Ottawa Senators: Second edition of the SenShot mailbag

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This is the second edition of the SenShot mailbag. Ottawa Senators fans got the chance to ask burning questions related to their favourite team and I answered them. If you want your questions addressed in our next mailbag leave a comment below with your question or send a message on Twitter to @SenShot_FS or @NaftaliClinton.

Assuming Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield are taken 1st and 2nd overall, is there any player other than Tim Stutzle that Ottawa could take? @JP17141

This is looking like one of the best drafts in recent memory, and it is extremely important for Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion to get it right. The Lafreniere, Byfield, Stutzle trio are virtual locks to go 1-3, and I highly doubt Dorion will take a chance and pick someone else.

Having said that in the off-chance Dorion does decide to pick someone else it would probably be another highly skilled forward like Lucas Raymond. But don’t expect the Sens to pick anyone out of that trio for their first pick in the draft.

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Tim Stutzle might even have the highest potential in the draft and it would be a huge mistake to pass him up in favour of a lesser prospect such as Raymond.

Knowing the Sens can’t dress a roster of all young guys in the next couple years, who are the most expendable prospects, and who garners the most value in a trade? @CRBouthillier

This is a good question because the Ottawa Senators have one of the best prospect pools not only in quality but also in quantity. The sheer number of prospects the Sens have is enormous, and that’s before their 13 picks from the 2020 draft come into play. I talked about this very question on the Fantasy Hockey Life podcast a few weeks ago.

As far as who are the most expendable prospects, one name that jumps out who could be traded is Filip Chlapik. Not the most well-known prospect in the Ottawa Senators organization he had his chance to make an impact in the NHL this year and failed to do so. He projects as a 3rd/4th line centre and that is one position that the Senators do not need more of.

Erik Brannstrom would likely garner the most value in a trade, after all, he was traded for Mark Stone just over a year ago. If Thomas Chabot wasn’t in Ottawa Brannstrom would be hailed as the defenceman of the future. His potential may even exceed Chabot.

Any news on the Sens rebrand, and would you rather the 2D or the O? @Sasha_Dynamo

I haven’t heard anything other than the rumours on Twitter about this. In my personal opinion, the 2D look is really nice. A throwback to the old days when the Ottawa Senators would contend for the Stanley Cup every season. It would symbolize the Senators return to contenders, which is right around the corner.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 10: Rudolfs Balcers #38 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Do you think enough time has passed as well as the wounds have healed for Dany Heatley to be accepted back by way of a Ring of Honour induction? @Gr8WyteGibster

Skill-wise Dany Heatley should have gotten a Ring of Honour years ago, and maybe even a jersey retirement. But of course, nothing in Ottawa is as simple as it looks.

You can never really predict what kind of reaction will ensue after something like this happens. I think it would be a good look for the team to honour the greatest pure goal-scorer in franchise history.

Will it happen?

I can’t say for sure but I’m all for the Ottawa Senators having a Dany Heatley night, although I’d rather it not be against the Winnipeg Jets because of their past history as the Atlanta Thrashers.

Do you think Ottawa would be more likely to trade for a top-six forward or a top-four defenceman, and who would you rather them trade for? @SensNoahAll

With the way the salary cap is structured for the next two seasons, we could see the Ottawa Senators make numerous trades benefiting off of other team’s cap troubles.

The Senator’s defence is pretty set for next season with Thomas Chabot, Christian Wolanin and Mike Rielly/Mark Borowiecki on the left side, and Erik Brannstrom, Nikita Zaitsev and Artyom Zub on the right side. Of course, if a team comes knocking and is offering a top-four defenceman the Senators will take it, but right now that doesn’t seem like the most likely scenario.

That leaves the top-six forward option, I could definitely see the Senators signing a veteran forward to mentor and lead the young players. Another option would be to trade for an established forward.

I notice the cap situation of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning in particular as potential trade partners in and around the 2020 draft. Kasperi Kapanen in Toronto would be a good option for the Senators as he is on a good deal and would be a huge help on the penalty kill in the absence of Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

dark. Next. Ottawa Senators: Most likely Belleville graduates

From Tampa, Anthony Cirelli would be an absolute gem to pick up but I doubt the Lightning will give him up very easily. I could potentially see the Senators trading for one of Alex Killorn, Mikhail Sergachev or Anthony Cirelli to alleviate some cap trouble for the Lightning.

Why does Rudolfs Balcers get no love? @1SensFan1

I wouldn’t go that far and say Rudolfs Balcers gets no love, but he is definitely an underrated Ottawa Senators prospect.

In my mind, he is one of the better prospects in the Ottawa Senators organization and projects to be a solid 3rd line winger. He was among three players on the Belleville Senators to notch more than a point per game along with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson.

He already has 51 NHL games under his belt and will fight for a spot on the roster in 2020-21.

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