SenShot Presents: Ottawa Senators To 40 Prospects (1 to 4)
By Editorial Staff
Our journey to bring you the Top 40 Ottawa Senators Prospects has finally come to an end.
Today, we reveal our Top 4 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 1st to 4th.
1. David Rundblad
Shoots: Right
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 lbs
Date of Birth: October 8, 1990 (Age 20)
Birthplace: Lycksele, Sweden
Contract: $1,500,000 (RFA in 2013-2014)
Drafted: 2009 (1/17) by STL (acquired in a trade)
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 55 Goals ~ 11 Assists ~ 39 Total Points ~ 50
Potential: Top pairing offensive defenceman
2011-2012 Team: Ottawa Senators or Binghamton Senators (AHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 0 – 1 yr
- Rundblad is an offensive defenceman who has great puck skills, good size and can put up a lot of points. Most of his game will be played in the other teams end zone where he will do the most damage. Considered to be a Swedish Mike Green, Rundblad has been working on his defensive game to be a complete player.
- With a chance to make the team this year, Rundblad may spend most of the year with the Binghamton Senators to develop his defensive game. Rundblad is expected to be a major factor in Ottawa’s rebuild as he, along with current Sen Erik Karlsson, are planned to be an offensive force on Ottawa’s back-end for many years to come.
- Check out this video of Rundblad’s work.
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2. Nikita Filatov
Position: Winger (LW/RW)
Shoots: Right
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 185 lbs
Date of Birth: May 25, 1990 (Age 21)
Birthplace: Moscow, USSR (RUS)
Contract: $2,195,833 (RFA in 2012-2013)
Drafted: 2008 (1/6) by CBJ (acquired in a trade)
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 23 Goals ~ 0 Assists ~ 7 Total Points ~ 7
Potential: Top six flashy, offensive forward
2011-2012 Team: Ottawa Senators or Binghamton Senators (AHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 0 -1 yr
- Improperly developed by the Columbus organization, Filatov is a highly skilled forward who can create magic on the ice. With his game built on offensive, Filatov needs to be put in offensive situations to be able to succeed. With speed to burn, and the ability to stick handle in a phone booth, Filatov could be the first line winger that Ottawa has been searching for since Dany Heatley left. With decent size, Filatov needs to work on his defensive game to become a complete player, but in the end, it’s his offensive ability that will keep him in the league.
- Filatov should be able to make the team straight out of training camp, but if he does not, a little time in the AHL won’t do him any harm. It’ll be up to Filatov to show what he can do as this is probably his last chance to make it in the NHL. If everything goes to plan, Filatov can be the most dynamic player to join the Sens since Jason Spezza donned a Sens jersey.
- Check out this video of Filatov’s magic.
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3. Jared Cowen
Position: Defenceman
Shoots: Left
Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 228 lbs
Date of Birth: January 25, 1991 (Age 20)
Birthplace: Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
Contract: $1,265,000 (RFA in 2014-2015)
Drafted: 2009 (1/9) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 58 Goals ~ 18 Assists ~ 30 Total Points ~ 48
Potential: Top four shutdown defenceman with an offensive upside
2011-2012 Team: Ottawa Senators or Binghamton Senators (AHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 0 – 1 yr
- Cowen is an extremely good skater for his size and can move the puck pretty well. Not afraid to drop the gloves, Cowen will most likely make a pro career as being a shutdown defenceman. With an underrated offensive ability, Cowen has the skills to develop into an all-around defenceman that can make an impact at both ends of the ice. Compared to current Sen D-man, Chris Phillips, as both play a strong positional game and do not destroy opponents with their superior size.
- The organization will most likely send Cowen to the Binghamton Senators this year to have him work on his offensive game and have him develop more of a mean streak. Down the line, Cowen looks to replace Phillips as the steady, defensive rock of the D-corps. (Note: injuries have landed Cowen a spot in Ottawa to start the season)
- Check out this video of Cowen’s game.
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4. Robin Lehner
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 225 lbs
Date of Birth: July 24, 1991 (Age 20)
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contract: $870,000 (RFA in 2012-2013)
Drafted: 2009 (2/46) by OTT
Last Yrs Stats: GP ~ 8 Won ~ 1 Lost ~ 4 OTL ~ 0 GAA ~ 3.52 SV% ~ .888
Potential: Franchise goal tender
2011-2012 Team: Binghamton Senators (AHL)
How Far Away From The NHL: 1 – 2 yrs
- A huge goalie that covers the net well, Lehner battles for every save and has a fire in him not seen since Ron Hextall. If he learns how to channel his temper the right way, Lehner has the competitiveness to be a top goalie in the NHL.
- By all accounts, Lehner had a mediocre first year as a pro. Bouncing around from the AHL, the NHL, and to the international stage for Team Sweden, Lehner really never found his groove. Expected to push for the starter’s role in Binghamton, Lehner lost the battle to third string goalie Barry Burst. With a total of 30 games played last season at the NHL and AHL level, Lehner had a sub-par record of 11-12-2. However, it was in the AHL playoffs where Lehner showed his worth. Taking over the starter’s role, Lehner went 14-4 with a .939 SV% on route to winning the AHL Calder Cup and playoff MVP honors.
- The organization plans to have Lehner play the entire year in Binghamton and have him start the majority of the games. Expected to make the jump in the 2012-2013 season as a back-up, Lehner will need to prove he is not a flash-in-the-pan goalie and can be a consistent, dominant goalie in the AHL first. Expected to be the franchise goalie of the future, the organization has put all their eggs in one basket as the Sens have no other goalie in the system.
- Check out this video of Sens scouts speaking about Lehner.
These four prospects are the future of the organization. With high end talent, these four a the building blocks that the franchise will build around. On the back end, Cowen, Rundblad and Lehner will provide a solid core that will make Ottawa’s defensive zone a hard place to play in. Filatov is an impact forward that has the opportunity here to play first line minutes.
**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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