Max Lajoie – McKeen's Hockey

Ottawa Senators Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:49:27 +0000

I am sure that it comes as no surprise to you, the knowledgeable hockey fan, to read that the Ottawa Senators are in a bad place as an organization. Owner Eugene Melnyk meddling and bumbling through PR faux pas to the point that the team had to hire a PR firm for damage control; suspended assistant GM Randy Lee being arrested in Buffalo on salubrious harassment charges from an incident which occurred during the NHL Draft combine; the ongoing spat between former Senator Mike Hoffman (and his fiancée) and Senators’ super star Erik Karlsson (and his wife) that resulted in the former player being dealt to San Jose for a paltry return (who then traded him to Florida – an Ottawa division rival – for a greater return than he paid in the original acquisition); the ill-fated Matt Duchene trade, which, among other pieces, cost the Senators their 2017 first round pick Shane Bowers, as well as their choice of fist rounder in 2018 or 2019 – they chose to keep the 2018 pick.

It is still unclear if the team can hold on to Erik Karlsson, whose current contract is set to expire after the 2018-19 season and the word on the street is that has been frustrated by the direction and leadership of the franchise and would prefer to move on.

None of the above is necessarily news, or even really about prospects, per se. But it leads to the essential question, what comes next?

The Sens are largely expected to struggle this season, a projection that would not have been much different had Hoffman not been traded. It can be dangerous for any team to trade away its first round pick – especially without lottery protection – a full season in advance. Sure, San Jose has also moved its 2019 first rounder, but no one is really worried about that pick turning into Jack Hughes, or Kaapo Kakko, or any other top flight 2019 draft eligible.

For Ottawa, the presence of Matt Duchene may have the same impact as Tom Kurvers did for Toronto from 1989-1991, or Phil Kessel did for the same provincial rivals between 2009-2015. For those who forgot the recent history, Toronto traded a future to New Jersey for Kurvers, but their season did not turn out as they had expected internally and the pick turned into Scott Niedermayer, who now has a plaque in his honor in Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame. Kessel came to the Maple Leafs for two future first round picks. Because Brian Burke badly misjudged his squad’s place on the success cycle, both picks were top 10s, turning into Tyler Seguin (second overall) and Dougie Hamilton (ninth overall).

Unless Craig Anderson finds the fountain of youth for the third time at age 37, the Senators might not get their reward for being among the worst teams in the league. With top prospects Colin White and Brady Tkachuk expected in some circles to graduate from prospecthood this season, and no first round pick on deck, the Senators might need to trade Karlsson to have any truly high end prospects still in the pipeline. Without some combination of luck and shrewd management, neither of which has been associated with Ottawa for some time, the organization may be beginning a stretch of ugliness reminiscent of what divisional rival Buffalo Sabres had being going through for the past five seasons.

Brady Tkachuk

1 Brady Tkachuk, LW (4^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Son of Keith and brother of Matthew, Brady Tkachuk has the blood lines as well as the skill set and mentality to play a key role on a winning NHL team. He has a big, strong frame and plays a power game, but with soft enough hands to make tricky plays and surprise with a feint as he powers his way to the net or through the cycle. In addition to having all of the raw tools one could ask for in a young winger, his sense for the game may have been the best among anyone in the 2018 draft class. He did not dominate, but played at a very high level as a true freshman in the NCAA – one of the youngest players in collegiate hockey. He recently announced that he would leave BU and has a good chance to spend the year in the NHL, although AHL and OHL are still possibilities.

2 Logan Brown, C (11^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3^rd) Between Brown and Tkachuk, the future Senators will not lack for size up front. Thankfully, these two also fit the bill for the modern game with skills and mobility to go with their bulk. For the second straight year, Brown was held back by injuries, but when he was healthy, took his game to another level, scoring more frequently, leading Kitchener deep into the OHL playoffs one year after helping Windsor win the Memorial Cup. He even looked good in his truncated appearance for Team USA at the WJC. The most impressive facets of his game are his soft and skilled hands, and his hockey IQ. He has a pro game, but the lost development time may make his path to the NHL slower than hoped.

