The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

***

Be sure to check out the Ottawa Senators team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/ottawa-senators/

To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

***

The Ottawa Senators reached the Eastern Conference Finals after Pierre Dorion was given the reins as GM in 2016 – but he traded Matt Duchene, Erik Karlsson, and Mark Stone without making another playoff appearance until he was fired.

President Steve Staios took over as GM a month into the 2023-24 season, when the Sens were docked a first-round pick for Dorion’s Dadanov trade. After a stretch of mismanagement spanning several years, Staios doubled down on the young talent in Ottawa, insulating Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Tim Stutzle. By adding a high-end contributor in Linus Ullmark, a solid forward in Fabian Zetterlund, a player needing a change of scenery with Dylan Cozens, and veteran David Perron the front office was finally supporting the youth. Staios’s finishing touch was finding the right bench boss: Travis Green joined as Head Coach in May 2024.

Green’s Ottawa Senators are dialed in on empowerment, which helped guide them to a 45-30-7 record, clinching the playoffs. In an article from ESPN, Green was enthusiastic about the players’ determination, “I truly felt like this group was willing to do whatever it took to take the next step. Now we’ve gotten there.” This is a team that projects to take another step next season, partly thanks to a patient off-season.

***

NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, Pick 23: Logan Hensler, D, NCAA

Heading into the 2024-25 season, Hensler was regarded as a top prospect in his class – even more so heading into the season prior. He had over 0.5 PPG in the USHL and NTDP in both his D-2 and D-1 seasons – a rare rate for defensemen at that age. If Hensler had taken the steps expected of him, he almost certainly would have been drafted much higher than 23rd overall.

What makes this 6-3, right-shot defenseman special – beyond the size and handedness teams crave – is his skating. Even for a typically mobile defenseman, one with a smaller frame, Hensler is a very agile, very strong skater – and he is not small. This trait, combined with offensive and defensive IQ, makes Hensler a constant obstacle for attackers. He is aggressive, pressuring and outpacing forwards pushing the neutral zone. His defense-first game and four-way mobility often manufacture turnovers and put him in ideal positions to distribute from the D-zone, creating offense. The offense would see a stark improvement if Hensler could identify and attack shooting lanes more. His shot has power, but he often struggles to find open lanes, leading to frequent blocks.

While his awareness and defensive engagement are elite, Hensler often relies too heavily on his stick. An added layer of physicality would give opposing forwards one more thing to think about before making their play. The tools are high-end; the missing pieces – using the body, lane recognition – are teachable. Next year, Hensler should improve on his 12 points through 32 NCAA games, and that will dictate his trajectory as either a middle-pairing two-way defenseman or a top-pairing rover.

Round 3, Pick 93: Blake Vanek, RW, USHS/USHL

This pick was the Senators’ second of the draft, though it came late in the third round. Staios mined a lot of ceiling when he took Vanek – son of Thomas Vanek – at 93rd. NHL bloodlines are a real thing – just look at the Tkachuk brothers, sons of Keith Tkachuk. Thomas Vanek was a prolific power winger in the NHL, retiring with 789 points across 1,029 games. Blake and Thomas have a similar frame, but Blake has an inch on him – standing at 6-3, 205 lbs.

Vanek is a natural right wing and spent the year playing in the USHS (high school) in Minnesota, where he posted 22 goals and 31 assists in just 29 games. He also scored four goals and added one assist in nine USHL games.

Despite limited viewings from scouts due to playing in the high school circuit, Vanek was known as one of the best and fastest skaters in the 2025 class. His athleticism, meticulous stride, fast pace, and coordination make him a constant threat in transition. Any concern of his hands falling behind can be put to rest. Not only does he have quick hands, but he is creative handling the puck – a dynamic playmaker.

Vanek will suit up for the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL, and the heightened competition could bring out another level in his game. He will need to improve on his shot selection – though sharp and accurate, it often comes from the perimeter. At his best, Vanek uses his speed and frame to fly down the boards and attack the inside. If he does that more consistently in the WHL, he projects as a middle-six winger – with ceiling.

