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:
P1/e60 = primary points/60 min(estimated.)
— Captain Happy-Go-Lucky (@fifteenfeet) June 1, 2020
lets look at some top (draft year +1) defence-men (from https://t.co/fNDIGyWOPF)
Alex Cotton, 2.06, WHL, undrafted
Bowen Byram, 1.98, WHL, picked 4th, 2019
Cotton is a 6'2" RHD
Alex Cotton looks like a possible steal for someone
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.