3 Colin White, RW/C (21^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) A fantastic skater with plus hockey sense, White started last season in the NHL, but shelved due to a wrist injury. Upon his recovery, he went back to the AHL, where he was often the best player on the ice for Belleville, earning a lengthy recall to Ottawa that encompassed the first six weeks of 2018. He has above average offensive tools as well, although they are not as notable as his reads and decision making. He can play both on the wing and up the middle and is likely to win a bottom six role to open this season. His history with Boston College and the USNTDP before that suggests that he could eventually work his way up to a second line role although third line on a good team is most likely.

4 Filip Gustavsson, G (55^th overall, 2016 [Pittsburgh]. Last Year: 2^nd [Pittsburgh]) There were a lot of moving parts in the three way deadline deal that sent Derrick Brassard from Ottawa to Pittsburgh, but it is fair to summarize the return to Ottawa as being a late first round pick (Bernard-Docker) and Gustavsson, who now wears the mantle of “Goalie of the Future” for the Senators. A very athletic netminder who is advanced at reading the play, he was coming off a strong season in Sweden, both domestically with Lulea, and internationally, backstopping Sweden to a Silver Medal at the WJC. His movements are quick and precise and allow him to challenge shooters aggressively knowing he can recover if needed. He should get at least one season in the AHL before the future becomes the present in Ottawa.

Alex Formenton

5 Alex Formenton, LW (47^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11^th) One of the fastest skaters in the OHL last year, Formenton was so impressive in the pre-season for Ottawa that he broke camp in the NHL shortly after his 18^th birthday and played in one game before being returned to London. He is still young enough, and talented enough, that he was one of the few legit prospects not traded by the Knights as they began to regroup. Despite his near-elite speed, Formenton is not a great offensive threat. That is not to say that he is not a contributor to the attack, but that offense is generally not the focus of his game. He is a defensive specialist and fights a lot harder than his lean figure might suggest. A PK weapon, he also began to show a creative side with the puck last year and may have more to offer at that end given time.

6 Drake Batherson, C (121^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 12^th) A late bloomer who keeps on blooming, Batherson went from the Maritime Junior Hockey League to a top six role with a competitive QMJHL team to a national hero in the space of 24 months. Despite scoring seven goals (without a single assist) in seven games at the WJC he is more of a playmaker than a finisher. On the other hand, he has incredible hand-eye coordination and could build for himself a long NHL career if all he does is park himself in the slot and wait for shots to deflect. He has a solid frame, but needs to add more bulk to play that role as a professional. Could also stand to improve his skating, although he has a nice burst of speed available.

7 Jonny Tychonick, D (48^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A dominant two-way defender for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL for the past two seasons, Tychonick was a rare Tier 1 player to receive consideration for the Canadian U18 squad. He catches the eye with his fantastic skating acumen and backs it up with a solid point shot and great puck control. He is on the lean side and it can be hard to adequately gauge the hockey sense of players playing in lower quality development leagues, but to his credit, he made the best of the path that he was on. The North Dakota commit was also entrusted with time killing penalties and shifts against the toughest competition the BCHL had to offer. He is at least three years away from NHL, but has enough upside to be worth waiting on.

8 Jacob Bernard-Docker, D (26^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Tychonick above, Jacob Bernard-Docker was a cut above as a dominant blueliner in Tier 1 in Western Canada. Named the Most Outstanding Defenseman in the AJHL, JBD has a full set of tools, grading out as above average in terms of his mobility and with anything a defenseman might do with the puck. Although a bit beefier than Tychonick, Bernard-Docker is less likely to use his frame to physically impose himself on opponents. Although less dynamic than his new organization mate and soon to be teammate at the University of North Dakota, Bernard-Docker is more advanced in his own zone. He is skilled at shutting down opposing attacks and beginning the transition. He is the safer prospect of the two, and not without upside of his own.

9 Johnny Gruden, LW (95^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Every year the USNTDP has a few players in middle six or bottom six roles who thrive once the hackles are taken off at the collegiate level. Johnny Gruden, whose father just coached the Hamilton Bulldogs to an OHL title, is most notable for his hockey smarts, but there is enough skill in his stick to be a pretty big factor at Miami starting next season. A lot of his offense with the program came from sensing where to position himself and when to strike. He does a lot of small, subtle things to help his game play up. He also has sneaky speed, helping him get to where he needs to go and trip up opponents on occasion when he suddenly changes gears.

