Ottawa Senators: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about
The Ottawa Senators have a very bright future.
Since making it to the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016-17 season, it has been a rough go for the Ottawa Senators. The 2019-20 season was no exception, as they finished in 30th place with just 62 points in 71 games.
A big part of their decline is that they have traded much of their top-end talent over the past few years. Though that has caused them to struggle now, it has also resulted in them getting some terrific prospects.
One thing to note is that going forward with these lists I am not going to include players who spent more time in the NHL than any other league the previous season. For example, one big name many may think is missing from this list is stud defenceman Erik Brannstrom.
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Though the 20-year-old is arguably the team’s brightest up and coming star, he appeared in more NHL games (31) than AHL (27) this season, so he didn’t qualify for this list. With that being said, here are the top 8 prospects in the Ottawa Senators system.
8. Shane Pinto
Shane Pinto experienced his first season of college hockey in 2019-20, and it couldn’t have gone much better.
The freshman put up nearly a point per game pace, with 16 goals and 28 points in 33 games. The 19-year-old was taken by the Senators early in the second round (32 overall) at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Pinto is likely still a few seasons away from making noise at the NHL level, but he is an extremely exciting prospect. His skill was on display for Senators fans at the World Junior tournament earlier this year, where he scored four goals and added three helpers in just five games. Another big college season in 2020-21 could see him move further up this list.
7. Kevin Mandolese
The 2019-20 season was a massive one for Senators goaltending prospect Kevin Mandolese. The 19-year-old had by far and away the best season of his QMJHL career, posting a 2.33 goals against average and a .925 save percentage to go along with a jaw-dropping 26-8-1 record. As a result of those stellar numbers, he was named the leagues Goaltender of the Year.
Some may be surprised that Mandolese cracked this list over Mads Sogaard, who was taken 37th overall at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. However, the two are only months apart in age, and while Mandolese was drafted much lower at 157th a year prior, he had the much better statistical season, putting himself ahead on the depth chart for the time being.
6. Logan Brown
It has taken Logan Brown a bit longer than first expected to develop, but the 11th overall pick at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft took some big strides this season. The 22-year-old appeared in just 48 games total this season, 25 coming with Belleville and the other 23 with Ottawa.
His totals with Ottawa weren’t great, with just one goal and eight points in 23 games. However, with Belleville, he was able to put up seven goals and 28 points in 25 games. The six-foot-six centerman will more than likely start next season in Ottawa, and has a chance to become a game-changer due to both his playmaking ability and his size.
5. Alex Formenton
Though it was a disappointing season for the Senators, many of their prospects had fantastic seasons, none better than Alex Formenton. The 20-year-old left-winger who was taken 47th overall at the 2017 NHL Entry draft had an injury-riddled 2018-19 season in the OHL. When he was able to play, he was rather average, posting 13 goals and 34 points in 31 games.
He still entered the 2019-20 season as a promising prospect, however not many were expecting his first professional season to go as well as it did. Formenton was terrific for the Belleville Senators, finishing the season third in team scoring with 27 goals and 53 points in 61 games. He will be pushing for a spot with the Senators going into next seasons training camp.
4. Jacob Bernard-Docker
Though the list to this point has been all forwards and one goalie, the Senators also have some excellent defenceman for prospects. One of their best is Jacob Bernard-Docker. The 20-year-old was selected 26th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft after a season spent with the Okotoks Oilers in the AJHL which saw him post 20 goals and 41 points in 49 games.
He has since spent the last two seasons playing for the University of North Dakota, and his offensive skill has continued to be on display. This past season, he put up 25 points in 32 games. That is impressive for any defenceman, but even more so when you consider the fact he was only 19-years-old for the entire season. He also helped Team Canada win a gold medal at this year’s World Junior tournament, putting up one goal in seven games.
3. Drake Batherson
What a pick Drake Batherson has become for the Senators. When he was selected in the fourth round (121 overall) it was no secret he was extremely talented. However, no one expected him to improve to the level he is at now. Just half a year after drafting the now 22-year-old, he put on a show for Team Canada at the 2018 World Junior tournament, scoring seven goals in seven games. As it turns out, that was just the beginning of what looks to be a promising career.
After a very impressive rookie season in the AHL in 2018-19 which saw him score 22 goals and 62 points in 59 games, Batherson was even better this past season, posting 16 goals and 54 points in just 44 games. He also played in 23 games with Ottawa, putting up 10 points in 23 games. Like others on this list, Batherson has a good chance of staying in Ottawa past training camp next season, and has a chance to become a very solid top-six NHL forward.
2. Lassi Thomson
Yet another high pick on this list, Lassi Thomson was selected by the Senators with the 19th pick at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, he had just wrapped up his first season in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets, where he posted a very impressive 17 goals and 24 assists in 63 games. That turned out to be the only WHL season for the now 19-year-old Finnish defenceman, as he returned to his home country, playing the 2019-20 season with Ilves Tampere of the SM-liiga.
In a league that has older players, some of which have played in the NHL, Thomson more than held his own, scoring seven goals and adding six assists in 39 games. He also represented Team Finland at this years World Junior tournament, putting up three assists in seven games. He likely still needs another few seasons to develop, but at this point it appears he has all the tools to become a top-pairing NHL defenceman.
1. Josh Norris
When the Senators traded superstar defenceman Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, one of the players they received was top prospect Josh Norris. At the time of the trade, Norris was getting ready to play his in his second with University of Michigan. That season was quite disappointing for him, as he was limited to just 17 games due to a season-ending injury suffered at the 2019 World Junior tournament.
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Thankfully, he was fully recovered for the beginning of the 2019-20 season and put on quite the show. In 56 games with Belleville, the 21-year-old forward scored 31 goals and added 30 assists in 56 games. He also played his first three NHL games. He was held pointless in those three contests but did go +2. Yet again, he has a serious shot at cracking the opening roster for the 2020-21 season.