Round 4, Pick 97: Lucas Beckman, G, QMJHL

There is a ton to like about the Sens’ fourth-round pick, Lucas Beckman. He clocks in at an average size of 6-2 but has a very composed, highly intelligent, reserved method of play. Beckman can track the puck through traffic, and plays rarely escape him – due to his quick feet and positioning.

Goalie stats often need grounding – a lot of factors go into a team’s wins and shot rates. As a 17-year-old, Beckman played 52 games, winning 31 of them – with a respectable .914 and 2.65 GAA, especially in the CHL. His team’s backup, 20-year-old Mathys Routhier, by comparison played 15 games, winning just five – with an .872 save percentage.

Staios drafted a young goalie with a long runway – and the ability to impact games. That is rare. Beckman is worth stashing in deep formats, and shallow formats should keep him on their radar in 2025-26.

Round 5, Pick 149: Dmitri Isayev, LW/RW, MHL

In his D-1 season, Isayev lit up Russia’s U17 and U18 leagues (49P in 29GP) – which is the most promising aspect of this pick. He is an undersized right-handed winger – at 5-9, 148 lbs – who put up modest numbers in the MHL (44P in 45GP).

His blazing speed and agility allow him to carve out open space and distribute – often around the net. Isayev will have a long road to the NHL, currently signed in Russia until 2027. The Sens likely hope to see him take a significant step in the MHL next year and show the upside he flashed in his D-1 season. Even in deep dynasty formats, he is too far from NHL projectability to roster.

Round 6, Pick 181: Bruno Idzan (D+1), LW, USHL/Alps HL

What a masterclass in overseas amateur scouting by the Sens. Idzan – 6-0, 194 lbs – brings a ton of upside late in the draft, not typical of most re-entry picks. A quiet D-0 year in Sweden led to a breakout D+1 season in Europe and the USHL.

After torching the AlpsHL (21G, 9A in 19GP) – a second-tier pro league – Idzan made a move to the USHL, where he racked up 44 points in 36 games. That production already puts him ahead of current Sens prospect Javon Moore, who also spent his D+1 season in the USHL. Next year Idzan will play for Wisconsin in the NCAA. 

Built around a booming, adaptive shot and sharp awareness, Idzan uses his elusiveness, physicality, and reads to consistently attack soft ice. If he translates that to college hockey, he could prove to be a gem. Worth putting on your watchlist in deep dynasty leagues, but don’t rush to add him.

Round 7, Pick 213: Andrei Trofimov (D+1), G, MHL

With their last pick, the Sens took another overage eligible player – this time a goalie from Russia’s MHL. Trofimov’s tools do not pop off the page; he stands at 6-2, average for an NHL goalie – and his early statlines are equally pedestrian. In 2024 Trofimov went undrafted, playing only two games in Russia’s top junior league – the MHL – spending most of his season in Russia’s U18 league.

Staios took Trofimov in the seventh round in 2025 after his excellent play in the MHL as a D+1 player. Over 22 starts, Trofimov went 13-7-2, posting a .929 save percentage and 2.10 GAA in 26 total GP. That progression is positive, but the MHL is not a highly competitive league – especially for players over 18 years old. For now, Trofimov carries zero fantasy relevance, but if he takes a step in Russia’s pro leagues, that could change.

****

Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Cameron Crotty, D – $812.5K x 2 years, two-way

Hunter Shepard, G – $775K x 1 year, two-way

Arthur Kaliyev, F – $775K x 1 year, two-way

Lars Eller, F – $1.25M x 1 year

Olle Lycksell, F – $775K x 1 year, two-way

Outgoing

Adam Gaudette (F), Travis Hamonic (D), Anton Forsberg (G), Matthew Highmore (F), Dennis Gilbert (D), Tristen Robins (F), Wyatt Bongiovanni (F), Angus Crookshank (F), Cole Reinhardt (F)

Re-signed

Claude Giroux, RW – $2M x 1 year

Lassi Thomson, D – $775K x 1 year, two-way

Xavier Bourgault, F – $775K x 1 year, two-way

Hayden Hodgson, F – $775K x 2 years, two-way

***

In the System

Risers

Leevi Meriläinen, G, AHL/NHL

The Sens saw a real breakout from Meriläinen in 2024-25. He served as the starter in the AHL with a .913 save percentage over 37 games. Once he got called up to the big club, his play elevated. Meriläinen posted a ludicrous .925 in a 12-game sample, winning eight games for the NHL Senators.

