The Ottawa Senators look to be ready to give up on a former draft pick in the coming days.
On August 15, the rights of several unsigned NCAA players will be up. Among them, a Senators pick from 2022 looks to be heading towards unrestricted free agency.
That’s Tyson Dyck.
The Sens selected Dyck in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Ottawa grabbed him 206th overall, but failed to sign him to an entry-level deal as he returned to the NCAA.
He spent one season at the University of Masschusetts, and then three more seasons at the University of Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Dyck wasn’t much of a standout in those four college season.
Last season, the 6’0” center scored five goals and 15 points in 26 games. Those numbers likely hurt his chances of the Senators wanting to keep him around. Unless the Sens sign him to a minor-league deal, Dyck will likely have to search for an opportunity elsewhere.
Senators should still give Dyck a chance
While the Senators seem decided to let Dyck walk away, the organization should consider giving him a shot at the bigs. In particular, the 22-year-old could ink an AHL-level deal, allowing him to show what he’s got at the pro level.
Those are the sorts of deals in which teams have nothing to lose. Since an NHL entry-level deal would be wishful thinking, Dyck could become a decent piece in Belleville. In fact, it’s not often that NHL organizations sign seemingly failed prospects to minor-league deals to bolster their depth at the AHL and even ECHL level.
For Dyck, getting such an opportunity wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. A strong showing in the minors could get him noticed. A good season could get him a shot at the NHL in Ottawa down the line, or even a kick at the can with another team.
Ultimately, the likeliest path is that Dyck will become a free agent. So, there might be an opportunity for him out there with an organization looking to bolster its depth. Let’s see if the Senators keep him around somewhere, or we definitely see Dyck bid adieu to the team that drafted him four years ago.
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