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Ottawa Senators: Mock Draft Based on Pierre Dorion’s Draft Trends

By Daniel Bruce

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 4: Pierre Dorion, General Manager of the Ottawa Senators, walks the red carpet prior to the start of their home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at Canadian Tire Centre on October 4, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 4: Pierre Dorion, General Manager of the Ottawa Senators, walks the red carpet prior to the start of their home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at Canadian Tire Centre on October 4, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 05: #98 Benjamin Baumgartner of HC Davos in action during the Swiss National League game between Lausanne HC and HC Davos at Vaudoise Arena on November 5, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – NOVEMBER 05: #98 Benjamin Baumgartner of HC Davos in action during the Swiss National League game between Lausanne HC and HC Davos at Vaudoise Arena on November 5, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images) /

64th Overall: Michael Benning (RD), Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Benning would be a solid value here at 64, the offensive defenceman has torn up the Alberta Junior Hockey League over the last two seasons. Scoring a crazy 75 points in just 54 games, the offensive talent is tough to overlook with Benning. At just 5’10”, Benning is on the shorter side, but his dynamic presence on the ice and the new mold of the defenceman in the NHL makes it all the more likely he can become an NHL player.

Pierre Dorion has proven to be very fond of the Junior A route, selecting 3 prospects in the 2018 draft that chose to take the college route by way of the BCHL, Benning will be lacing them up with Denver for next season. The roots run deep in Benning’s family too, his uncle is Canucks GM Jim Benning and his brother is current Edmonton Oiler Matt Benning, so it’s no surprise Michael is following in their footsteps.

74th Overall: Emil Heineman (LW), Leksands IF (SHL/SuperElit)

Heineman is an interesting case, he was totally off scouts radars last season where he was almost non-existent in the SuperElit (5 points in 27 games).

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Out of nowhere, Heineman transformed into a star for Leksands in the SuperElit, scoring at almost a goal/game pace with 26 goals in 29 games and easily led all draft eligibles in goals/game for the SuperElit.

Ottawa loves late bloomers and Heineman is exactly that, blossoming after being a nobody in the season prior, in a way a bit reminiscent of Senators Drake Batherson and Alex Formenton during their draft years. If Dorion is impressed with Heineman’s rapid development I can’t see why he wouldn’t take a chance on the goal-scoring winger.

95th Overall: Benjamin Baumgartner (C), HC Davos (NLA)

Pierre Dorion is never afraid to select a player who has been passed over in the draft, Baumgartner 20, is now going through his third draft and is looking to be picked after a breakout year in Switzerland.

The Austrian forward had 27 points in 37 games with HC Davos, placing 7th on the team in points while appearing in fewer games than the majority of his teammates. Standing at just 5’9″ there’s no point in harping on size anymore with the way the NHL has transformed itself into a more modern style. While sheltered early on in the year, Baumgartner blossomed into a bigger role on Davos due to moves like this:

While most scouts wouldn’t select Baumgartner this early since consensus has him as more of a seventh-rounder, Dorion hasn’t been afraid to reach for players he likes, much like Viktor Lodin in last years draft.

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