For the Ottawa Senators, the 2025 NHL Draft was the next thing to circle on the schedule after being eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After much thought, the Senators wouldn't forfeit their first-round draft pick in 2025 and decided to forfeit their first-round draft pick in 2026 due to the Evgenii Dadonov trade that ended rough with the NHL punishing the Senators.
This year, the Senators will hold the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Some might wonder how have the Senators fared when drafting 21st overall in franchise history. Now, it's time to take a look back in history.
Senators' history while drafting 21st overall
The Senators have drafted 21st overall three different times with all three times coming in the 21st century. It's now time to remember the three names who were called on draft night by the Senators with the 21st overall pick.
2000- Anton Volchenkov
2000 was the first time the Senators drafted a player with the 21st overall pick. At the 2000 NHL Draft, the Senators drafted Russian defenseman Anton Volchenkov.
Nicknamed the "A-Train," Volchenkov turned out to be a solid selection for a 21st overall pick in Senators history. Volchenkov spent the first seven years of his 12-year career in Ottawa.
Volchenkov played a total of 428 games with the Senators and recorded 94 points, but Volchenkov was known for his defense with delivering big hits, clearing pucks out, blocking shots, playing the penalty kill and playing lock-down defense.
Volchenkov was part of the Senators' 2003 President's Trophy team and the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship team. In the 2006-07 season, Volchenkov's impressive +37 rating set a career-high for a single season.
The A-Train's time in Ottawa ended after the 2010 playoffs when he went on to sign with the New Jersey Devils. Volchenkov last played an NHL game in the 2014-15 season with the Nashville Predators.
2011- Stefan Noesen
Today, Stefan Noesen is an active player in the NHL with the Devils at 32 years old. However, some might forget that the Texas native was originally drafted by the Senators.
At the 2011 NHL Draft, the Senators had three first-round selections. With their second first-round selection at the 2011 NHL Draft, the Senators selected Noesen with the 21st overall pick.
The unfortunate part for the Senators is that Noesen never played a single game in Ottawa. Noesen first played an NHL game in the 2014-15 season with the Anaheim Ducks.
Noesen has played for six different teams in his NHL career, and he's currently in the middle of his second stint with the Devils.
2015- Colin White
2015 was the third and final time the Senators made a selection with the 21st overall pick. At the 2015 NHL Draft, the Senators had two fist-round selections. After hitting on Thomas Chabot with the 18th overall pick, the Senators drafted Boston native Colin White with the 21st overall pick.
After playing in 23 combined games in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 season, White broke through with a 41-point season in the 2018-19 season. After that season, the Senators had high hopes that White would be a cornerstone piece.
Unfortunately, White's play would fall in Ottawa. After the 2021-22 season, White was bought out of his contract by the Senators. During his tenure in Ottawa, White recorded 98 points in 224 games. White has played for three different teams since being bought out by the Senators.
White most recently played in three games for the San Jose Sharks in the 2024-25 season, but didn't record a single point. White is an unrestricted free agent this Summer at 28 years old.