Mock Draft: Predicting the draft for the Ottawa Senators

2nd Overall, Quinton Byfield (C), Sudbury (OHL)

The Ottawa Senators miss out on Lafreniere but they get the next big player with the big centre from Sudbury. Quinton Byfield had a tremendous start to the 2019-2020 season, dominating his opponents up to the Christmas break when he partook in the World Juniors. Being the second-youngest player on Team Canada, Byfield struggled to stand out, finishing with only 1 assist in 7 games. Byfield wrapped up his season with 45 games played with 32 goals and 82 points in an impressive 17-year-old season.

The skilled center immediately steps in as the Ottawa Senators’ best prospect and their future at the center position for years to come. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, the prospect of having Brady Tkachuk playing with a big-bodied, smooth-skating center should make the Senators salivate. Byfield should step in next year and play for Ottawa, if not another year in junior wouldn’t be the worst idea.

4th Overall, Jamie Drysdale (RD), Erie (OHL)

If things remain status quo and Tim Stutzle goes third overall, Ottawa hops at the opportunity to set their right side on defence for the future with Jamie Drysdale. A steady presence on the back-end for Erie, Drysdale used his high end skating to be a force in both ends of the ice. The Erie Otters defenceman finished the season with 9 goals and 47 points in 49 games, great numbers for any defenceman in their draft year. Participating alongside Byfield in the World Juniors, Drysdale had a strong showing with 3 points in 7 games.

The smooth-skating defenceman is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds but that shouldn’t worry teams, the fits the mold of the new age defenceman which is something Pierre Dorion usually preaches. Ideally, Drysdale fits on a future first pairing with Thomas Chabot and could also slide in with Brannstrom to fill out their top 4. With Chabot, Brannstrom, Drysdale, Bernard-Docker and Lassi Thomson, the Ottawa’s defence should be a strength for many years to come.

21st Overall, Seth Jarvis (RW), Portland (WHL)

With Jarvis falling to 21, and the Ottawa Senators in the hunt for an offensively gifted winger this seemed like a good match. The small skilled winger was the driving force of a great Portland Winterhawks team, he finished the season with 42 goals and 98 points in just 58 games. He led his team in goals by 13 and was almost 30 points ahead of the next best player in terms of points, Jarvis did most of the heavy lifting on the Winterhawks and all he did was produce. Scott Wheeler described how Jarvis stood out amongst his teammates in production: 

By the end of the year, he was one of the best players in junior hockey and an unstoppable force who played — and produced — above and beyond his linemates.

The Ottawa Senators gets a great hockey player here, who has a history of producing at every level he’s played at. Being listed in the mid-teens by most scouting services, Jarvis fits as a great value pick with great offensive upside.

33rd Overall, Mavrik Bourque (C), Shawinigan (QMJHL)

Mavrik Bourque is an absolute steal here in the second-round, initially slated to go middle to late first round, the Senators must pounce on the chance to get the talented centreman. The Shawinigan Cataracts centre enjoyed a stellar season, tied for the team lead in points with 71 and adding 29 goals which ranked second. The agile centreman like the recently picked Jarvis was far and away the best player on their team, while Bourque was tied for the most points on his team he did do it in 14 fewer games than his peer.

Bourque isn’t going to separate himself from the other top prospects with his speed instead he plays the game very fast, processes the game well and makes quick reads with the puck. Essential tools to thrive in the NHL.

49th Overall, William Villeneuve (RHD), Saint John (QMJHL)

One of my favourite players in the draft, William Villeneuve is a smooth skater who oozes offensive potential. He’s a very mobile defenceman who is great on his edges and reminds me of Thomas Chabot who is a former Sea Dog. The Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman led the team in points with 58 in 64 games, along with 9 goals. Villeneuve outproduced fellow defensive prospect Jeremie Poirier which may seem surprising at first but after watching the smooth defenceman you can see why.

The Senators add another right-handed shot on the blue line who can create a lot of offence from the back end. Villeneuve stands at 6-foot-1 but lacks a bit in his frame at just 163 pounds, the prospect will have to add more to his frame in order to defend at the NHL level.

