EDITOR’S NOTE- In an alternate reality, the Ottawa Senators have already locked up the first two picks in the 2020 Entry Draft and the heated debate about what to do with that number two selection is well underway. Meanwhile, we’re all settling in for another first-round meltdown by the Leafs. All is right in the world. Instead, reality looks nothing like that. Like basically everything else these days, the future of hockey is up in the air. The lottery, the draft and the return of NHL hockey- all unknown. Which is why this ChirpEd is so timely. One of the few things we can talk about with some certainty is the collection of prospects available in this year’s draft. That and the fact that the Senators have a handful of second round picks. So who should they consider when the time comes? Let ’em know, kodahbear.
WRITTEN BY- kodahbear
Napoleon Bonaparte once said “Deep NHL drafts usually mean an increase of impactful players being chosen in the 2nd round”. Come to think of it, I think I’m the one who said that last week…or at least thought about it. Regardless of who said it the Ottawa Senators are very aware of the benefits a hockey organization can obtain from the 2nd Round of the draft.
Historically, both Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette hail from the 2nd round, and more recent picks Alex Formenton and Filip Chlapik both seem poised to have opportunities to graduate to the NHL in the near future. Not to mention Shane Pinto, aka garbage pick, aka NCHC rookie of the year!
This article is not to fool anyone into thinking Dorion and company are going to pick an elite player after the first 31 names are called out, but rather confirm the pool of players that remain afterwards are very much talented and can very possibly have an impact in our organization. In the first of two articles, I present five defensemen.
These are not my top five of the 2nd round but rather a selection of prospects who have been predominantly ranked between picks 20-50 since January (give or take). I chose players who play different styles, but I would be happy to hear Dorion say any of their names.
After Drysdale and Sanderson, a group of no less than six dmen could hear their name by the end of the 1st round. Of those six, two are presented at the beginning of my list. The reason they are included is that it is highly unlikely all six will be chosen in the 1st round, and I am concentrating on the LD rather than the sought RD. So yes you may see the name of Andrae or Cormier in top 31 rankings but I think it is very possible at least one will fall to our first pick in the 2nd Round. Why wait any longer…. here we go.
Emil Andrae (LD)
Andrae is best described to this fanbase as Erik Brannstrom Lite. Not only because they are both Swedish defensemen but they also both entered their draft year playing for HV71 (SHL) or their affiliates during their draft year. Furthermore, they play a similar style where their speed, edgework and hockey IQ compensate for smaller stature. At 5’9 and approximately 180 lbs, Andrae may be overlooked by some due to his size BUT size doesn’t always matter (heck maybe that was Napoleon’s quote I was thinking about). With 38 points in 40 games in the SuperElit league this season, Andrae is demonstrating an ability to produce and make plays (27 of the 38 points were assists). While his overall size may concern some, it should be mentioned he was promoted to the SHL for 10 games this season and held his own against sizable men.
Lukas Cormier (LD)
Like Andrae, Cormier is considered a smaller defenseman but easily compensates with speed and edgework. More specifically, Cormier is said to have great acceleration which he uses to transition the play into the offensive zone. His size also does not impede him from playing a somewhat physical game in retrieving pucks, although his overall defensive game does need some development. While seen primarily as a playmaker many have pointed out that Cormier has a fantastic shot. This seems a little odd as he only scored 6 goals amongst his 36 points in 44 games with the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) this season. The previous year, his first season in the QMJHL, he scored 15 goals amongst 36 points (makes a little more sense). From what I read, this guy seems to be quite the quarterback and his ranking may have been skewered by the fact he missed a month of play due to injury.
Tyler Kleven (LD)
Let us start with the obvious- Kleven is 6’4 and approximately 200 lbs. He is very willing to throw his body all over the ice and is best known for his defensive game. He is said to have a massive slapper but appears not to use it as his point tally remain in the low 10s. Another interesting point is he committed to playing in our unofficial farm team in North Dakota next season. His biggest knock is his speed which is considered average making it hard for him to transition defensively sometimes. That said you know he has a “Chara-esque” stick the length of Pageau body and can use it to mask at least some his lack of speed. All in all, he is the scary shutdown dman you might think twice about rushing.
Topi Niemela (RD)
A right-hand defensemen who I feel has a better chance of falling from the 1st to the 2nd round (although most sources now have him in the 2 nd round now). Niemela, however, does not deserve to be overlooked. While his shot and hands would be considered good (not great), he would be best described as a consistently good player rather then elite or flashy. How Niemela stands out from his peers is his overall Hockey IQ within both the offensive and defensive zones. His ability to read plays and position himself make him a real threat at both ends of the ice. While slightly undersized at 5’10, most scouts might overlook him due to his low point production. Last season he only had 7 points in 43 games in Liiga…. that’s right he played most of the season in the top Finnish league as an 18 year old. This is an important factor as Niemela seems to constantly be playing above his age group and doesn’t really have a sophomore season before being promoted again. That has to mean something right? Right?
Helge Grans (RD)
Grans seemed destined for the 3rd round, but his name is clearly being added to a number of sources 2nd round rankings. I almost did not include him on my own list but there is something about the guy that screams potential. First off he has 27 points in 27 games playing in the SuperElit. During his 21 game call-up to SHL he added an additional 3 points to his overall tally. He’s got good size at 6’3 and while arguably not great at any particular area of his game, Grans is deemed at the least good at all aspects. So why is he only more recently being upgraded to the 2nd Round? From what I see based on reports, the answer has something to do with his willingness to make risky plays at both ends of the ice. Some of these risky plays surely led to goals (otherwise why would you keep doing it). Other times he may look quite awful as he gets burned during a play, making it difficult for scouts to overlook it as simply he’s young and learning. Needless to say, his point tally is difficult to ignore and this may be a guy worth taking a chance on.
Helge Grans scores a beautiful shootout goal, the only one so far. #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/KbvTC49yFB
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) August 7, 2019
That wraps up the defense prospects. In the next two weeks I hope to produce a list of 6 forwards you should all know by name come the end of Spring.
Thanks for reading and Take Care.
