The Ultimate Ottawa Senators Draft Primer

The Ottawa Senators head into the most pivotal draft in the franchise’s history

The Ottawa Senators head into the 2020 NHL Draft with 12 draft picks, including 7 selections in the first two rounds. Selecting at 3, 5, 28, 33, 51, 58, 60, 63, 70, 154, 157 and 180 the franchise has a great opportunity to consolidate their rebuild and kickstart their journey to “unparalleled success”.

Ottawa holds two picks in the top-5 and are the first team since 2000 to be in that position, the last team being the New York Islanders who selected Rick DiPietro and Raffi Torres, but the year prior Vancouver was in the same situation and nabbed the Sedin Twins, let’s hope it’s similar to the latter.

With the Senators holding so much draft capital, trades will most likely be on the menu as Pierre Dorion has said it’s more likely they deal at least one of their first nine picks than hold on to them.

Whether for an established veteran or used as a package to trade up in the draft, Dorion is in an enviable position that many GM’s would love to be in.

Nobody truly knows that direction the Senators will go with their multitude of draft picks and Tuesday should provide enough suspense for the whole fanbase with also much overdue excitement.

Ideal Selection: Quinton Byfield (C)

Ottawa has been yearning for a franchise centreman ever since Jason Spezza was let go by the franchise and Quinton Byfield is the ideal choice to be the team’s future number one centre.

Towering over his opponents at 6’4″, Byfield possesses rare traits than most large forwards, he has great speed, a ton of skill and if he reaches his full potential I believe he can be the best player to come out of the draft.

Byfield was one of the better primary point producers out of all draft-eligibles, producing 1.51 primary points/game, just behind top prospects Alexis Lafreniere and Marco Rossi, who both played on superior teams. While Sudbury was carried by Byfield, who led the team in points with 82 in 45 games, he was the driving force behind the team, hence his primary point totals.

Byfield still has a way to go to in his development but that’s what makes him such an intriguing prospect, teams would love to get their hands on a player of his talent. The Senators can let Byfield develop one more season in the OHL if they deem him not NHL ready, another season in junior at his age will do wonders for his development and starring at the World Juniors will be in the cards too. Then the following season the Senators can let Byfield loose, giving him a shot at the top-line centre job.

While the pick is still up in the air, some sources have given some insight to the Byfield/Stutzle debate:

It appears more likely Los Angeles takes Stutzle at 2, but that’s all hearsay at this point. If the chips fall as Pronman suggests, the Senators would land their future at the centre position.

Other Options: Tim Stutzle (C), Lucas Raymond (RW)

Pierre Dorion and Trent Mann have both doubled down on the Senators intentions at 3,

Seeing as “everyone” knows what they will do at 3, everyone has to be assuming Byfield/Stutzle at 3 since those are the two consensus players 2nd and 3rd overall. Whoever is left over after the Kings pick will be the Senators pick, simple as that.

While Byfield would be ideal at 3, Stutzle is no consolation prize, many scouts have been splitting hairs on the two and while Byfield is usually favoured ahead of Stutzle, the difference is marginal.

Trent Mann was praising Stutzle during his media availability, appearing more of a fan of Stutzle than Byfield, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Senators have fallen in love with the German instead of Byfield.

I had to throw one “hail mary” possibility out there but Lucas Raymond at 3rd overall isn’t completely out of the question. While I would put the likelihood somewhere around >5%, Ottawa has taken an odd stance on Raymond. The talented Swedish winger was recently on TSN 1200 for an interview and cited the Senators as the team he has had the most engagement with.

Pierre Dorion has been a bit hesitant in talking about Raymond in recent media appearances, most likely trying to not tip his hand to help Detroit at 4th overall. Trent Mann had some great things to say about Raymond though, so the interest is without a doubt there. If the Senators view Raymond as their “guy” they won’t risk losing him at 5, well unlikely all options have to be exhausted.

Ideal Pick: Lucas Raymond (RW)

This is a preferred choice among many Senators fans as Raymond is viewed by many as the 4th best prospect in the draft. It’s looking increasingly likely that Detroit goes with Cole Perfetti at 4th overall, leaving Ottawa a choice between Raymond and realistically the rest of the players in the top-10.

Raymond would be my choice, he’s a dynamic winger with great speed and two-way ability who would bolster the Senators depleted right-wing. A decent season with Frolunda in his draft year, Raymond produced 10 points in 33 games but his lack of production was more due to his lack of playing time as he was a regular on the fourth-line. With this year’s season in the SHL now underway, Raymond already has an increased role on the team and it’s shown in his play, registering 2 points in his first 4 games.

