Mock Draft: Ottawa Senators Fans Select the First Round
We let the fans decide who they would like to take at each of the Ottawa Senators draft picks
Sitting with two picks inside of the top 5, the Senators have the rare opportunity to come out of the draft with two potential superstars at their disposal, also sprinkle in a potential mid-first round pick and it could be a dream first round.
During this exercise there was a poll for each of the Senators draft picks, while the pick Ottawa acquired from the Islanders was set at 20th overall due to draft prospect hockey simulator. Each pick was presented with 4 players to choose from, creating some parity in the voting.
Hey Senators Fans! You can now decide the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft with a little help from the @draftprohockey simulator! With Ottawa selecting 3rd, 5th and 21st (by simulator), you can help make the selections by voting in the following polls:
— SenShot (@SenShot_FS) August 3, 2020
It was expected that the fans would go the route of the best player available and that proved to be true. With a loaded top 10, there is not many wrong answers with any of the Senator’s options with their first two picks.
Now we can see how Sens twitter did with respect to the 2020 NHL Draft, let’s dive in.
3rd Overall: Quinton Byfield (C), Sudbury (OHL)
H: 6’4″ W: 214 lbs
In what was a lopsided poll since Tim Stützle went 2nd overall to the L.A. Kings, Senators fans seem as though they would be quite enthused with Quinton Byfield at number 3:
With Tim Stützle going 2nd, who would you rather select at #3?
— SenShot (@SenShot_FS) August 3, 2020
Most regard Byfield as the 2nd best prospect in the draft and he offers a ton down the middle for the Ottawa Senators.
Byfield enjoyed a stellar draft year in the OHL, where he scored 32 goals and 82 points in 45 games, doing everything he could in this crucial season. If it wasn’t for a crazy rise from Tim Stützle, the talented center would of been the 2nd overall pick with no questions asked.
Don't be silly. Quinton Byfield is closer to first overall than he is third.
— Tony Ferrari (@theTonyFerrari) July 9, 2020
He is still 17 years old for just over six more weeks. #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/4zXenjxcoX
The big-bodied center possesses eye popping skill which is evident whenever he is on the ice. For such a big frame, Byfield has rare elite skating which is uncommon for many players his size. Partnered with his great hockey IQ, playmaking and goal scoring ability, Byfield is an all around prospect who would be one of/if not the most talented Senator draft picks ever.
Hot. Ottawa Senators: Who to Cheer for in the Draft Lottery. light
The Senators have depth down the middle with Josh Norris, Logan Brown, Colin White and Chris Tierney but don’t have a bonafide, elite center prospect that Byfield is. One of the players that would benefit greatly from an infusion of talent would be Brady Tkachuk, who would form an intimidating duo with Byfield.
Inserting the skilled centerman into the lineup whether next year, or the year after would create a ton of excitement both on and off the ice for Senators fans.
5th Overall: Lucas Raymond (RW), Frölunda (SHL)
H: 5’10” W: 183 lbs
With Marco Rossi going 4th overall to the Detroit Red Wings, The Ottawa Senators get a chance to find Quinton Byfield’s running mate:
With Marco Rossi going 4th to Detroit, who would you like Ottawa to select at 5?
— SenShot (@SenShot_FS) August 4, 2020
The vote was won by a landslide again, it seems as though Senators fans want to invest heavily in the forward group, the Sens lack high end talent up front so the infusion of talent up front would be wise.
The super-talented winger out of Sweden has been on scouts radars for years and for good reason. Despite being smaller at 5’10”, Raymond is relentless, constantly pressing opposing defenceman on the forecheck using his great motor.
Raymond struggled to produce with Frölunda in the top mens league in Sweden, finishing the season with just 10 points in 33 games. The minimal production is directly correlated to his lack of ice time, that’s why fellow Swedish prospects Alexander Holtz and Noel Gunler all had similar production.
SHL Points/60 vs Time on Ice
— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) February 22, 2020
Alexander Holtz: 2.28 (12:42 TOI/G)
Lucas Raymond: 1.88 (10:16 TOI/G)
Noel Gunler: 1.66 (10:10 TOI/G)#LetTheKidsPlay
Only playing 10:16 a game it was tough to find consistency for the talented forward and when he would play he would be stuck on the fourth line at most points. Looking into the production is the wrong way to assess Raymond, watching him play more minutes against players his age, you see how dominant he can be. This years World Juniors was a great example, as at just 17-years of age he was one of Sweden’s best players.
Whenever Raymond touches the puck he’s a danger to score, on the power play below versus Finland he takes the puck end to end for the great chance on net:
Going 1 on 3, Raymond makes a quick toe drag which results in something out of nothing. The young Swede would finish the tournament with 4 points in 7 games and showed to the world why he’s thought so highly of by most scouting services.
21st Overall: Seth Jarvis (RW), Portland (WHL)
H: 5’10” W: 172 lbs
The pick I was most excited of was the selection of Jarvis, the highly skilled forward lit up the WHL this past season.
Now at 21 who would Sens twitter prefer?
— SenShot (@SenShot_FS) August 5, 2020
In another lopsided poll, Senators fans want to bring even more talent to the forward group, at 21 Jarvis was far and away the best player remaining and a better option than reaching for a defenceman.
Enjoying an outstanding draft year, Jarvis scored 42 times while adding 56 assists to almost surpass the century mark in just 58 games. Even more impressive is the fact Jarvis finished the season with 64 points in his final 26 games, after January 1st, the shifty forward was unstoppable.
Jarvis oozes skill, even with his miniature frame at just over 170 pounds, the Portland forward can skate circles around defenders and his offensive talent can make the opposition look silly at times. Ranked in the mid-teens by most scouting services, the Senators will be hard pressed to find a better option at 21.
The highly-skilled forward can use his frame to his advantage at points, he can slip off checks and use elusive maneuvers for chances on net:
Seth Jarvis bathed in butter before this game.
— Tony Ferrari (@theTonyFerrari) August 7, 2020
The @pdxwinterhawks forward is so slippery! He gets the assist from the rebound on this one, deservedly so. #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/O9UIYGySVl
In the clip above, Jarvis makes what seems like the whole Try-City team miss and ends doing all the work to get the assist on the play.
Jarvis also possesses a sneaky good shot, he has a quick release with his wrister and call also rip one-timers from his off side on the power play:
A scary combination of goal scoring, playmaking and speed should make Jarvis a can’t miss prospect in the upcoming draft.
Jarvis would be an ideal compliment to Byfield and Tkachuk atop the lineup for the Senators, while the two big bodies can create space for the diminutive forward to use all of his talent to wreak havoc on opposing goaltenders.