52nd Overall, Carter Savoie (LW), Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Carter Savoie tore up the Alberta Junior Hockey League and showed he was playing way against talent far inferior to him. Scoring almost a goal per game pace with 53 goals in 54 games along with 99 points, Savoie showcased his powerful shot. The Ottawa Senators would be adding another skilled winger to their prospect pool which is much improved with the skilled Savoie and first-round pick Seth Jarvis.

Savoie makes a great play below using his strong base to fend off a defender and proceeding to make a nice move past the goalie:

https://twitter.com/SPcrusaders/status/1183872268423847937?s=20

Another slightly undersized player at 5-foot-10 but has a strong frame at 181 pounds. Savoie will be playing at the University of Denver next season which would make it another Ottawa Senators prospect taking the college route.

55th Overall, Theodor Niederbach (C), Frölunda J20 (SuperElit)

After missing the whole 2018-2019 season due to injury, Niederbach had a great comeback season in his draft year. A great season for the Swedish centre putting up 15 goals and 48 points in Sweden’s junior league outproducing teammate and fellow draftee Daniel Torgersson. Niederbach is a bit of an unknown having not played at any high international tournaments but the talented pivot is worth a shot at this point in the second round.

The two-way centreman could bring versatility to the Sens lineup in the future with the ability to play up and down the lineup due to the energy and skill he possesses.

56th Overall (Trade with LA), Kasper Simontaival (RW), Tappara U20 (Jr. A Sm-Liiga)

Trade: Ottawa trades 3rd round (64) and 4th round (95) to Los Angeles for 3rd round (56)

 I had to make this trade for Ottawa because of the Finnish winger’s crazy skill. There are worries with Simontaival about his size and lack of breakaway speed but his skill is enough for scouts to commonly give him late first-round/early second-round grades. The skilled winger was Tappara U20’s best player this season finishing with 25 goals and 57 points, tying for the most points on the team in a few fewer games.

You can never take enough talented forwards if you’re Ottawa since they’re so deep down the middle, Simontaival has the potential to be a top-6 forward for the Senators. Look at the skill Simontaival shows on this highlight-reel goal:

74th Overall, Emil Heineman (LW), Leksands IF J20 (SuperElit)

Emil Heineman was a late bloomer in his career, never having much success at all the levels he played at until his draft year. Having a breakout season putting up 26 goals and 41 points in only 29 games after having only 5 points the year prior. The breakout winger even was allotted the opportunity to play in the SHL for Leksands IF playing in 11 games with 2 points.

The Ottawa Senators like drafting late bloomers (i.e. Drake Batherson, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman etc), Heineman doesn’t have the talent of Batherson but is a good goal scorer with great speed who could be a middle-six forward at the next level.

152nd Overall, Alex Cotton (RD), Lethbridge (WHL)

Another late bloomer in Cotton, after getting passed over at last year’s draft after an unspectacular draft year, the defenceman came out with a vengeance the very next year. Finishing the 2019-2020 season with 20 goals and 67 points in 63 games, led all WHL defence in points and second in goals.

Alex Cotton is a large defenceman at 6-foot-2 and produced at a clip that is comparable to past defenceman in the same year:

158th Overall, Grant Slukynsky (C), Warroad High (USHS)

Grant Slukynsky, a rare pick from high school like Luke Loheit who was picked by Ottawa in 2018 was the captain for their team. The centreman from Warroad, Minnesota offers way more in terms of offence than Loheit, producing 75 points in 25 games along with 26 points in only 6 playoff games. He was far and away the best player on the ice whenever they played an is a great leader who isn’t afraid of the dirty areas. The Ottawa Senators would be adding another college prospect with Slukynsky heading to Northern Michigan next year.

This clip shows Slukynsky’s great playmaking ability setting up his teammate for a nice goal:

185th Overall, Josh Pillar (C), Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Josh Pillar enjoyed a solid year where he saw a significant increase in production from the year prior, totalling 14 goals and 44 points in 63 games on a very good Kamloops team. Getting better as the year went on the Kamloops Blazer centreman finished with 23 points in his final 24 games of the season and would have had a strong playoffs if not for the season cancellation.

Look for Pillar to improve over the next few years with more opportunity in Kamloops and has potential to be an NHL regular.