is a strong boards player. He consistently wins jousts near the crease. He is always looking to play through the middle of the ice and get pucks to the net. He competes physically in all three zones. Is his NHL upside significant? Probably not. However, as he continues to improve his skating and his confidence with the puck, there’s a real chance that Ellinas could develop into a quality bottom six option for the Senators in the future. Look for him to be a point per game player in the OHL this year before turning the pro the season after.

9 - Gabriel Eliasson

The 39th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Eliasson spent this past season playing in the OHL with the Barrie Colts after reneging on his commitment to the University of Michigan. Truthfully, his transition to the OHL was a bit of a rocky one. Yes, his massive frame and desire to assert himself physically did make him a defensive asset at times. This is especially true when you consider that Eliasson is a fairly mobile player for a defender his size. However, he struggled with his decision making, both in terms of puck management and discipline, and that held him back from being a more reliable player for the Colts. It is expected that he will return to Barrie of the OHL this coming season and that hope is that a second year in the league can help him refine his skill set further. Without significant alterations to his game, it is difficult to see him as anything more than a future depth defender in Ottawa.

10 - Lucas Beckman

Lucas Beckman is a polarizing goalie prospect who has both elite traits and significant drawbacks. Beckman has shown an incredible aptitude in reading play, positioning, and has a great stance. He also was a top goalie in the CHL as a 17-year-old, playing in 63 total games posting phenomenal numbers. His level of consistency of high-quality performances at such a young age is unprecedented, where he stole many games for Baie-Comeau. His issues, however, are concerning. His athleticism is average and not consistently displayed efficiently. Not detrimental, but not helpful. His real issue is that he isn’t a good skater yet. Skating is arguably the most important goalie skill, and notoriously difficult to improve drastically. Even though he has the anticipation and positional awareness, if his feet can’t keep up, he will struggle with faster play. If his skating didn’t improve, it would be questionable if he could be effective in the NHL. But Beckman claimed skating will be an area of focus for his development, and if he were to make serious improvements, he could unlock an incredible ceiling in the NHL.

11 - Kevin Reidler

After 27 wins in 38 starts for Dubuque of the USHL in the 2023-24 season, things were looking very promising for the extremely tall Swede as he headed to college hockey. His stats this past season for Nebraska-Omaha weren’t half bad when you consider he won 80% of his decisions, but Reidler’s development ultimately stalled by being a pure back-up who only got into 8 games of action whatsoever. He’s now heading to Penn State hoping to get a new lease on life.

12 - Matthew Andonovski

Andonovski is a player who has a good bit of snarl and takes a lot of pride in making life hard for opponents. Somewhat ironically, his wonderful stats in the 2023-24 season (including a +58) took quite a hit this past season in which he captained a strong Kitchener side that went on a very healthy playoff run (16 games). He’s now equipped with an ELC, and we’ll see if his game is one that adjusts well to the hard knocks AHL.

13 - Hoyt Stanley

A well-built RHD with solid mobility coming, Stanley continues to establish himself as a safe and determined defender slowly molding his craft as a future NHLer. There was minimal improvement pointwise vis-a-vis his freshman season, but Stanley was a go-to defender from the start racking up 19+ minutes of TOI 26 times this season. His 40 penalty minutes look like a lot but 19 came in a late January affair in which eight players collected 12 or more.

14 - Xavier Bourgault

With technical skating deficiencies holding Bourgault back from truly breaking through as a dynamic goal scorer and playmaker, his trade to the Ottawa Senators hasn’t done much to put him on path to an NHL job, much less one of scoring responsibility. We’d like to see him move away from being a perimeter player and get himself into spots where he can make better use of his lethal release, but time is running out on his prospect status.

15 - Tyler Boucher

By now, the whole scouting community is well aware that - as expected - Boucher was wildly over drafted as a top 10 pick. Injuries and suspensions have played a considerable role in his stagnation to date, and this past season was no exception. When in the line-up, a lack of AHL production hasn’t helped, but excellent forechecking and consistent physical presence mean there’s a quality checking line player here. Skill in tight and on the counterattack indicate further upside.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #24 OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Wed, 21 May 2025 21:26:35 +0000

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Carter Yakemchuk is drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

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Ottawa 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #24

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:00:03 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 24th (Previous Rank - 24th)
GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023
COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024

The Ottawa Senators remain steady, holding onto their 24th spot in our McKeen’s prospect rankings. While a position in the bottom half is far from ideal, the good news is that they boast a youthful core already making an impact with the big club. With several rising stars on the team, including Tim Stützle (22 years old), Jake Sanderson (21), Brady Tkachuk (24), Drake Batherson (26), Josh Norris (25), Shane Pinto (23), Thomas Chabot (27) and Ridly Greig (23) all flirting with their primes, it feels like a breakout is long overdue.

