When the Ottawa Senators recovered their lost first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the expectation was that the club could land a solid prospect with it.
Now, the 32nd overall pick isn’t generally regarded as a true first-rounder. The feeling is that the last pick in the opening round is more akin to a high second-rounder. In fact, it’s not uncommon that players picked to go early in the second round slip into the second, with projected late first-rounders falling to the second.
With that in mind, the Senators have an opportunity to find some solid prospects with their pick. That situation opens the door for the Sens to continue replenishing their prospect pool as the club continues to solidify itself as a playoff contender.
So, here’s a look at three picks the Senators could target with the 32nd pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Top 3 picks for Ottawa Senators at #32 in 2026 NHL Draft
Jack Hextall
Tankathon projects USHL standout Jack Hextall as the Senators’ choice at #32. If Hextall were available at this point in the draft, the Sens would be wise to pick him. Hextall spent this past season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, scoring 20 goals and 58 points in 59 games. He also racked up two goals and seven points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Those numbers look for the 6’1”, 185-pound center.
Now, it’s a bit doubtful Hextall will still be around by the late first round. He’s ranked the 34th best North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting. However, Corey Pronman of The Athletic has Hextall as the 19th-best prospect in the draft.
That’s why there’s a good chance he could be off the board by the time the Senators pick. Hextall will be playing for Michigan State next season. So, the ETA on the 18-year-old could be two years at least.
Juho Piiparinen
Another interesting choice for the Senators at #32 could be Finnish blueliner Juho Piiparinen. The right-shot blueliner is Pronman’s choice for the Sens at #32, and with good reason. Pronman highlighted Piiparinen’s mobility and reach to make plays in the defensive zone. While his offence could be a question mark, Piiparinen figures to be a solid NHL blue liner.
The 17-year-old is 6’3” and 203 pounds, giving him a solid size and room to grow. NHL Central Scouting has Piiparinen as the sixth European Skater. As such, there doesn’t seem to be much risk of him going sooner, but teams in the late first round looking for a solid right-shot blueliner could take a chance on him. Piiparinen will be playing for Tappara in the Finnish Liiga next season.
Brooks Rogowski
The Senators could get lucky if Brooks Rogowski drops this far in the draft. The 6’7” 236-pound center is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has the size and projects to be a solid middle-six center.
Tankathon shows the 17-year-old going one spot ahead to the Carolina Hurricanes. Pronman has him going to the New York Rangers at #27. Considering Rogowski is the 21st-ranked North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting, he could be long gone by the time the Sens get a chance to pick.
But there’s always the chance that he slides just enough for the Senators to nab him. If they do, Rogowski could be a steal for Ottawa at this point in the draft. He’ll be returning to the Oshawa Generals next season. From there, the NCAA might be an option. There could be a chance that he can play as a 19-year-old in the AHL, though that’s something that remains to be seen.
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