10 Christian Wolanin, D (107^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 13^th) An NCAA champ as a freshman, Wolanin improved his produced for North Dakota year over year before turning pro after his junior season. He is not the fleetest of foot, although his first few steps are fairly impressive. His production comes as a traditional point man of sorts. He has a quick release on his snap shot, which can find twine or get a rebound. He is willing to step up past the faceoff dots and has the vision to hit a teammate in a better scoring area. He was an offense first defenseman as a collegian, and a brief NHL trial showed that he could play that game in the NHL, and there seems to be room for him in the NHL rotation right now. He will likely need to be protected somewhat as his defensive zone game is a bit on the raw side.

11 Aaron Luchuk, C (UDFA: Dec. 26, 2017. Last Year: IE) Never drafted, Luchuk spent three and a half seasons with the Windsor Spitfires, playing a critical role in their 2017 Memorial Cup victory, before he was traded to the Barrie Colts in mid-December. He was already only seven points away from a career high, but his season would only get better. Much better. He already had 51 points in 30 games at the time of the trade. 11 days later, he signed an ELC as a free agent with Ottawa, and finished the season with 81 more points in 50 regular season and postseason games with Barrie. Despite the sensational point totals, he lacks dynamic offensive skills, although does everything pretty well. His size also works against him, although he is willing to fight for space and loose pucks. He is a player, if probably not a high end one.

Andreas Englund

12 Andreas Englund, D (40^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 9^th) Very big, but very impressive afoot, especially for his size, Englund has been hampered thus far in his career by his complete lack of any offensive elements to his game. He is clearly more comfortable playing in his own zone as he has played the role of stay-at-home blueliner since his amateur days. Englund’s puck skills extend as far as retrieving the puck and getting to a teammate, who can get it out of the Belleville end. He has had a few short NHL cups of coffee in each of the last two years since coming over from Sweden, and should be in line for a bit more this season.

13 Patrick Sieloff, D (Trade: Jun. 27, 2016 [Calgary]. Last Year: not ranked) Acquired from Calgary two summers ago for Alex Chaisson, Sieloff has played in a single NHL game for both NHL organizations to which he has belonged, and scored a goal in each. That statistical fluke aside, offense is not really his jam. Sieloff is built thick and plays tough, sometimes overly so. He can get in trouble with his aggressiveness, such as when he concussed teammate Clarke MacArthur in training camp. He also skates well, getting to top speed rapidly and is reliably competent in his own zone. He is primed to battle it out this year for the distinction of opening camp as the team’s #6/7 defender.

14 Maxime Lajoie, D (133^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) A solid skater who plays a fairly polished game on both sides of the puck, Lajoie had a decent rookie pro season last year, especially considering the circumstances of injuries that caused him to miss over 20 games and the fact that Belleville had a very bad hockey club last year. He was able to demonstrate an impressive ability to process the game, and he is able to transition the puck from zone to zone thanks to his mobility and puck handling skills. Lajoie is still on the slight side and needs a full, healthy season to give us a better idea of how his development will play out.

Gabriel Gagne

15 Gabriel Gagne, RW (36^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 20^th) Gagne’s permanently raw collection of tools were unable to have much of an impact in his first pro season, leading to a humbling stretch in the ECHL. His follow-up campaign was much better. He went from barely getting one shot on net per game to leading Belleville with 177 shots and a team high 20 goals. The paltry assist total (5) looks bad, but there wasn’t anyone else on the team who could score, so there were only so many assists to go around. Gagne is still growing into his lanky 6-5” frame, but he skates well, has above average puck skills, including a deadly shot from medium range and he knows how to put his body to good use. He is the player in this system who improved the most season over season.

16 Christian Jaros, D (139^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) As many of the other young blueliners in the system – particularly those with AHL experience – are either purely offensive or purely defensive defenders, Jaros stands out as having a more well-balanced game. Despite missing too much time to injuries in his first year in North America, he had good results for Belleville, and earned a few games with the Senators as well. He has a powerful point shot and moves the puck with skill. He is big and physical, without being mean. He has enough mobility to not be a weak link, although skating is not his strength. Of all of the defensemen in the second half of this list, Jaros has the highest likelihood of being more than a third pairing defender over time.