To bolster this already sound foundation, the Senators added Carter Yakemchuk–McKeen’s 26th-ranked prospect–with their seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Yakemchuk brings potential top four upside on the blue line, comfortably keeping the organization afloat in our rankings. Furthermore, the addition of Xavier Bourgault (135th)–via a Roby Jarventie trade–adds an element of hopeful scoring prowess, though Bourgault has struggled to replicate his offensive success at the pro level. GM Steve Staios is banking on the development staff to push Bourgault toward reaching that potential he was once handed when drafted 21st overall in 2021.

High hopes also surround 2023 second-rounder Zack Ostapchuk (163rd), who recently completed his rookie pro campaign in Belleville. While his 28 points in 71 games weren't earth-shattering, his versatile two-way game could make him a valuable candidate for bottom-six minutes on an offensively gifted Senators team.

In the crease, Mads Søgaard (115th) and Leevi Meriläinen (196th) anchor the team’s goaltending depth in the farm. However, the recent addition of Linus Ullmark complicates either goaltender’s path to securing an NHL backup role in the short term.

Despite lofty expectations, the Senators failed to meet their potential in 2023-24. Having leveraged quite a few draft picks—selecting twice in the first three rounds over the last two drafts—the margin for error is slim. The time is now for this core to succeed, and the team’s future draft capital may continue to pay the price to reach that goal.

Ottawa Senators Top-15 Prospects

1. Carter Yakemchuk

Yakemchuk, a big, right shot defender with two-way upside, was the 7th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft out of Calgary (WHL). Given his late 2005 birth year, Yakemchuk is already more physically advanced than the majority of the players selected this past year and that means he may be very close to NHL ready. His skating has already improved a lot in the last calendar year and that’s had a profound impact on his offensive production. A skilled powerplay quarterback, Yakemchuk has an absolute bomb from the point and should be able to continue to run a powerplay at the higher levels. Defensively, Yakemchuk is a physical throwback to yesteryears. He loves to play through the opposition and relishes the opportunity to throw his weight around. The big concern for Yakemchuk is how well does he think the game? Can he improve his puck management and the consistency of his defensive reads? He should return to the WHL this season and he will once again be one of the top defenders in the league.

2. Mads Sogaard

The big Danish netminder is about to hit a crossroads in his pro career. After splitting two years ago between the NHL and the AHL, Sogaard took a back seat to veterans Korpisalo and Forsberg in Ottawa this past season. The good news is that he played much better with Belleville. The bad news is that he’s struggled mightily in a handful of NHL appearances last year. The other bad news is that Sogaard will no longer be exempt from waivers this season. Insert the crossroads. After bringing in Linus Ullmark to start, what do they do with Anton Forsberg? Do they look to sneak Sogaard through waivers or try to find a trade partner for him? The latter would be shocking because he still has significant NHL upside due to his size and athleticism, but stranger things have happened. The reality is that Sogaard’s play has to do the talking during training camp this year.

3. Xavier Bourgault

Flipped for injured winger Roby Jarventie early this offseason, Bourgault serves as an interesting reclamation project for the Senators. Last season certainly wasn’t the best year for Bourgault and his development. The former first round pick hit a sophomore slump in the AHL with Bakersfield and was particularly ineffective in the second half of the season. The Condors had a pretty veteran-laden roster, especially up front, and Bourgault just wasn’t able to earn consistent ice time and offensive opportunities because of it. However, it’s way too early to give up on the talented pivot. He still possesses top six upside, particularly because of his scoring ability and high end shot. The focus for him needs to be on continuing to improve his quickness and his strength to allow him to earn more touches. He needs to do a better job playing through contact and this summer will be a big one for him from a conditioning standpoint. Look for the former QMJHL star and first round pick to have a bounce back year with Belleville. His NHL future in a new organization might just depend on it.

