While there’s still over 5-months until the NHL Draft, however, as the season winds down the draft will become more of a point of interest
With the Senators currently sitting in the cellar of the NHL once again with a 9-17-1 record, good enough for 30th in the NHL, it appears a high draft pick will once again be in the cards for Pierre Dorion and staff.
With the help of the Tankathon Draft Simulator, the Senators ended up with the first overall selection in the draft while entering the lottery with the 2nd best odds (13.5%). As for the 2nd-round, according to the current NHL standings, they would hold the 34th and 41st picks in the draft.
With the rebuild quickly progressing and as multiple prospects move to the NHL ranks, any other top prospects they can add is icing on the cake. Adding a player at 1st overall would add yet another top prospect to the team who could likely help the team for the 2021-22 season. Tony Ferrari of Dobber Prospects outlined the top-5 players in the draft as follows:
- Fabian Lysell (RW)
- William Eklund (C)
- Matthew Beniers (C)
- Jesper Wallstedt (G)
- Luke Hughes (LD)
Either one of these players would be a huge addition to the Senators organization, but the clear target here should be at forward position. Either one of the forward featured in the top-3 would be acceptable picks, but with more focus on Eklund and Beniers at 1st overall.
This draft class is certainly less talented than the 2020 draft class, which featured a top-3 comprised of players who would likely go first overall in the 2021 draft. This doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there at the top of the draft, and whatever player the Senators end up with will have a significant impact sooner rather than later.