Ranking The Top 20 Ottawa Senators Prospects: #5 – #1
By Jack Leiper
5. Matt O’Connor
Goaltender – Boston University — Free Agent Signing (Ottawa Senators)
NCAA 6foot5 204lbs
O’Connor was one of the NCAA’s premier free agents available and the Senators were able to snag him by extending hima 2-year entry level deal this summer. O’Connor is a big man at 6foot5 and holds promise to one day play in the NHL. He’s got some things to work on and is expected to play in Binghamton to compete for the starting role there along with Chris Driedger.
For the Senators, the O’Connor signing makes the NHL goaltending situation even more complicated. With three NHL level goalies in Andrew Hammond, Craig Anderson, and Robin Lehner, you can expect the Senators to move at least one this off-season. O’Connor, who is the same age as Lehner could be a few years from the NHL and could make the situation tricky once again if Ottawa sees him in their crease in the near future.
The reports on O’Connor talk a lot about his size, which is a nice benefit in today’s NHL, but they also talk movement and mobility. From HockeysFuture.com:
"One of the attributes that makes O’Connor so attractive to NHL teams is his 6’5” and 204-pound frame. He possesses great athleticism and moves remarkably well for such a big netminder. O’Connor has blossomed into one of the nation’s most reliable goaltenders, demonstrating that he can not only keep his teams in games but also help win them. O’Connor is a goaltender who gets better with the more shots that he faces."
O’Connor will certainly get a shot in the NHL at some point. The most prominent comparison to O’Connor’s game is that of current Tampa goaltender and former Senator, Ben Bishop. Both for their stature and career path to the NHL, O’Connor has a shot to be a reliable starter in the NHL in the near future.
Next: Move Over, Jason Spezza. Nick Paul is Here