17 Filip Chlapik, C (48^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8^th) Considering how well Chlapik did in his first pro season, leading Belleville in scoring despite missing 24 games, and playing in 20 games in the NHL, it may seem odd to see him ranked relatively low. Adding to the cognitive dissonance here is the fact that Chlapik is probably the first center to be called up again in case of injury. The answer lies in his lack of tools, or dynamic elements to his game. The big, Czech forward is a below average skater whose hands are soft and he can make some plays at the AHL level, but we doubt he has enough flash to create offense on his own in the NHL. He is an intelligent and has learned how to play within his limitations, at least at the QMJHL level, but he has further to go to prove he can do it at the highest levels.

18 Kevin Mandolese, G (157^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In terms of pure ability from a physical standpoint, Mandolese may have been the best netminder available in the 2018 draft. Unfortunately, his performance never matched his visuals for long stretches and he split the season with QMJHL veteran Kyle Jessiman. He is a solid shot blocker who reads plays well and can be credited for improving upon his consistency in net over the course of the last year. Further to his credit, the defense in front of him was poor last year, so he may not have been fully at fault for his mediocre numbers, especially as they were markedly better than his partner. He needs to do a better job of keeping his arms up in the butterfly to prevent more rush goals. For now, he is a goalie to watch, instead of to plan around.

19 Julius Bergman, D (Trade: Jun. 19, 2018 [San Jose]. Last Year: 17^th [San Jose]) A big part of the return from San Jose in the Mike Hoffman deal, Bergman has had an up and down professional career since the Sharks made him a second round pick in 2014. Last season had its own mini ups and downs as he found a way to make his shot count more often, netting a career high ten goals, while he continued to struggle – sometimes mightily so – in his own zone. Seen as an offensive defenseman as an amateur, he still flashes those tools, but has never really developed his off-puck game. He may have more of a chance in the Ottawa system, but he will still need to show more consistent commitment first.

20 Andrew Sturtz, RW (Mar. 28, 2018. Last Year: IE) The first foray into the college free agent the Senators have made in a while, Sturtz already has some experience with the Ottawa area, having spent his pre-college years playing in Carleton Place in the CCHA. A smaller player who plays a bigger game than he should, but earned attention thanks to his puck skills. Sturtz is blessed with strong hands, very good hand-eye coordination and slippery puck control skills. His shot is only so-so, but he has a knack for getting himself into prime scoring position. He also skates well, which made him elusive in the collegiate ranks. He will have to prove himself in Belleville first, but he is worth keeping an eye on.

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.

Scouting Reports: WHL – Kole Lind, Kailer Yamamoto, Max Lajoie, Connor Ingram, Tyler Steenbergen

Kevin Olexson — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 16:21:11 +0000

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Kole Lind	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: RW, Shoots R	H/W: 6-1", 175 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Kelowna Rockets, WHL (57-26-45-71-71)

KELOWNA, CANADA - NOVEMBER 5: Kole Lind #16 of the Kelowna Rockets skates against the Medicine Hat Tigers on November 5, 2016 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Skating: Lind is a good skater with decent top speed. He skates really well, moves around the ice with ease, and is well balanced and solid on his skates. He takes long powerful strides, can make hard stops, and quick turns. He is agile and good on his edges. Grade: 55

Shot: Lind likes to shoot and has a very good shot. He is more of shooter than passer, and has good hand-eye coordination allowing him to get his stick on many shots for deflections. He has a great one timer with a tremendous release. Lind is goal scorer with a cannon of a shot. He has a good hard release on his snap shot, with an excellent wrist shot. He has a heavy slap shot, and is able to get them off in a hurry. He has good accuracy and puck placement as he can pick corners high or low and is a strong finisher. Grade: 55

Skills: Lind is a goal scorer, with lots of offensive skill. He is comfortable carrying the puck up the ice, and can create scoring chances off the rush. He usually does not hold on to the puck for very long, but is able to dish the puck to open teammates and head for the net. He has good vision and a nice set of hands. Grade: 55

