Ottawa Senators Announce Rookie Tournament Roster
By Ian Smith
The Ottawa Senators have unveiled their roster for the 2016 Rookie Tournament, and a lot of the players invited are very intriguing.
The tournament will be hosted in London, Ontario and will feature games between prospects from the Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens.
It starts on September 16, and players will compete in a total of 3 games against that group of teams.
Chris Driedger and Matt O’Connor will be the goaltenders for the Senators in this tournament. Each saw limited time with Ottawa last season.
O’Connor started a game, giving up 3 goals in the process on 34 shots, while Driedger saved 11 out of 11 shots in his lone 32 minute appearance.
Thomas Chabot will be generating a lot of buzz this tournament. The defenseman was drafted 18th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, and there’s a significant amount of optimism that he can make the regular season roster in October.
Another defenseman to keep an eye on is Ben Harpur. He’s not very high on the depth chart right now, but he played in 5 games with Ottawa last season and might figure into their future plans.
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He’s a gigantic lefty defenseman standing at 6’6’’ who has good skating skills for a guy his size. The offensive game isn’t quite there yet, but his frame makes him fascinating as a defensive-oriented blueliner.
He had 1 assist in 5 games last season for Ottawa, and will look to make a strong impression during this tournament.
There’s also a handful of forwards that could raise some eyebrows. Logan Brown is perhaps the most anticipated, recently signing his entry-level deal as the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Two pieces received from the Jason Spezza trade are also set to play in the tournament. Nick Paul looks to secure a spot as a 4th line left winger in Ottawa next season.
Gabriel Gagne was drafted 36th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft through the Spezza trade, although technically he hasn’t signed his entry-level deal with the Senators yet.
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It’s always exciting to see the talent that’s waiting in the wings and seeking a chance to prove themselves. Best of luck to all in the tournament.