Drafting Ottawa Senators Players to Playoff Teams
By Jack Baines
![Mar 1, 2021; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (left) and defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) celebrate after a second goal by right wing Drake Batherson (middle) against the Calgary Flames in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports Mar 1, 2021; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (left) and defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) celebrate after a second goal by right wing Drake Batherson (middle) against the Calgary Flames in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/23d3961b921d8c71e21aa30a33ae63eaa973670fecce7509f3e053d06dfe7817.jpg)
1st: Montreal Canadiens – Thomas Chabot
Chabot and Brady Tkachuk were (spoiler alert) the only two players in consideration for the top pick. But when it comes to Montreal, the Quebec-born Chabot was the only choice.
Considering Montreal just has so much gosh-darned talent at forwards that they simply can’t find a spot for Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Cole Caufield in the lineup, the move makes sense from a positional standpoint too.
Chabot had a bit of a down year by his standards but was still one of the top players on the ice for Ottawa game after game. Assuming his late-season upper-body injury was only minor, seeing Chabot line-up alongside Jeff Petry or Shea Weber could go a long way towards the Habs stopping Toronto’s potent offense.