(UPDATE 10:30 PM)- Really felt like this was a pick the Senators might trade but obviously Pierre Dorion is saving some of the excitement for Wednesday afternoon. With the 28th overall pick, the Senators selected centre Ridly Greig. He had 60 points in 56 games last year with Brandon of the WHL and came into tonight ranked 24th on Bob Mckenzie’s list. Sportsnet called him a “throwback player” that is “a rare breed how he combines skill and grit and plays the game at a very high pace”.
(UPDATE 7:52 PM)- As the day approached, it was starting to feel like the most likely scenario. At 3rd overall, the Senators take Tim Stützle, a player that quickly becomes the most offensively gifted player in the organization.
And then at 5th overall, they take American-born defenceman Jake Sanderson. Elite skater with elite hockey sense that was one of the fastest risers in almost every pre-draft list.
Two players that will be huge pieces of the organization in the future and maybe as early as next season.
(UPDATE 6:42 PM)- They’re herrrrrrrrrrrrrrre!
In a matter of hours, we’ll finally know.
All the prospect lists, the mock drafts, the hours of YouTube scouting and the what if’s will finally come to an end.
Tonight, in a room with a few screens, a couple cameras and a strong wi-fi connection, Pierre Dorion will call out three (maybe two?) names that will have the potential to change the future of the Ottawa Senators. A tad dramatic you say? Well perhaps. But there is no doubt that this draft has the potential to be a defining moment for this franchise.
It’s the reward for what were two of the worst years in the history of the team. And it’s not just last season’s dual-tank that led to tonight. From the moment that shot fluttered into the top half of the net to the Bobby Ryan buyout just a couple weeks ago, we have been experiencing a teardown for the ages.
But if you watch closely, if you squint just a little bit, it’s been happening all around us. The journey down the long path back to respectability has already started for the Senators. There’s still lots of work to do but things are clearly pointed in the right direction.
But because of two top-five picks and three in the first round, four second round picks and an absurd 12 draft picks in total, the Senators rebuild gets to hammer the fast-forward button over the next couple of days.
At 3rd overall, the Senators will be getting a star. A franchise player that will immediately become the best prospect in their already high-end system. About six minutes later, they’ll add the second best prospect in their system.
Ottawa Rising, as the old saying goes.
Yesterday, Pierre Dorion made one last zoom appearance ahead of the Draft and as you’d expect, the Sens General Manager was pretty careful with his words.
There were a few things that jumped out though.
-Again, and this is worth repeating because it takes a lot of the stress out of tonight, there are no surprises coming at 3rd overall. The moment you hear the Los Angeles Kings call out a name, you should immediately know who the Senators are going to land at 3rd. Whether it ends up being Tim Stützle or Quinton Byfield, Pierre Dorion and his staff are going to be thrilled. Yesterday, Pierre went so far as to hint that both guys are close to NHL-ready. Everything I’ve heard in the last 24 hours leads me to believe Stützle will be the guy they get but we shall see.
Loading …-At 5th overall, things could go a few different directions but when it comes to 28th overall, it feels like a complete guessing game. Pierre Dorion won’t say it outright but you can tell that they are very much open to moving that pick if the right offer comes along. The GM did sound doubtful when it comes to selecting nine times in the first three rounds though so it’s clear that he has some irons in the fire. Certainly adds a layer of excitement to tonight. The GM has said it a couple times but there is a “99%” chance they pick at five but it’s a complete guessing game on who they prefer.
Loading …-If the Ottawa Senators somehow bungle this Draft, it certainly won’t be due to a lack of preparation. Because of the pandemic, they got an extra four months to prepare and it sounds like they are making the most of it. Ten hours of zoom meetings in the last couple weeks including a five-hour review of the team’s draft list. If you have spent any time on zoom in the last few months, you’ll know that 10 minutes on there is an eternity. Dorion specifically mentioned that they’ll be doing another mock draft on Monday afternoon as their final round of preparation. Just hope they haven’t used up all their internet and data before the big day.
You can listen to the full interview here.
Of course if the excitement of the draft isn’t enough, today is also jersey release day. Sens players will be featured on CTV News at 6 PM featuring the new look.
Although we may have got a sneak peek over the weekend.
But the Draft is the real focus. Listen, I can’t tell you how to react tonight. While I will be squarely in the “trust the scouts” camp after the Tkachuk/Zadina debacle, I do understand that one of the best parts about the Draft is having an opinion. Having a preference. And when things don’t go exactly the way you hope or the way the so-called experts say it should, it can be frustrating.
But what I will say is this- enjoy it. Make an event of it. Have some fun with it.
There is so much uncertainty when it comes to the next NHL season that tonight’s Draft has the potential to be our last Sens-related entertainment for a little while. So let’s make the most of it.
Happy Draft Day!
