After a bit of a hiatus, SenShot continues to release our Top 40 Ottawa Senators Prospects.
Today, we continue to look at the Top 20 Prospects and bring to you another four of Ottawa’s prospects in their system. In our Top 40 Prospects ranking, these four prospects are ranked 13th to 16th.
13. Kaspars Daugavins
Position: Winger (RW/LW)
Shoots: Left
Ht: 5’11” Wt: 209 lbs
Date of Birth: May 18, 1988 (Age 23)
Birthplace: Riga, USSR (LAT)
Contract: $600,000 (RFA in 2012-2013)
Drafted: 2006 (3/91) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 73 Goals ~ 19 Assists ~ 35 Total Points ~ 54
Potential: Energy winger with an offensive upside
2011-2012 Team: Ottawa Senators or Binghamton Senators
How Far Away From The NHL: 0 – 1 yr
- Playing parts of five seasons with Binghamton, Daugavins has become a fan favorite with the fan base. With his last two seasons being fully played in the AHL, the 23 year old has notched 40 goals and 100 points in 145 games. But his real showing came in the B-Sens run to the Clader Cup as Daugavins put up ten goals and 20 points in 23 playoff games en route to the championship.
- As a energy forward, Daugavins can also put the puck in the net and has some playmaking abilities. With a solid frame and good skating abilities, he also has the speed to put some space between him and his opponents. As a team-first player, Daugavins is also the team motivator and is not afraid to drop the gloves once in awhile.
- Ottawa sees Daugavins as a potential bottom six energy forward that may be able to chip in a goal or two here and there.
- As Daugavins has been part of the organization for over five years now and has yet to see significant time in the NHL, he signed a contract this past off-season to play in the KHL. However, he decided to give the NHL one more try and is participated in the Sens 2011-12 training camp. If he does not make the Ottawa line-up out of camp, it is not known if he will play the year in the AHL and hope that he gets a chance in the NHL, or if he will pack his bags and head to the KHL. This year will be Daugavins make-it-or-break-it year for his potential NHL career.
- Check out this video of Daugavins shifty shootout moves.
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14. Stefan Noesen
Position: Right Winger
Shoots: Right
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 187 lbs
Date of Birth: February 12, 1993 (Age 18)
Birthplace: Plano, TX, USA
Contract: Unsigned
Drafted: 2011 (1/21) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 68 Goals ~ 34 Assists ~ 43 Total Points ~ 77
Potential: Top nine two-way forward
2011-2012 Team: Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 3 – 4 yrs
- Ottawa’s second pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Noesen was the compensation in the Mike Fisher trade with Nashville. A hard nosed competitor, Noesen has a strong two-way game and an offensive touch. After a poor rookie season where he only saw action in 33 games and notched eight points, Noesen broke out in his sophomore year as he got 34 goals and 77 points in 68 games.
- With a high hockey IQ and a strong defensive game, Noesen is hard on the puck and plays the game with a ton of energy.
- Ottawa hopes Noesen can develop his offensive game further as he continues his junior career in Plymouth. If he can take his game to the next level and becopme a 40 plus goal scorer, Noesen could become a good two-way forward a the next level.
- Check out this video of Noesen’s work.
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15. Matt Puempel
Position: Left Winger
Shoots: Left
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 198 lbs
Date of Birth: January 24, 1993 (Age 18)
Birthplace: Windsor, Ont, Canada
Contract: Unsigned
Drafted: 2011 (1/24) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 55 Goals ~ 34 Assists ~ 35 Total Points ~ 69
Potential: Top six forward with a huge scoring upside
2011-2012 Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 3 – 5 yrs
- Puempel was Ottawa’s third first round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In his outstanding rookie year in the OHL in the 2009-10 season, where he earned OHL Rookie of the Year and Canadian Major Junior Rookie of the Year honors when he put up 64 points in 59 games. His 2010-11 season didn’t goes as planned as he suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss time. However, he still managed to score 34 goals and 69 points in 55 games. In his two years in the OHL so far, Puempel has notched 67 goals and 133 points in 114 games.
- With his best asset being his deadly, accurate shot, Puempel projects to be a sniper at the next level. As natural goal scorer, Puempel needs to work on other areas of his game to round out his resume. Skating has been noted as a issue, but it hasn’t affected him yet in his young career.
- Ottawa hopes Puempel can develop into a pure sniper that can be the best pure goal scorer since Dany Heatley played in Ottawa. If he can round out his game and work on his skater, Puempel may turn out to be a late first round steal.
- Check out these video’s of Puempel’s work. (1) (2)
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16. Derek Grant
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 196 lbs
Date of Birth: April 20, 1990 (Age 21)
Birthplace: Abbotsford, B.C., Canada
Contract: $605,000 (RFA in 2014-2015)
Drafted: 2008 (4/119) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 38 Goals ~ 8 Assists ~ 25 Total Points ~ 33
Potential: Top nine center who can put up points
2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 2 – 3 yrs
- Grant is a tall, lanky center with a ton of offensive talent. Drafted out of the BCHL after putting up 49 goals and 123 points in 93 games over two seasons, Ottawa is hoping Grant can turn into an point producing center at the NHL level. Going the collegiate route and joining Michigan State, Grant notched 63 points in 76 games over two years. Grant also got to play some games in Binghamton this past season after he signed a contract with Ottawa. He got six points in 14 games and added two points in seven AHL playoff games.
- Grant certainly has the assets to be a effective center in the NHL. With a great frame, if he can add ten to 15 pounds of muscle, he could become a dominant center. With a good two-way game, Grant could be anything from a second line center to a fourth line center.
- Leaving college after two years, Grant is starting his pro career early in hopes that Ottawa’s current rebuild can give him the opportunity to get to the NHL quicker. Slated to start the year in Binghamton this year, Grant could be a potential call-up if he gets off to a good start in the AHL. He is still a few years away from full-time duty in the NHL, but Grant is expected to be a contributor in the future for the organization.
- Check out this interview of Grant from Sens Development Camp.
You can check out our 17th-20th, 21st-24th, 25th-28th, 29th-32nd, 33rd-36th and 37th-40th ranked prospects here.
Check back tomorrow when we get into the Top 20 Prospects and release our 9th to 12th ranked Ottawa Senators Prospects.
**Don’t forget to buy your Tickets for SenShot’s Alfie Night in Ottawa on November 11th, 2011. Click here for more details**
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