This performance cemented his projected role for 2025-26 as the NHL club’s backup behind Linus Ullmark. The Senators showed their confidence by moving on from backup goalie Anton Forsberg during free agency.

Since being drafted in 2020 by the Sens, Meriläinen has seen a lot of pro experience. He played 41 games as a 20-year-old in Finland’s top pro league, Liiga – finishing the 2022-23 season with an impressive .918 save percentage.

If Meriläinen can get even close to maintaining that level of play, the Senators have a real gem on their hands. He is worth adding in most fantasy formats that roster backups.

Blake Montgomery, LW/RW, OHL

After being taken as an overager out of the USHL, Montgomery jumped to the OHL, where he improved his overall game and showed flashes of real upside. His numbers aren’t eye-popping, and that’s due to a lack of consistency. That remains the most significant hurdle in Montgomery’s impact, as he played stretches of 1.5 PPG hockey – like one stretch of 24 games with 36 points.

Outside of consistency, he has improved every facet of his game. Montgomery is a more powerful, confident skater than he was a year ago. He’s picking his shots with more care and applying his high-end IQ and pace to more areas of the ice. Defensively, Montgomery has begun to comfortably assert his frame in his own zone along the boards – without putting himself out of position.

When he flashes offensive upside, he combines vision, IQ, and power to impose his will on the ice. Montgomery can really be unstoppable some nights – but too often, he’s seemingly hitting a wall. If he can be marginally more consistent with his engagement, he could project to reach his top-six ceiling. For now, he’s safely trending toward playing middle-six minutes in the NHL.

Tomas Hamara, D, OHL

Drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft, the Senators have been patient with Hamara’s development – and it paid off. In his D-0 year, Hamara played well in the Finnish junior and pro leagues. He then came over to play in the CHL, and the adjustment was slow.

In his first 74 OHL games, Hamara only scored 20 points – then was traded to the Brantford Bulldogs. He finished the 2023-24 season with 17 points in 26 games – a huge improvement from the three in eighteen with Kitchener earlier that year. Following it up, Hamara amassed a career-high 55 points in 58 games with Brantford in 2024-25.

Next season, Hamara will get a chance to play pro hockey for the Sens in the AHL. The hope is that he’s acclimated to the North American game and can transition to the professional ranks with more ease. The Sens have a defenseman with a long runway ahead of him. If he adjusts quickly to the AHL, he projects as a third-pairing defenseman who can make an impact at both ends.

*

Fallers

Tyler Boucher, RW, AHL

The former 10th overall pick has shown the limitations of his ceiling with his professional debut. Boucher went long stretches without a point last season, finishing with only 10 points across 47 AHL games. While it was his first full year in the league, Boucher is 22 – and there are many players his age outproducing him in the same league. He has been passed on the depth chart by most players in the Sens pipeline, including Jan Jenik, Stephen Halliday, and even 7th-round pick Owen Beckner.

Javon Moore, LW, USHL

The tools are all there – size, skating, shot – but Moore wasn’t able to take a meaningful step forward in the USHL. Coming from the high school circuit meant he had to adapt to higher competition, but forwards with his 6-4, 203 lbs frame tend to be far more assertive at that level. Moore was able to put up 39 points in 46 games – middling production for a player with his toolkit. He was often a step behind the play, and without significant improvement next season, his projectability as an NHLer is rapidly shrinking.

Mads Søgaard, G, AHL

Big Man Mads has had a tumultuous career as an Ottawa Senator, highlighted by this most recent season. In 2024-25, the 6-7 Søgaard appeared in just eight AHL games and got lit up with an .858 save percentage. In his two NHL games last season, he fared even worse, posting a .800. This upcoming season is the last on his contract with Ottawa, and he would need to clear waivers if sent down to the AHL. This is really his last shot to make the jump to the NHL within the Senators organization.

