NHL Comparisons For All Of The Ottawa Senators’ 1st, 2nd Round Picks
By Jack Leiper
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Thomas Chabot poses for a photo with team executives after being selected as the number eighteen overall pick to the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Chabot
Defender – 6foot2 – Saint John (QMJHL)
66GP 12G – 29A – 41P
Chabot was Ottawa’s highest draft pick this year, likely because of the high-end potential he possesses. Skating ability, over anything else is something Chabot will always have. Whatever other bumps there are along the way can be practiced on and improved, but the skating will always be there. This will allow him to make up for his mistakes as well as generate offence for an NHL team.
Good comparisons would be to that of any two-way NHL defender, and one with size. Ottawa’s own, Patrick Wiercioch seems like a good one to make, but Wiercioch’s slow foot speed gives Chabot a higher NHL ceiling.
Perhaps the best comparison is that of Canucks defender, Alexander Edler. Edler is the same size as Chabot and has always been known as a high end skater in the NHL. For years, Edler has contributed 30+ points to the Canucks and Chabot should some day do the same for the Ottawa Senators.
NHL Comparison: Alexander Edler
Colin White
Forward – 6foot1 – Boston College (NCAA)
54GP 23 G – 21A – 54P
White had a down year in terms of offensive production while he battled mono. This came after an underage year where he looked like an up and coming star in terms of offensive production. He still looks to be that player while remaining the most responsible guy on the ice, night in and night out.
White holds a very high ceiling. He plays center and wing, so he can fit into Ottawa’s lineup even with youngsters Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris around. He gets a lot of talk for his two-way abilities and has what it takes to shine in the NHL.
He’s average sized, and any good comparison would be that of a good two-way center in the NHL. Perhaps Kyle Turris, a player who Ottawa is currently familiar with, but with even more emphasis on defence. For myself, Ryan Kesler seems like the ideal comparison. Kesler won a Selke award in 2010 and possesses elite level play making skills—all while being a very reliable player.
Another would include Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins, who has been one of the league’s best two way centres for quite some time.
The Senators have a nice window ahead with youngsters Colin White and Curtis Lazar soon to be impact NHL players. Include Mark Stone, Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris in the conversation and the Senators seem to have the makings of an elite level team in terms of forward depth.
NHL Comparison: Ryan Kesler
Next: Part 2: 2nd Round Pick Comparisons