Adding Raymond to the fray would give the Senators a potential stud duo at right-wing between Raymond and Drake Batherson, an exciting possibility.

Other Options: Jake Sanderson (LHD), Jamie Drysdale (RHD), Yaroslav Askarov (G), Jack Quinn (RW)

After Raymond, the draft really evens out, with not much separating the next 8 players, the Senators will have an interesting choice if they go a different way than Raymond.

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While there’s been no definitive proof of the Senators’ interest in Sanderson there are plenty of connections, the imposing defenceman is heading to North Dakota for his freshman season and will join Sens prospects Jacob Bernard-Docker and Shane Pinto. The organization has a lot of faith in the program at North Dakota. Ottawa already has their franchise defenceman with Thomas Chabot and have an up and coming star in Erik Brannstrom but the team is missing a steady defensive presence that can thrive in all situations and that is Sanderson. The pick would make plenty of sense.

As for Drysdale, I think it’s quite unlikely, the Senators already have dynamic offensive threats with the aforementioned Chabot and Brannstrom, it’s tough to think Dorion takes Drysdale but it’s always a possibility.

Jeff Marek dropped some information that could tell what direction the team decides to go:

If true, don’t rule out Askarov and Quinn. If the Senators view Askarov as a future franchise-altering goaltender then they will take him at 5, as for Quinn, he’s a homegrown prospect who has great goal-scoring ability that the Senators are missing in their lineup.

Package 28th for Matt Murray?

With rumours swirling the Senators have been linked to the two-time Stanley Cup Champion. Frank Seravalli recently listed the Senators as one of the teams interested in acquiring Murray’s services.

The Senators’ interest in Murray is interesting and leads to questions about Anders Nilsson’s availability who suffered a season-ending concussion last season and hasn’t been on the ice since. If Nilsson is able to play next season I don’t agree with the possibility of adding Murray, he would just add to the clutter in the Senators crease and Marcus Hogberg has proven himself to be an NHL goalie.

If Ottawa ends up trading for Murray, Nilsson’s future might be in question.

Ideal Pick: Tyson Foerster (C/RW)

Foerster is an interesting case, he lacks pace which can scare some scouts, but the way he processes the game and can produce offence shouldn’t be overlooked. Foerster had 80 points in 62 games for Barrie and led his team in points by a gaudy 33 points, he was Barrie’s offence.

The offensive winger would add more offensive firepower to the Senators group of forwards, he likely will play on the wing in the NHL and he should be more effective in that role.

Other Options: John-Jason Peterka (LW), Helge Grans (RHD)

Peterka was predicted to the Senators in Craig Button’s annual mock draft and if the Senators end up with Stutzle at 3 the chemistry between the two is elite. While Grans is a 6’3″, offensive-minded defenceman who is a bit of a project but if he reaches his potential could be a huge value at 28.

63rd Overall, Ideal Pick: Alex Cotton (RHD)

After being passed over in his first draft-eligible season, Cotton made a name for himself the following year scoring 20 goals and 67 points in just 63 games for Lethbridge. Cotton was stellar on the power-play racking up 31 points, he was elite at both 5v5 and on special teams for Lethbridge. At 6’2″, Cotton has many traits that the Senators would love to add to their roster.

70th Overall, Ideal Pick: William Villeneuve (LHD)

Villeneuve is a really interesting case, as he led the Saint John Sea Dogs in points last season with 58, ahead of teammate and fellow prospect Jeremie Poirier. At this point in the draft the Senators will be looking for players with enticing traits who haven’t put their game together yet and Villeneuve fits the bill. He has to improve his skating as he looks lazy at certain points but technically his stride isn’t an issue. With more weight added to his frame, he should become more powerful.

154th Overall, Ideal Pick: Samuel Johannesson (RHD)

Like Cotton, Johannesson was passed over in his draft year and rebounded with a solid season. The Swedish-defenceman played the full season in the SHL with Rögle BK, recording 11 points in 44 games as while as near a point/game pace in the SuperElit. Johannesson is well worth the gamble at the end of the fifth-round.

157th Overall, Ideal Pick: Tomas Chlubna

Chlubna played his first season of pro hockey last year where he recorded 16 points in 41 games in the Czech-2 league. At 6’2″ and one of the youngest players in the draft, this is a case of draft and develop.

180th Overall, Ideal Pick: Vsevolod Skotnikov (G)

Here Ottawa takes a chance on a talented Russian goalie who put up insane numbers, he recorded a 0.938 SV% in both VHL and MHL play. Now graduated to the KHL, Skotnikov could be a sleeper pick here.