Throwback Thursday: Revisiting the Ottawa Senators 2010 Draft Class

With only four picks in the 2010 NHL Draft, Ottawa found a diamond in the rough in the sixth-round

Looking at three of the Ottawa Senators four picks, most pundits would rate the draft class as poor, but adding the Senators steal in the sixth-round makes it a memorable class.

The selection of Mark Stone, a transcending talent for the franchise, turned this underwhelming group of players into one Senators fans will look back fondly upon.

With fellow draftees Jakub Culek, Marcus Sorensen and Bryce Aneloski becoming anything other than household names, Senators GM Bryan Murray saved his bacon with the Stone selection.

Without a first-round selection due to trading the 16th overall pick (ended up being Vladimir Tarasenko… ouch) for David Runblad and losing their second-round pick in the Dany Heatley trade to San Jose, Ottawa was in flux.

Stone would lead the next generation of Senators prospects who would keep the team competitive for the following years.

Round 3, 76th Overall: Jakub Culek (LW), Rimouski (QMJHL)

Career Stats (NHL): N/A

The rangy left-winger was selected because of his enticing offensive qualities and his large frame coming in at 6’3″, but for whatever reason, Culek struggled mightily to improve off of his good season in 2010.

Despite being the first pick for the Senators in 2010, people had to temper their expectations since he was still a third-round pick, with no guarantees.

Typically after a player is drafted teams look for a jump in play heading into the players next season, Culek did the opposite, he regressed heavily in his next season. Putting up an impressive 47 points in 63 games during his draft year, hopes were high in Rimouski but a decrease to just 22 points in 55 games was unexpected. Without any major injuries during the 2011 season, many were left scratching their heads on Culek.

While he did rebound a bit the following season, he didn’t come close to a point/game with 40 points in 55 games. It was looking like Culek didn’t have the talent to become anything more than a low-tier bottom-six forward. From 2012 thru 2015 Culek’s struggles continued as he bounced around the QMJHL, ECHL, AHL and a few Czech leagues, never finding his footing in pro hockey. He was out of professional hockey following the 2015 season.

Miraculously, Culek returned to hockey last season, playing in the Czech7 league for only 8 games, so it’s hard to tell if the journeyman forward will ever lace them up again.

Round 4, 106th Overall: Marcus Sorensen (LW), Södertälje SK J20 (SuperElit)

Career Stats (NHL): GP: 197 G: 30 A: 29 P: 59

The speedy winger out of Sweden has carved out a successful career for himself, though not with the Senators. Drafted as an 18-year old, Sorensen didn’t end up leaving Sweden until he was 24 when he joined the San Jose Sharks organization.

Despite enjoying a few successful seasons in Sweden’s second league (Allsvenksan), Sorensen was never signed by Ottawa and was eventually a free agent after not being signed to an Entry-Level contract in 2012.

Sorensen was linked to NHL teams following a successful season with Djurgårdens IF in the SHL, where he produced 34 points in 47 games. With the speed and offensive skill the former Senators draft pick brought, teams were confident he could potentially fill a bottom-six role.

From 2016-2018, Sorensen was up and down between the Sharks AHL affiliate and the NHL squad but became a full-time NHLer in the 2018-19 season. Nabbing 17 goals and 30 points while playing 80 games and also appearing in 18 games in the Sharks run to the Western Conference Final. Sorensen would go on to sign a 2-year $3 million contract on January 14th, 2019.

Regardless if he played a game for Ottawa, they still selected a capable NHL talent in the fourth round.

Round 7, 198th Overall: Bryce Aneloski (D), Cedar Rapids (USHL)

Career Stats (NHL): N/A

With their last selection in the 2010 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators selected the offensive-minded defenceman out of Cedar Rapids Bryce Aneloski.

There isn’t much to say about Aneloski, after being drafted he went on to have three solid seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha but was never signed to his Entry-Level Contract. Despite not being talented enough for the AHL where he only appeared in 50 games, Aneloski carved out a nice career in the ECHL, where he accumulated 130 points in 266 games over parts of 5 seasons.

Not a memorable pick for Ottawa, but as a seventh-round pick expectations were rightfully low.

Conclusion:

With a non-NHLer as their first selection, many would think Ottawa tanked this draft, but whenever you pick a future NHL star who enjoyed great seasons with your team, it has to be marked a success.

Having no selections in the first two rounds and only four picks total, Ottawa had their hands tied. They did a solid job of acquiring NHL talent for the restrictions they had, ending up with two non-NHLers along with a serviceable NHL player in Marcus Sorensen and an NHL star with Mark Stone. The draft was undoubtedly a success for Ottawa.