4. Zack Ostapchuk

Ostapchuk exploded onto the prospect scene a few years ago after a breakout postseason with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and he hasn’t looked back since. Two WJC gold medals and a cup of coffee in the NHL later and Ostapchuk is still very much relevant as an NHL prospect. The big forward is the prototypical middle six forward in today’s NHL. He has size. He is surprisingly quick. He has great attention to detail as a two-way forward. He brings physicality. At this point, it’s just about increasing his confidence with the puck at the pro level and learning to adjust to the pace of the pro game. It’s not inconceivable to see Ostapchuk in a bottom six role with the Senators to open this year if he has a strong training camp, especially since he’s had a strong finish to the year in the AHL.

5. Leevi Merilainen

Depth is never a bad thing, especially at the goaltending position. Due to Ottawa’s depth last year, Merilainen had to spend a good chunk of his first pro season in North America in the ECHL. This is common, as many NHL netminders have had to spend time in the ECHL. The good news is that Merilainen was solid in both the ECHL and in his time with Belleville (AHL). Merilainen continues to work hard to improve his positioning and puck tracking to help him with his consistency, something that he has struggled with dating back to his OHL days with Kingston. However, as the solid season in Liiga two years ago proved, he’s come a long way. The next step is finding a permanent spot in the AHL for him, which is why the team traded 2018 draft pick Kevin Mandolese. Between Merilainen and Sogaard, the Senators have a great chance of finding a quality NHL netminder.

6. Tyler Kleven

Kleven’s first pro season had to be classified as a success. The big, physical defender excelled in Belleville, even showing well offensively at times, which is certainly not going to be his calling card. Kleven excels in the defensive end with his strong mobility, reach, and aggressive physical nature; simply put, Kleven can be a nightmare for opposing forwards in the defensive end. From an offensive perspective, the majority of his offence is created from his big point shot and ability to get pucks through traffic from the point. He’s not likely to be much of a point producer at the NHL level, but he is still on track to become a PK anchor and second pairing option for Ottawa in the near future. That near future could be as early as this season, if Kleven can have a strong training camp.

7. Angus Crookshank

You never know how a player is going to bounce back from a serious injury. The former New Hampshire standout tore his ACL and missed the entire 2021/22 season. The year post injury ended up being his first full season of pro hockey and Crookshank was quite solid. However, last year he really took his game to that next level as Belleville’s leading scorer. He even played very well in a small sample in Ottawa, scoring his first few NHL goals. Crookshank profiles as a versatile, fan favourite whose energy in the offensive end is infectious. He excels driving the net and he’s managed to improve his speed post knee injury. Crookshank has also greatly improved his on puck play and shooting ability as a pro, which has improved his outlook and upside. He has proven this year that he is knocking on the door of a full-time spot in Ottawa. There is a very real possibility that he finds his way into the Senators’ top nine to start the year.

8. Stephen Halliday

Things didn’t go exactly as planned at Ohio State last year as the team underperformed in comparison to expectations, however Halliday did have another solid season as a sophomore. The USHL’s modern day all time leading scorer recently signed with the Senators and finished out the year with Belleville on a very high note. Halliday is a big, playmaking center whose game has made huge strides over the last five years. He’s gone from being a one dimensional and inconsistent player with big skating concerns to a play driving power pivot who actually projects as a solid pro because of his mobility and engagement level improvements. Now he will need to prove that those improvements will play well at the pro level. If all goes well, Halliday could move quickly through the system. He projects as a middle six center who can be a quality net front presence on the powerplay.

9. Gabriel Eliasson

It is very clear that Ottawa went into this year’s NHL draft with the intention of becoming more difficult to play against. Yakemchuk was first off the board at seven and then they used their early second on rugged Swedish defender Gabriel Eliasson. Simply put, Eliasson is just downright mean. Think early 90’s mean. If anything, discipline has been his biggest issue. He needs to refine his approach. However, he’s a solid skater for his size and has the potential to develop into a very good defensive player. Eliasson intends to play this season in the USHL with Cedar Rapids before making the jump to the NCAA with the University of Michigan. Given the violent nature of his defensive approach, it was probably wise for him to come to North America early to develop.

