Draft Day: Ottawa Senators Full Seven-Round Mock Draft
By Daniel Bruce
169th Overall
The Pick: Florian Elias (C), Adler Mannheim (DEL)
2020-21 Stats: 34GP-3G-5A-8P
This is sure to be a fan favourite selection, Elias formed 1/3 of the most exciting line in the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship alongside Tim Stützle and John Jason Peterka. Standing at just 5’8″, the diminutive forward doesn’t let that deter him, he was all over the puck during the tournament. Elias finished the event with 4 goals and 9 points, good for 6th in tournament scoring, something nobody would have predicted prior to the World Juniors.
I’m sure Elias would have liked to produce better during league play, his 8 points are a bit underwhelming, but his play on the big stage in Edmonton was sure to get him noticed, especially by Senators’ staff. The Germany product uses his strong stickwork to steal pucks from opponents consistently, evident by his big goal versus the Russians:
The German coaching staff elected to play Elias at center instead of 3rd overall pick and Senators superstar Tim Stützle, he’s great at working in the middle of the ice. This is another overage selection for the Senators (surprise), as Elias was passed over in last year’s draft but it seems unlikely who goes through the process undrafted this year, in large part due to his coming-out party at the World Juniors. This pick just seems to make sense for the Senators and it isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility that Trent Mann has become enamored with the German centerman.
201st Overall
The Pick: Viktor Hurtig (RD), Västerås IK J20 (J20 Nationell)
2020-21 Stats: 11GP-5G-3A-8P
There’s not a huge book on Hurtig, but standing at 6’6″ with intriguing offensive talent and a long reach makes this the ideal late-round pick. In these rounds, you can’t expect players to be anywhere close to a finished product, but what you can do is pick based on projection, and drafting a long, offensively gifted defenceman in the 7th round seems like a bargain to me.
Here’s a clip that showcases just how smooth Hurtig is with the puck:
Find you a 6-foot-6 defenseman who can do this: Viktor Hurtig, #4 in black, with the zone exit and entry at about 1 minute into this clip.
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) November 29, 2020
He's no Quinn Hughes or anything, but it's always impressive to see the giants who can carry the biscuit and aren't afraid to do it often pic.twitter.com/KnHWp0QGkY
Exceptional skating and puck control by the offensive-minded rearguard, he makes these end-to-end rushes look easy, it’s tough taking the puck off a smooth-skating defenceman who happens to be 6’6″. We know the Senators love taking players who have a connection with a previous player they’ve drafted and that’s the same with Hurtig, he played some games this season with Ethan Cardwell for Surahammers IF in Sweden’s third-tier men’s league.
With 6 picks in this year’s NHL Draft and 3 picks inside the top 41, expect the Senators to acquire significant talent through the draft yet again. Also, once more for the people in the back, #inTrentweTrust.