Smarts: The Saskatchewan native is an intelligent player with good hockey sense. He knows where he is supposed to be on the ice, plays well in all three zones, and finds himself openings to get into good shooting positions. His defensive game has been improving, and he reads plays well and is able to work well with and support his linemates as needed. Lind has a tendency to get caught up in plays or distractions that can take him away from what he does best. Grade: 55

Physicality: Lind is at his best when he is physical and aggressive. He has decent size, can play the body, forechecks hard, and plays with an nearly ever-present edge. Grade: 55

Summary: Kole Lind is projected to be a power forward, and will have all of the traits to fulfill that vision. He will need to be more consistent in the physical department as that is when he is at his best. He has a great work ethic, and good size and frame. He has good speed, some really good offensive skills, and is developing his two way game. He makes himself at home in front of the net, and reaps the benefits of doing so. Most of his goals come from right in front of the crease, as he finds open space in the slot and capitalizes on rebounds and his quick release. He has moved up to play with Kelowna’s top line, and is comfortable playing with some good support. Lind will become a more consistent player as his game develops, and he has good skill and potential.

Kailer Yamamoto	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: RW/C, Shoots R	H/W: 5-8", 160 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Spokane Chiefs, WHL (52-34-41-75-36)

Kailer Yamamoto. Photo by Larry Brunt.

Skating: Yamamoto is a great skater who moves very quickly, has lots of speed, and changes gears instantly. He has great acceleration and good top end speed. He uses his speed to his advantage by eluding defenders and can catch them flat footed and explode by them. He is strong on his feet and keeps a low center of gravity, helping him withstand physical play and play bigger than he is. He also uses his speed to elude checks and defenders, using strong explosive steps and a good change of pace. He can make quick and sudden stops and turns, is impressive with his edgework, and can excel off of his first step. Grade: 60

Shot: Yamamoto has really good shot, likes to shoot and has an impressive ability to finish. He has a good shot selection, and has an unbelievably quick release. He gets plenty of snap on both his wrist and snap shots, and has a real blast of a one timer. He scores a lot of his goals from in close as he is not afraid to go hard to the front of the net. Grade: 55

Skills: Yamamato has an abundance of offensive skill and game breaking abilities. He is great stick handler and is quite comfortable with the puck on his stick, often making defenders pay by giving him too much time and space. He has a great set of hands, and has excellent vision and creativity with the puck. He is an elite passer and playmaker who can make superb passes through high traffic areas, and can dangle and control the puck in close quarters as well as control the play from the outside. Grade: 60

Smarts: The undersized Yamamoto has been primarily known for his offensive skills and game, but has worked hard on improving his defensive game over the past few years. He has outstanding hockey sense and IQ, can read the plays really well, and gets in to good positions to create turnovers. He now plays more in all situations including a stable penalty killing role as he knows where he should be all over the ice. He is a smart player who does not get caught in traffic, is quick to the puck, and forechecks hard. He knows how to avoid defenders and elude hits. On the downside, he has a tendency to get caught up in the game and take undisciplined or retaliatory penalties. Grade: 55

Physicality: Yamamoto may not have the size, but plays extremely hard with lots of heart and passion. He challenges and engages opponents, forechecks hard and plays very aggressively for his size. He does not shy away from the physical play, is not afraid to use his body, and often catches opponents off guard by initiating contact. He goes to the high traffic and hard to get to areas, and is often rewarded for his efforts. Grade: 50

Summary: Yamamoto is an incredibly highly skilled player who is determined to succeed. He plays a game of speed, competes extremely hard, and has a top notch work ethic. He is a playmaker with great finishing abilities and elite offensive skills. He knows how to use his speed to his advantage, is a great passer and stick handler who can find and open passing lanes to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. He plays on a team that has not given him much support, but he is a player who can contribute and make everyone around him better. He is an underrated player who would definitely be ranked much higher if it was not for his size, as his skills and ceiling are extremely high.

Maxime Lajoie	2016 Draft (133rd - Ottawa Senators)
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 6-1", 185 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Swift Current Broncos, WHL (56-7-27-34-24)

Max Lajoie. Photo courtesy of the Swift Current Broncos.

