Ottawa’s prospect pool is the one of the deepest in the National Hockey League.
While there is some minor disagreement among the experts about where they fall, just about everyone agrees that this current collection of young players sits somewhere in the top three.
There’s no arguing it really.
And what’s especially encouraging about Ottawa’s current situation is no matter where you look, there are young players turning heads. Whether it’s in the NHL, AHL, CHL, NCAA or overseas, there are Sens prospects enjoying breakout seasons. With so much talent in the pipeline, it’s pretty easy to lose track. It’s at the point where every time I attempt to list all of Ottawa’s exciting young players, I completely forget someone.
We should probably stop forgetting about Egor Sokolov.
Selected in the 2nd round (61st overall) of the 2020 Entry Draft, Sokolov arrived with limited fanfare. Despite scoring goals at a ridiculous pace (46 in 52 games) in his third year with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, his production was mostly overlooked. Maybe not overlooked but seemingly dismissed. Many assumed that it was just a case of a bigger, older kid dominating in an offence-first league.
It also seemed to be another example of the Senators targeting overage players in the Draft. While there are obvious benefits to that strategy, those older kids don’t always generate the same degree of excitement. And because Sokolov has already been passed over twice at the Draft, there seemed to be this assumption that the pick may have been a bit of a reach.
Fair enough.
But as Pierre Dorion said on the day they signed Sokolov to his ELC, the organization was really impressed the work he put in between his second and third seasons in the QMJHL.
“To Egor’s credit, he’s worked especially hard for this. Despite initially being undrafted, he applied himself to improve many facets of his game to the point where he led the Quebec league in goals last season. We were pleased to be able to select him where we did last month and look forward to seeing his career progress.”
Now the 6’4, 220 lb forward is using that same work ethic and nose for the net to put up numbers in the American Hockey League level. And that’s a league that is usually pretty tough on young offensive players. Through the first 22 games of his AHL career, Sokolov has a Belleville-leading 11 goals including seven in his last seven games. He’s tied for the AHL-rookie lead in that category.
And what’s impressive about his production at the AHL level is he’s doing it in a variety of ways.
His size is obviously his biggest asset but he also has a wicked shot and a willingness to get to the middle of the ice. It’s that unique skill-set that has made Sokolov an offensive threat in every league he’s played in to this point in his career.
The Senators may have something here.
And while it’s his offensive production that has been turning heads lately, Sokolov had already become a fan favourite of sorts, based in large part by some of the amazing stories about his willingness to help others. And if you haven’t listened to a Sokolov interview, you’re missing out. He’s the type of kid that’s impossible not to root for.
The next few years are going to be interesting in Ottawa.
With a prospect pool that’s bursting at the seems and young players already forcing their way into key roles at the NHL level, competition for roster spots is going to be tougher than ever. But if the rebuild is going to work, the Senators are going to need to make sure they have a steady stream of young talent available to fill those openings.
And based on what we’ve seen from Egor Sokolov in his first season in the AHL, it won’t be long before he’s knocking on the door of the NHL roster.
The Ottawa Senators are scheduled to practice at 11:30 AM this morning. They visit the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
