For the Ottawa Senators, the October 2020 draft wasn’t just unusual for the timing.
With three first-round picks, including two in the top five, the Senators and their fans were salivating at a once-in-a-franchise-history opportunity to add core building blocks to the organization.
By comparison, Ottawa’s lone first round 2021 pick at No. 10 overall and just six selections in total — last year they drafted 10 players — is a little more like business as usual instead of early Christmas. The Senators have progressed as a franchise to the point where they want to add one or two key pieces rather than several building blocks.
A large consideration regarding the Senators: this draft thins out after the first 10-15 players, and Ottawa has two second-round picks (39 and 42). Both GM Pierre Dorion and chief amateur scout Trent Mann concurred there has been a lot of internal discussion about using one of those second-round picks as part of a package to move up, if possible, to target another player in the first round. Something to watch for.
Dorion did say he believes he will draft a player at 10 and not flip that pick.
Ottawa Draft picks: 1st round (10th), 2nd round (39th, 42nd), 3rd round (74th), 6th round (170th), 7th round (202nd).
Potential targets in Round 1
Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan
Johnson, the third member of the Michigan ‘Top 10 troika,’ has been a point producer at every level, including Junior A with Trail in B.C. Former Senators forward Bill Muckalt was one of the recruiters who brought him to Michigan, where Johnston produced 27 points in 26 games as a freshman. This left-shooting centre is stylish, hard-working and was named by Michigan head coach Mel Pearson as his team’s most improved player this season.
As could also be the case with robust forward Mason McTavish, a former Ottawa Valley Titan, the question is whether or not Johnson will still be there at No. 10. Mann has said he doesn’t expect McTavish to be there at 10.
Chaz Lucius, C, U.S. NTDP
Considering Lucius missed more than 30 games this past season with a knee injury, his return to play, instant production for the USA U-18 team, and a likely top 10 draft position is all rather stunning. Lucius was sidelined for a full 12 months following knee surgery and led the USA attack as though he’d missed 12 minutes. A right-hand shot on the smallish side at six-foot, 172 pounds, is that rare centre who is better known for goal-scoring than playmaking. In 13 games, Lucius had 13 goals and seven assists. His coaches at all levels rave about his hockey sense and drive.
Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls – USHL
All else being equal, Ottawa will take the son of the former NHLer when they can. It certainly worked out with the Brady Tkachuk selection (fourth overall, 2018). Sillinger is a big centre at six-foot-two, 201 pounds, which means he could be a great fit for a D.J. Smith team.
Like Senators centre Josh Norris, Sillinger has a heavy shot and is not hesitant to shoot the puck. In 34 games with Sioux Falls this season, Sillinger had 24 goals and 22 assists. Though not yet as strong a skater as Norris, Sillinger is consumed by hockey, plays an effective two-way game and does not mind using his physical strength to knock players off the puck or battle for position.
The goalie question: The consensus around Ottawa is that the Senators will take either a skilled centre or a goaltender with their first pick. My sense is that they are leaning toward the position player, but will that change after the Sens lost goalie prospect Joey Daccord in the Seattle expansion draft?
Probably not. If the Sens want one of the blue-chip goaltenders available, they will draft him, Daccord or no Daccord.
Dorion brought some intrigue to the question when he said on a Thursday Zoom call that while he feels the club has goalie “quality and quantity at every level,” he then added: “that doesn’t mean that if we feel there is a Vezina-calibre goalie at 10, that we will not take him.”
Consider that a juicy tidbit or a pre-draft curve ball.
Are Jesper Wallstedt of Sweden and Sebastian Cossa of Hamilton Vezina-calibre draft picks? Many scouts believe so.
A quick goaltender inventory check: Ottawa has Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg as their 1-2 next season. Behind them are up-and-comers Filip Gustavsson and Mads Sogaard (7-0-0 in AHL Belleville last season) penciled in for the AHL, as well as younger prospects Leevi Merilainen and Kevin Mandolese in the system. Dorion feels the organization has more depth in goal than at any other position.
However, if enough voices in the war room feel they can’t pass over one of Wallstedt or Cossa, should either of these top-rated goalies be available at 10, there is a chance it could happen. Again, with two picks in the second round, Ottawa could package one of their second-round picks with a later pick (third or sixth round, for example) to move up and grab a player or goalie they really want.
Last year’s first pick: Tim Stützle, third overall
The Senators could not have been more pleased with the progress of Stützle, a player they were able to draft with the lottery pick from the San Jose Sharks (part of the Erik Karlsson trade). Stützle’s late-season hat trick and the impromptu backyard hat toss by neighbourhood kids that went viral on social media was a decent symbol for “Jimmy” (Brady Tkachuk’s nickname for his roomie) and his magical first season in Ottawa. Stützle finished sixth in team scoring with 12 goals and 29 points, and though he showed some late-season fatigue after a long grind that included world junior play and a lot of travel, Stützle came as advertised. He is dynamic, fearless and should be a star in the league when he fills out physically.
Organizational needs: When Mann was asked this week if he feels the Senators have a particular need as far as their organizational depth, he was about as coy as any scout prior to a draft, but he did hint that the club’s needs were more clear a couple of years ago. We assume he is talking about Ottawa’s needs on defence, which have been directly targeted by recent drafts of Jake Sanderson (fifth, 2020), Tyler Kleven (44th, 2020), Lassi Thomson (19th, 2019) and Jacob Bernard-Docker (26th, 2018). Artem Zub, 25, was a slick pickup from the KHL and while the team continues to look for a top-four defenceman to support Thomas Chabot (18th, 2015), in terms of prospects, defence is no longer a sore point. In fact, the Senators have pretty good depth at forward, defence and in goal. Top-end forward skill is their biggest need.
“I think we have addressed a lot of the areas that need to be addressed,” Mann said. “Now, we’re at a point where — you always want more depth and you always want better depth.” In other words, they are weighing upgrades at all positions, rather than addressing dire needs.
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