10. Tyler Boucher

Boucher is every draft pundit’s favourite joke these days because of how highly he was selected by the Senators (10th overall in 2021) and how poorly his development has gone thus far. While expectations regarding Boucher’s potential need to be tempered, we believe that he has been unfairly criticized. While he was undoubtedly overdrafted, and he may never be able to shake that in the eyes of the scouting community, he remains someone with a possible NHL future. Unfortunately, injuries and suspensions have played a large role in the stagnation of his development. Just this year, Boucher’s start as a pro with Belleville was delayed because of a groin injury suffered during training camp. After returning, he was more of a role player suggesting that Ottawa is going to need further patience with him moving forward. Boucher is still an excellent forechecker and a consistent physical threat. He should, at the very least, develop into a quality checking line player. However, he flashes the ability to use his speed on the counterattack, and his hands in tight are better than people give him credit for. Don’t close the book on Boucher just yet.

11. Maxence Guenette

An AHL All Star last year, Guenette took another step forward in what had to be considered an integral year for his development. Now entering his fourth pro season, Guenette will be facing waivers this season. Guenette’s calling card has always been his offensive capabilities and his ability to run the powerplay. However, he continues to work hard to round out his game in the defensive end and has put himself in contention for a roster spot.

12. Jorian Donovan

A Memorial Cup champion this past season with the Saginaw Spirit, Donovan has developed very well during his time in the OHL. He’s gone from an erratic puck mover to a solid two-way defender who can use his mobility to his advantage at either end. The son of Sens development coach Shean Donovan, Jorian will turn pro this year with Belleville.

13. Oskar Pettersson

Unhappy with his ice time in the SHL, Pettersson made the jump to the AHL with Belleville in February of last year, finishing out the season in North America. The former third rounder performed well and looks to be on track to developing into a steady bottom six presence for the Senators in the future.

14. Tomas Hamara

A heady two-way defender, Hamara closed out last season well in the OHL with Brantford; the trade from Kitchener was a real turning point for his development. Now he’ll turn pro this year with Belleville. The upside may not be significant, but Hamara does enough things well that he could be a third pairing option.

15. Kevin Reidler

The big Swedish netminder was excellent for Dubuque in the USHL last year; he was unquestionably one of the best performing goalies in the league. He was especially solid in the Clark Cup playoffs for Dubuque, stealing games and rounds for them. Now he’ll head to the University of Nebraska-Omaha to further his development.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:58:41 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06

Gabriel Eliasson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #21 Ottawa Senators – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 21st (Last year - 25th) GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023 COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024

Carter Yakemchuk, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Stephen Halliday, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Logan Hensler, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Jorian Donovan, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Kevin Reidler, G, Penn State University (NCAA)

Owen Beckner, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

Blake Montgomery, LW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Hoyt Stanley, D, Cornell University (NCAA) (Currently with Belleville Senators, AHL)

Matthew Andonovski, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Lucas Beckman, G, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

Tyler Boucher, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Xavier Bourgault, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Oskar Pettersson, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Javon Moore, LW, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

Gabriel Eliasson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – Ottawa Senators Edition

Team Outlook

Buy Candidates

Carter Yakemchuk, D

Dmitri Isayev, LW

Leevi Meriläinen, G

Sell Candidates

Mads Søgaard, G

Logan Hensler, D

Gabriel Eliasson, D

Summary

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Ottawa Senators Top-15 Prospects

1 - Carter Yakemchuk

2 - Leevi Merilainen

3 - Logan Hensler

4 - Stephen Halliday

5 - Blake Montgomery

6 - Jorian Donovan

7 - Donovan Sebrango

8 - Luke Ellinas

9 - Gabriel Eliasson

10 - Lucas Beckman

11 - Kevin Reidler

12 - Matthew Andonovski

13 - Hoyt Stanley

14 - Xavier Bourgault

15 - Tyler Boucher

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #24 OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #24

Ottawa Senators Top-15 Prospects

1. Carter Yakemchuk

2. Mads Sogaard

3. Xavier Bourgault

4. Zack Ostapchuk

5. Leevi Merilainen

6. Tyler Kleven

7. Angus Crookshank

8. Stephen Halliday

9. Gabriel Eliasson

10. Tyler Boucher

11. Maxence Guenette

12. Jorian Donovan

13. Oskar Pettersson

14. Tomas Hamara

15. Kevin Reidler

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Prospect System Ranking – 21st (Last year - 25th)
GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023
COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024