Skating: Lajoie is an excellent skater with good balance and good speed. He is a smooth skater with very good mobility. He works his edges well, is strong on his feet, and can start or stop instantly. He is also able to move quickly and gain speed whether going forward or backwards. Grade: 55

Shot: Lajoie is more of a passer than shooter, but he has already scored seven goals this year, one off his career high. He may not have a really hard shot, but he does have good accuracy, and a deceptive wrist shot that finds the net. Grade: 50

Skills: Lajoie is a strong puck mover who passes really well and can help push the play for his forwards. He sees the ice very well and can read plays quickly as they are developing. He is a playmaking defenseman with excellent vision who can think quickly, and has a pass first mentality. He uses his creativity to move pucks through traffic and seams and find open teammates and make plays. Grade: 55

Smarts: Lajoie has a very good hockey IQ, and plays a calm game with poise. His defensive play is overshadowed by his offensive abilities, but he plays well in his own end. He knows where to go positionally, boxes out well, and plays conservatively for the most part. He moves the puck well out of dangerous or risky situations, and tends to make high percentage plays when the puck is on his stick. He is good at using both his stick and his skates to get in the way of pucks, and is able to move the puck up ice with speed and ease. Grade: 55

Physicality: Lajoie, who is 6’1”, with a decent sized frame, will still develop and fill out to add to his overall bulk. He competes hard, and will play physically. He will take hits to make plays, and uses his frame well to protect the puck and box out opponents. Grade: 50

Summary: Lajoie is better known for his offensive skills, but is a solid two-way defender as he takes care of things in his own end as well. He plays a good all round game, is extremely smart and makes good decisions with and without the puck. He brings a strong work ethic with him every night, skates really well and covers the ice with ease. He plays in all situations, and with an increased role is one of the leaders on his team. He has good vision, is creative with the puck and sees the game well. He has strong passing and puck moving skills, and is able to play a quick transition game.

Connor Ingram	2016 Draft (88th - Tampa Bay Lightning)
Position: G, Catches L	H/W: 6-0", 210 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-Save %)	Kamloops Blazers, WHL (38-2.10-.935)
	Canada U20, WJC (4-2.57-.833)

Connor Ingraham, Kamloops Blazers. Photo by Allen Douglas,

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Ingram is an below average sized goalie who is very athletic, and moves really well. He plays with determination and competes very hard, never giving up on pucks and will use any part of his body to keep pucks out of the net. He has good lower body strength, and moves laterally very well. He keeps himself low, moves really quickly throughout his crease and takes away the bottom of the net. He has a good quick glove, and uses his instincts to react quickly to adjust to pucks and shots. Again, he works really hard to keep out loose pucks or second chances. Grade: 60

Compete/Temperament: Ingram is a fierce competitor, who lays everything on the line and never gives up on a play. He will use any means necessary to fight and battle to keep the puck out of the net. He plays focused and composed, and, despite some rough outings for Team Canada at the WJC, is mentally strong. Grade: 65

Vision/Play Reading: Ingram tracks the puck well and is able to fight through and see his shooting lanes, despite standing only 6-0” tall. He does an excellent job reacting to shots and deflections, and is good at taking away the bottom of the net. Grade: 55

Technique/Style: Ingram has good technical skills, as his positioning and angles are a strength to his game. He boasts a confident stance and plays aggressively towards shooters, as he challenges shooters and moves out for loose pucks. He has surprisingly long legs, plays a low style, covers post to post easily, and will use every inch of his body to stop pucks. He has great reflexes which he uses to react to high shots and deflections, and has good form moving side to side. Grade: 55

Rebound Control: The Tampa Bay draft pick has decent rebound control, although some pucks can get away from him. He battles hard in the crease to keep out second or third chances in order to make up for it. Grade: 50

Puck Handling: Ingram likes to play the puck and can help his teammates by moving it up the ice quickly and accurately. Grade: 60

Summary: Ingram is the Blazers’ MVP and for good reason. The highly athletic goaltender gets a lot of work and faces an abundance of shots. He competes hard, is more than solid between the pipes, and gives his team a chance to win each and every night. He is a smaller sized goaltender who makes a number of incredible saves night after night. He is mentally strong, very composed and focused, and battles hard to keep pucks out of his net. Ingram likes to play aggressively, challenge shooters, and play the puck. He gives his team the utmost of confidence, and allows them to take chances and play better up the ice. He has a great attitude, is good with his teammates, and has a great work ethic.

