Ranking The Top 20 Ottawa Senators Prospects: #10 – #6
So far, the players ranked from #20 – #11 have been ranked here and here. In the preamble of the first post, it is mentioned that the Senators don’t necessarily have the high-end prospects like some other teams do, but the depth is there.
This post continues the list by breaking into the top 10 Senators prospects, kicking it off..
10. Mikael Wikstrand
Defenceman – Färjestad — 2012 7th round pick (Ottawa Senators)
AHL 6foot2 196lbs
The decision to stay in Sweden for another season was a disappointing one for Senators fans. After another productive year in the SHL, Wikstrand was slated to come over and play in the AHL, on north american ice for the first time.
While he’s not coming to North America just yet, another year in Sweden shouldn’t hurt his development as he is still only 21 and is signed to a 3 year ELC that hasn’t kicked in yet. Wikstrand is priming himself for a jump straight to the NHL, as his game often matches the description of what teams are looking for in today’s game.
A scouting report from Curtis Joe at Elite Prospects offered the following on Wikstrand’s game
“A mobile two-way defenseman. Wikstrand plays a pretty simple game and can be used in most situations. Owns a booming shot and good passing ability from the backend. Plays with determination and has decent timing when it comes to the physical aspect of the game.”
Wikstrand holds the size (6foot2) and skating ability to play at the NHL level some day. Wikstrand is a project over the next few seasons. Another good year could lead to the North American debut in the 16-17 season, likely starting in Binghamton. If Wikstrand demonstrates he can play a good, stable game there, the NHL likely isn’t too far off.
9. Ryan Dzingel
Forward – Binghamton Senators — 2011 7th round pick (Ottawa Senators)
AHL 6foot0 196lbs
Ryan Dzingel, like many other prospects on this list doesn’t hold a very high ceiling in terms of NHL production. He just completed a nice NCAA career which even earned him a nomination towards the league’s Hobey Baker Award.
In a best case scenario, Dzingel is a 3rd line NHL center but he ranks high on this list due to the good chance he has to play in the NHL. Binghamton fans had nothing but good things to say about Dzingel following his first pro season and heading into his second; Dzingel is primed for a big year.
Dzingel’s 34 points and 17 goals are near that of current Senator, Zack Smith’s early AHL numbers. While Smith has proven in the past that he can be a reliable 3rd line center, Dzingel projects as a similar type of player. The Senators do have tremendous depth at the Center position, making it hard to make room for players like Dzingel or Derek Grant, a pending UFA.
The path travelled could be similar for Dzingel to that of Derek Grant’s as the Sens will hold his rights for a few more years until he becomes a UFA. That said, a strong start to the year mixed with the Senators hitting an injury bug or needing a player and Dzingel may find his name near the top of the call up list.
8. Frederik Claesson
Defenceman – Binghamton Senators — 2011 5th round pick (Ottawa Senators)
AHL 6foot0 198lbs
Steadiness, Reliability, Stay-at-home, all words that describe Frederik Claesson’s game.
Despite a bit of a step back year, Claesson’s personal success matched that of the effort that the Binghamton Senators gave. A disappointing season all around, no doubt, but Claesson remains one of the few pieces on the B-Sens who holds prospects to play in the NHL.
The 13-14 season was a monstrous one for Claesson as he led the AHL in +/- at +37. Although it is a stat that is often overlooked, and for good reason, it’s hard to ignore a plus that big. The season upcoming should be another good development year for Claesson, a left handed defender who should see time beside dynamic offensive defender, Chris Wideman.
Claesson’s game projects as a bottom pairing defender and at 22 he’s still young enough to keep developing in the AHL. His projected NHL arrival is 2017 at the earliest, but it could easily be sooner depending on what the Senators do with their defensive group. Chris Phillips is expected to go by then and with players like Eric Gryba, Jared Cowen, Mark Borowiecki and even Patrick Wiercioch having questions always attached to their game, a spot could be coming for Claesson. And even then, he’s likely behind Chris Wideman in terms of NHL depth charts.
Claesson’s number 8 ranking puts him ahead of Mikael Wikstrand, a player who probably has a higher ceiling. The reasoning behind that simply remains that we haven’t seen Wikstrand on North American ice.
Look for Claesson to play in the NHL in a few seasons. He is a player the organization likes, best displayed by the ice time he saw with Erik Karlsson in the pre-season. He was a world junior and holds some similar characteristics to fellow countryman and Senators prospect, Andreas Englund.
7. Tobias Lindberg
Slick toe drag by @tlindberg7 puts Generals up 2-0 #MCMemorialCup http://t.co/80imo0Y5Pa
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 27, 2015
Forward – Oshawa Generals — 2013 4th round pick (Ottawa Senators)
OHL 6foot3 198lbs
Senators prospects are coming off two consecutive memorial cup wins. Curtis Lazar took home the trophy with the Oil Kings in 2013-14, and Lindberg won it this past may with his Oshawa Generals.
The Senators scouted Lindberg and were lucky enough to secure him in the 4th round of the 2013 NHL entry draft. His game brings size and speed as Lindberg’s OHL stats certainly prove he could play in a top 6 NHL role.
Of course, the big evaluator comes next season as Lindberg is scheduled to play in Binghamton and the AHL, a big step up and much closer to the NHL. While a 19/20 year-old can dominate at the CHL level, sometimes the transition isn’t so easy. A prime example would be the WHL scoring leader from the 13-14 season. Mitch Holmberg had 62 goals and 118 points in 78 WHL games, but struggled mightily in not just the AHL, but the ECHL, putting up 14 points in 32 games.
But, if you’re buying what Lindberg has sold in the OHL; his game might make a good transition. The scouting reports seem to favour his game, mixing size and speed as the ultimate tools to play in an NHL team’s top 6.
One profile from McKeen’s hockey’s Brendan Ross, discusses the previously mentioned.
“Skating at 6-foot-2, the Stockholm native is a powerful winger who shows good physicality. He won’t dangle through defenders but his speed and ability to drive wide and to the net are difficult to contain. Lindberg projects as a complementary forward for the Generals and will be looking to impress the Senators to earn an entry-level contract.”
Luckily for the Senators, they have until 2017 to extend an ELC offer to Lindberg. He’s certainly shown he’s ready to move to the AHL and if one can be negotiated this off-season, expect him in a Binghamton Senators jersey come October.
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6. Andreas Englund
Defenceman –Djurgården — 2014 2nd round pick (Ottawa Senators)
SHL 6foot3 198lbs
Englund was Ottawa’s top draft choice in the 2014 draft after the team traded their first round selection to the Anaheim Ducks in the Bobby Ryan deal. Englund has many of the same qualities as previously mentioned player Fredrik Claesson and each could show up in the NHL over the next few seasons.
I have Englund ranked higher on this list simply because he is younger and how he is viewed by the organization. Taken at 40th overall, Englund was a pick that surprised Senators management when he was still on the board. It was widely reported that the Senators were also looking to trade into the top 30 of last year’s draft, a move that asst. GM Pierre Dorion would have been done to choose Englund.
Still just 19, Englund played with men in Sweden’s highest league and was world junior this year, although he wasn’t a big piece on team Sweden’s roster.
Overall, Englund is a responsible player. Think Marc Methot for a current Senators comparison. Just a steady, simple defender who plays an intelligent and important game.
Next: 2015 Fansided NHL Mock Draft: Sens @ 18