*

Likely to See NHL Action

Stephen Halliday, 6-4, 23, LW – 19G, 32A, 71GP (AHL)

Jan Jenik, 6-1, 25, RW – 12G, 17A, 52GP (AHL)

Lassi Thomson, 6-0, 24, RHD – 17G, 12A, 50GP (SHL)

***

Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Ottawa Senators prospects whose current trajectory projects them to make the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Carter Yakemchuk
2. Leevi Meriläinen
3. Logan Hensler
4. Stephen Halliday
5. Blake Montgomery
6. Gabriel Eliasson
7. Blake Vanek
8. Lucas Beckman
9. Jorian Donovan
10. Bruno Idzan
11. Javon Moore
12. Lassi Thomson
13. Jan Jenik
14. Xavier Bourgault
15. Tomas Hamara
16. Donovan Sebrango
17. Lucas Ellinas
18. Owen Beckner
19. Maxence Guenette
20. Mads Søgaard

***

Off-Season Updates

The Senators do not have a lot of unfinished business this summer. They brought in five players and re-signed four, all on deals with two years or less term. The total of nine players retained in the Senators’ system matches the nine that have left the organization – a group highlighted by backup goalie Anton Forsberg.

Looking down the road at next season, Staios has a few pending free agents to consider extending. Namely, Shane Pinto – who has developed into a premium middle-six centre. There are a couple of other names that could become key RFAs. Leevi Meriläinen likely makes most people’s list, but also Jordan Spence and Arthur Kaliyev.

Veteran impact players Claude Giroux and David Perron are both 37 and on expiring deals. The question will be whether they return to the NHL at all – let alone the Ottawa Senators. At this point in their careers, both players are not terribly hard to replace, but their presence in the locker room is. It’s in the best interest of Staios and the Sens to provide clarity on these situations promptly, to avoid heavy speculation from media and fans in Ottawa throughout the 2025-26 season.

***

Final Thoughts

After the 2024-25 season, the Senators proved they were one of the most improved teams from 2023. The team finished 26th in the overall standings for 2024, then soared 14 spots, placing 12th in 2025. A culmination of calculated moves – the Giroux signing, the Ullmark trade, replacing Josh Norris with Dylan Cozens, and honing in on team identity with a coach that fits like a glove – gave this core a taste of playoff action. After their elimination in the first round, Tim Stutzle proudly declared, “I don’t think there’s a team who deserves it more than us. I think we worked really hard this year.”

Without meaningful off-season departures and a budding core, the Senators should have no trouble making the playoffs next season. Departures are offset by ready-made replacements with similar or more upside. Anton Forsberg had Leevi Meriläinen nipping at his heels last season, securing eight wins in 12 games with a stellar .925 save percentage. Even Travis Hamonic’s departure from the back end is negated by the addition of Jordan Spence. Staios has just over $4.2M in cap space to work with, and just one right addition could push them into deeper playoff rounds.

Where Staios and the Sens could run into friction is with the lack of trade chips at their disposal. Prospects that used to headline the Senators’ pipeline have graduated to full-time NHL roles, while the many trades and polarizing draft picks from the Dorion era acted as a drain, letting value spiral down. Only Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler are clear premium prospects that teams would universally covet. Maintaining and extending the Sens’ window of contention is heavily reliant on their ability to add to the roster – through acquisitions and internal competition.

It’s not time to fret over the situation. Staios and the front office have shown a clear, forward-thinking approach. Expect this to be addressed one way or another within the next season. With Dylan Cozens proving to be a force down the middle for the Senators, Pinto has seen less opportunity. Does Staios explore trading the valuable young centre – expendable within the system – to recoup assets? Giroux and Perron could also be attractive assets to competing teams at the deadline. Moving veteran contributors mid-window may seem counterintuitive, but those are the kinds of future-proofing moves that extend contention.

***

Be sure to check out the Ottawa Senators team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/ottawa-senators/

***

Thank you for taking the time to read this Ottawa Senators edition of Dobber Prospects 32-in-32 series. My name is Arden McLeod – a student of Journalism and Broadcasting based in Vancouver, BC. It’s been a pleasure to update you on the happenings and outlook for the Sens. You can find more from me below:

Twitter/X: @HockeyArden

Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/lqR2TqjNQAdr1errCx