Tyler Steenbergen	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 5-10", 190 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Swift Current Broncos, WHL (58-43-31-74-16)

Tyler Steembergen, Swift Current Broncos. Photo courtesy of Swift Current Broncos,

Skating: Steenbergen is a great skater with exciting top end speed. He is strong on his skates, has very quick acceleration and changes gears in a hurry. He is good on his edges, and looks really smooth on his feet. He has a strong base, and makes hard cuts and turns, and uses strong strides to pick up speed quickly. I have literally seen him skate circles around defenders and opening up ice for himself to take the puck to the net. Grade: 55

Shot: Steenbergen is an excellent finisher and goal scorer. He has a hard and accurate wrist shot, with a quick release and good placement. Gets a lot of shots off from in front of the net, and takes the puck to the net often. Grade: 55

Skills: Steenbergen is a top ranked offensive player. He has great offensive skills and playmaking abilities. He is very patient and comfortable having the puck on his stick, and controls the play. He has great hands and hand-eye coordination, and the puck just has a way of constantly finding his stick. He is a strong and accurate passer, attacks the net, and is creative in the offensive zone. Grade: 55

Smarts: He has solid hockey IQ and is very intelligent as he understands the game very well. He plays very well in his own end of the ice, taking away lanes and space, and has the ability to see and read plays, being able to put himself in the right place at the right time. He is able to exploit holes in the offensive zone, and set himself up to put the puck in the net. Grade: 50

Physicality: Steenbergen has below average size, and does not play an overly physical game. He will throw the body, but is more likely to take a hit to make a play than play aggressively as an engager. Grade: 45

Summary: Tyler Steenbergen has transitioned himself into an offensive machine in Swift Current. After going undrafted last year, he has picked it up another notch this year and is challenging for the WHL lead in goal scoring. He plays a highly skilled game that involves speed and generates scoring opportunities. He seems to always be involved in the play and makes something happen with every shift. He has become a very solid and complete player who works very hard, and leads his team by example. He has tremendous puck skills, a good shot, and really dominates in the offensive zone. This year he certainly will not be passed over, and should be a solid pick for whichever team selects him. Although he does not possess great size, and does not play an overly physical game. He makes up for it with speed, smarts and skill, as he demonstrates and delivers on the ice each and every night.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Ottawa Senators

Grant McCagg — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 18:30:20 +0000

It was no surprise who the Senators selected at 11th overall when they swung a deal to move up one spot in the draft , choosing the “hometown” boy in 6-6 center Logan Brown...a player many thought had made his way into the top ten after his impressive showing at the U-18. Brown quelled some of the whispers about his competitiveness and willingness to get his nose dirty over the second half of the season…significantly increasing his goal total and getting into the high traffic areas (especially the goal area) with more frequency.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	11	9	Logan Brown	C	CAN	6-6/220	Windsor (OHL)
2	42	54	Jonathan Dahlen	C	SWE	5-11/175	Timra (Swe)
4	103	NR	Todd Burgess	RW	USA	6-2/180	Fairbanks (NAHL)
5	133	111	Max Lajoie	D	CAN	6-1/185	Swift Current (WHL)
6	163	NR	Markus Nurmi	RW	FIN	6-4/185	TPS Turku (Fin)

Max Lajoie

Scouts were seemingly split on Jonathan Dahlen’s potential…some questioning his grit and size/skating combo, while others were intrigued by his offensive upside and strong showing at U-19 events and the Allsvenskan playoffs. Todd Burgess was praised by a couple of NHL scouts after the draft…not having seen him as a staff, however, perhaps if this information was known before the draft he would have been scouted, and on McKeen’s draft list. Max Lajoie was a highly-regarded player as a 16-year-old…a disappointing season resulted in him dropping to the fifth round. Ottawa will hope he can bounce back to earlier form. Markus Nurmi is a lanky winger that was a spare part on Finland’s U-18 team.

June 24, 2016: Former Senators player, Daniel Alfredsson, looks on after the Senators selected Logan Brown 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.)

Grade - B: The Sens had a strong start to the draft by picking up a top ten prospect with impressive offensive potential in Brown and a skilled sniper in Dahlen. Having no other picks in the top 100 hurt the overall depth.