Ottawa Senators: Pierre Dorion’s 2020 NHL draft prototypes

Top 10 Senators Prototypes

To start things off, Alexis Lafreniere is their top option. Lafreniere is the undisputed, to this point, number one prospect. If the Senators reel in the number one selection, it would be shocking if Lafreniere doesn’t get his name called.

Though Dorion prefers forwards to be between 6’2″ and 6’3″, Lafreniere can easily grow into that, as he is 6’1″. As for weight, Lafreniere falls right into Dorion’s preference at 192 pounds, with Dorion having a liking for players between 176 to 195 pounds.

Lafreniere is the complete package and is the most NHL-ready player available. He has incredible offensive capabilities, strong defensive abilities, and a ridiculously high hockey IQ. He also plays a high-energy game and doesn’t shy away from physical engagements, as he welcomes them. This mixture of speed, skill and aggressiveness is why Lafreniere is the projected top pick.

Another strong fit for the Senators is Quinton Byfield. Byfield is a big prospect, standing at 6’4″ and 214 pounds. He is taller than the normal Dorion-drafted prospect, while also being far heavier, but he isn’t too much taller, and Dorion has selected plenty of Canadian forwards in his time. That said, Byfield would be a welcome addition if the Senators can’t land Lafreniere and Byfield is still available at whatever selection they have.

Byfield plays with grit and out-muscles his opponents, but he also out-smarts them. His IQ is through the roof, and he beats the opposition simply by thinking three steps ahead at all times. He’s also an excellent skater for his size, meaning that his size won’t hinder his abilities to stick with the smaller and shiftier NHL talents. Byfield is just as much a great addition as Lafreniere would be.

The third-best fit for the Senators is Alexander Holtz. He most likely wouldn’t get selected with the Senators first pick, but he checks the boxes that  Dorion looks for. Holtz stands at 6’0″, and 183 pounds, which is just shy of Dorion’s height preference, but can still certainly grow into that range. Dorion has also shown a willingness to draft Swedish forwards, which Holtz is.

Holtz is another player with incredible awareness and hockey IQ. He is also an excellent passer, using that anticipation to find teammates that most players wouldn’t. He also has an incredible shot that can easily translate to the NHL level, with Dobber Prospects, Christoffer Hedlund, stating that Holtz has the potential to win the Maurice Richard.

The only concern is his defensive abilities, as he doesn’t get many opportunities there in the SHL. He is an offensive dynamo, however, and he could be exactly what the Senators need.

The fourth-best fit winds up being Jamie Drysdale, who’s a defenseman. Dorion has made it clear that he takes Canadian defensemen before any defensemen not in Canada, as 80% of the picks used on defenseman came out of Canada.

He has shown a preference for defensemen standing between 6’0″ and 6’1″ and weighing between 186 to 205 pounds. Drysdale is 5’11″ and 170 pounds, making him a bit small for Dorion, but his talents are definitely game-changing.

Drysdale is a smooth skater with an incredible hockey IQ. He is strong in the offensive zone and extremely reliable, though a bit inconsistent, in the defensive zone. He can take over a game offensively, however, which is what makes him such an intriguing prospect.

But what really separates Drysdale from every other defenseman in this draft is his effectiveness in the transition. He can rip teams apart by moving the puck with extreme efficiency, making him a very dangerous player on the breakout and in offensive zone entries. If the Senators snag him up, the combination of Drysdale, Chabot, and Brannstrom sounds absolutely absurd.

The fifth-best option would be Noel Gunler. Gunler, another Swedish forward, is 6’2″ and 174 pounds. With just a couple more pounds added to his frame, would perfectly fit the mold of a Dorion prototype.

The issue with selecting Gunler is that he is ranked outside the top-10 in most cases, but still early enough to not be available when the Islanders pick comes around, making it unlikely the Senators snag him up. But it’s still worth noting that he fits what Dorion has looked for in players.

Gunler is a speedy skater and is very dangerous on the rush. He possesses high hockey IQ and positional awareness, as he almost always finds himself in the right spots at the right time. However, with that awareness, he tends to over-complicate plays, which ultimately hurts him. He still has incredible upside and, though he is a bit more of a project, certainly would be a strong addition to the Senators lineup.

The best-case scenario for the Senators is getting the 1st and 2nd overall picks, which is somewhat realistic. If that’s the case, they’ll take both Lafreniere and Byfield. However, if the lottery were to give them the picks that they’re currently projected (2nd and 4th overall), then the Senators would likely land Byfield and Holtz, which is very solid. But remember, they have another selection, thanks to the Islanders in the Pageau deal.