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Thanks for joining us for our August 31-in-31 series! Every day this month we will be taking a look at each team and diving into their prospect depth charts, risers and fallers, graduating prospects, and top ten prospects in the system.

 

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Offseason Moves

Luckily for fantasy GMs the situation in Ottawa doesn’t necessarily affect your squads. Karlsson is still there, Stone re-signed for another year and Cody Ceci is also sticking around. The bright side for those who have Senators prospects (or are considering acquiring some) is that the team appears to be gearing towards an in-house repair of their current situation. The present is indeed very grim for the franchise, which is very difficult to watch having grown up cheering for this team. But the future has some bright spots and the Sens have a handful of NHL-ready prospects; patience is a virtue.

 

The Senators go into the offseason with a great deal of discussion about their financial status. With an arena deal in negotiation, Karlsson potentially flying the coop next season and staple forward Mark Stone only signing for one season; it should come as no surprise that Ottawa’s roster saw more trimming than additions. Mike Hoffman was traded away in a shroud of controversy along with prospect Cody Donaghey. Burrows retired to take up coaching. Freddy Claesson took off to the Rangers and minor leaguers Tyler Randell and Chris Driedger have moved on to new AHL clubs. Joining the Senators is former first rounder Mikkel Boedker, Penn State standout Andrew Sturtz, and first round selection Brady Tkachuk. The Senators also added minor leaguers Adam Tambellini, Chase Balisy, Mike McKenna and Paul Carey; the latter who may serve a depth role on the parent club.

 

The Senators went into the off season needing to fill some cupboards; particularly on defence. Following the 2018 draft, their blue line does look better, however it won’t be for a few more years. Making things worse is the uncertainty of Erik Karlsson’s future with the team. Thomas Chabot is going to be an incredible and elite defenceman for years to come, but I can’t see his production being as steady with Cody Ceci as his partner instead of Karlsson. It does not appear that the Senators will have a miracle turn around year; though it is an odd year which means Craig Anderson could win a Vezina, but that means that more prospects could get serious looks with the big club as they try and rebuild. I hope the Senators can right the ship sooner rather than later.

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Graduating Players

 

Aaron Luchuk – Following a great season with the Windsor Spitfires and an even more

impressive Memorial Cup run in 2017, Luchuk demolished the OHL last season. He scored 50

goals and racked up 115 points in his overage season. He owns great offensive upset and is a

good faceoff man. The question is can he drive his own offence or were good linemates the

answer to his success.

 

Thomas Chabot – A bright spot on a terrible team. Defensively he still has some learning to do

but it is unlikely he returns to the AHL. His offensive IQ is incredibly high, and his production will

only increase from his 29 points in 63 games. A fantastic skater with a heavy shot, Chabot is the

real deal, hopefully the Senators can hold onto this stud.

 

Andrew Sturtz – Sturtz is a pinball on skates. He hits, he scores and can make plays. He really is

a bundle of energy with some offensive potential. He left Penn State early to sign with the

Senators. He was impressive in his brief end of the season stint with Belleville getting three

points in six games and getting in the box for eight minutes.

 

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Risers:

 

Drake Batherson – started the season in the QMJHL on an absolute tear. Cooled off and was

moved at the trade deadline to a playoff contender and finished his season with 77 points in 51

games. He also was a key cog in Canada’s World Junior Championship team. Finished his year

was a 33 point playoff in 22 games. With a good camp, a roster spot is not out of the question.

 

Filip Chlapik – Chlapik had a very impressive first year pro. He led an offensively inept team in

Belleville in scoring despite missing 20 games with Ottawa. He finished the season with 32

points in Belleville. In his 20 games in Ottawa he only managed four points, but average only 10

minutes per game. Could earn a top nine spot, has the skating, creativity and playmaking

acumen to be a difference maker.

 

Filip Gustavsson – Trading was not the something the Ottawa Senators did very well this

season. However, the one prospect they did cash in on was Filip Gustavsson. Considered one of

the best goaltending prospects in hockey right now. Could see back-up duties in Ottawa in the

event of injuries.

 

 

Fallers:

 

Nick Paul: In 2015 when he made his NHL debut he gave fans and Senators staff reason to be

excited. He played a big strong game and showed his great release. Since then his play has been

sub-par to say the least and there were times to say the least and with each call-up his window

is getting smaller to prove he deserves to be there. Make or break year.

 

Marcus Hogberg: Before last season Hogberg was a giant goaltender in Sweden and nobody

could score on him. Last season he bounced up and down between the ECHL and the AHL

finding little to know consistency in his game. He’s a big man who moves really well, still has

upside.

 

Christian Jaros: This one is only a matter of limited opportunity. Adjusting to the North

American ice may have been a hurdle, but Jaros has an offensive touch and can bulldoze

players. Averaged under eight minutes in his two appearances in Ottawa last season, will make

more appearances this year.

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Organizational Prospect Depth Chart:

 

Left Wing 

Brady Tkachuk 

Alex Formenton 

Nick Paul 

Max McCormick 

Francis Perron 

Filip Ahl 

 

Center

Colin White

Filip Chlapik

Logan Brown

Drake Batherson

Aaron Luchuk

 

Right Wing

Gabriel Gagne

Markus Nurmi

Todd Burgess

 

Left Defence 

Thomas Chabot 

Christian Wolanin 

Ben Harpur 

Andreas Englund 

Max Lajoie

Johnny Tychonick

 

Right Defence

Christian Jaros

Julius Bergman

Macoy Erkamps

Jacob Bernard-Docker

 

Goalies

Filip Gustavsson

Marcus Hogberg

Joel Daccord

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Top 10 Prospects

1. Thomas Chabot – Won’t be back to the AHL, Ottawa’s top prospect will graduate to full time NHLer this season.
2. Logan Brown – impressive in his debut. Big, strong, smart player. Will have bigger opportunity in Ottawa this season.
3. Alex Formenton – Came out of nowhere to make the Senators last season. Is a less Austrian Michael Grabner, an absolute laser beam on skates.
4. Brady Tkachuk – Big, mean, and capable of putting pucks in the net. Easy comparable would be his brother in Calgary.
5. Filip Chlapik – needs to improve skating, but has the mind to be a great and productive playmaker.
6. Colin White –good two-way forward, has yet to show the offensive flare he had in college.
7. Christian Jaros – skates well, makes plays, and is an open ice freight train. Points will come with ice time, but he’ll hit every shift he can.
8. Christian Wolanin – possesses a bomb from the point. Moves the puck well, most likely needs some seasoning in Belleville.
9. Markus Nurmi – two-way winger made big strides in the Finnish Liiga. Still a few years away from NHL ice.
10. Filip Gustavsson – one of better goaltending prospects in the game. Impressive start in North America. Could see NHL call-up this season.

 

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Thanks for reading! Check back for a new team each day as we continue our August 31-in-31 Prospect System Reviews

Sid Osmond