With last night’s dramatic Game Seven win by the Blackhawks at the Madhouse on Madison, the NHL’s Final Four is set.
And while it will be a treat watching the Hawks, Kings, Bruins and Penguins slug it out for a chance at the Stanley Cup, fans in Ottawa have already begun to turn their attention to the busy off season that lies ahead. Incredibly, the NHL Entry Draft goes in New Jersey just one month from now. The Ottawa Senators hold the 17th overall selection.
Listening to Bryan Murray’s season ending address, you can tell the organization is looking to add a certain type of player this off season both in terms of free agent/trade targets as well as at the draft table. That type of player? A guy with size, skill and speed.
Easier said than done, I suppose.
The Senators are slated to pick at 17 but that doesn’t mean they are locked into that position. Murray will explore options to trade up obviously and if the right deal comes along, the Sens would be more than willing to move that pick. This is an incredibly deep draft but with so many quality prospects already in the system, this is a pick the Sens could afford to move.
If they do hang on to the pick, there will certainly be quality players left on the board. Considering the performance of Pierre Dorion and his staff at recent drafts, I have every confidence in them to find another solid prospect in this year’s draft.
A quick list of some of the players that could be available with that 17th pick and a couple “wishful thinking” options…
- Max Domi- C- London
- Curtis Lazar- C- Edmonton
- Alexander Wennberg- C- Djugarden
- Anthony Mantha- LW- Val-d’Or
- Ryan Pulock- D- Brandon
- Andre Burakovsky- LW- Malmo
- Bo Horvat- C- London
And a few useful resources as you begin your draft day research…
As always, I’ll do my best to dig up some names that me be on the radar for Murray and his staff in New Jersey at the end of June. In the meantime, how would you like to see the Sens handle the first round of the draft?
Best player available? Draft to fill a need? Trade the pick?
