After the release of our Last Word on Hockey Ottawa Senators top ten prospects list, let’s take a deeper look. Here we shall analyze the top players and a more detailed investigation of their potential impact. We have already discussed Ridly Greig specifically, so here we will cue up the next candidates for the Senators top prospects. The players we will analyze include Zack Ostapchuk, Tyler Kleven, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Roby Jarventie, and Mads Sogaard. Each of these players plays an important part in the Senators future, some sooner than others.
The Ottawa Senators Top Prospect in Terms of Ceiling Amongst Forwards: Zack Ostapchuk
There is one player we are bullish on here, 6’3”, former captain of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, Zack Ostapchuk. In Ostapchuk, we have a player with a high ceiling, and given his size, pardon the pun, but a leg up on some competition. To that point, the Senators are going to need toughness in their bottom six in 2023-24. Ostapchuk just might be able to make the club and to take it a step further, directly out of camp. Honestly, what would be the harm? Play him his ten games, so as to not lose a year of contract restriction eligibility, and let’s see what he can do. Conversely, it is likely, especially given the physical aspect of his game, he will need some professional seasoning in the AHL. But if it looks like he’s performing fine, and chipping in, say on the second power-play unit, it might just work.
What This Mean for the Bottom-Six Forward Group
The reason that we are so high on Ostapchuk, is that his skills might translate into a top-six forward. Now, given the high-end talent in the Senators forward group, he will not get that chance immediately. The only possible way would be through positive results from Ostapchuk, combined with slumps or injuries to the current top-six. Even still there are likely players, such as Dominik Kubalik or Shane Pinto with the seniority to get the chance ahead of him.
If you are not convinced that Ostapchuk will grow into a top-six guy, consider why we think he will. For starters, he has leadership abilities, as we mentioned was a captain in junior. Also, he is skilled, and is a solid stick handler, with a dangerous radius of puck control abilities. He showed he could score in junior, contributing 67 points in 55 games, in 2022-23 split between Vancouver and the Winnipeg Ice. In addition, he played an important depth role, on two terrific gold medal team Canada world junior teams. He chipped in offensively, playing with the loaded group of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Dylan Guenther, and Logan Stankoven.
The Highest Potential Prospect Among Defencemen: Tyler Kleven
The next prospect causing all the buzz around the nation’s capital is defenceman Tyler Kleven. Kleven looked great last year and was well deserving of his call-up to the Senators, appearing in eight games. Kleven, like Ostapchuk, is another big body. He is powerful and great at boxing out in his own zone. In addition, with the size, comes a booming slapper, as long as he can unload with regularity. This was witnessed at the University of North Dakota over the past two seasons. In 73 games, Kleven had 15 goals and a whopping 177 PIMs. Another point is Kleven looked very strong at this summer’s rookie development camp and has everyone excited.
Now when it comes to the Sens in 2023-24, it appears that Kleven will be forced to Belleville to start the season. With Erik Brannstrom and Travis Hamonic signed, they will likely round out the top-six defence. Therefore, the Sens top two defenceman prospects, Bernard-Docker and Kleven will be on the outside looking in. Now, there are still some options. Given the depth on defence, the fight for positions will be tight. If players are not playing up to the level of expectations, others will gladly jump in their slots.
The Senators Salary Cap Shuffle
One possibility is the Sens run seven defence, and 11 forwards, to give both Kleven and Bernard-Docker more opportunity. However, the downside of this, and similar to the situation with Ostapchuk, is these players will only benefit from more ice time. Playing as fourth-liners or seventh-D man will not achieve this goal. Moreover, the Senators are faced with another difficulty, and it is new for them and General Manager Pierre Dorion. The Senators are now a cap team. That is why Brannstrom and Hamonic get priority. Their salaries cannot simply be sent to Belleville on paper, they will need to be playing. As a result, placing underperformers on waivers or moving them via trade, may end up being a reality. So, in the end, Kleven will develop into a hulking, NHL regular, but he might have to apply his craft in Belleville for the time being.
Some Thoughts on Another Ottawa Senators Top Prospect Jacob Bernard-Docker
This is a good time since we have brought him up, to turn our focus to another Ottawa Senators top prospect, Bernard-Docker. He is quite possibly the top prospect in the organization, given the timing of it. This may be one of his last seasons to prove himself as an NHL defender. Thus, the team wants to give him a look, and the management has confidence he is an NHLer. Of the Senators defencemen prospects, he is the top one in terms of reliability. In saying that, in 2022-23, within his 19 games with Ottawa, he appeared to be playing it safe at times. That is not his game, which is using his skating to chip in offensively. So, if Bernard-Docker is not able to take advantage of his early chance this season, he may find himself knocked down in priority on the Sens prospect list.
A Saga of a Goalie and a Left Winger
The next two top prospects for the Ottawa Senators to touch on, are goaltender Mads Sogaard and forward, Roby Jarventie. First of all, Sogaard has the chance to develop his game in Belleville. This will provide much-needed game time. Last year, he was not great in Belleville but did play very well in Ottawa once he got called upon. Including claiming Rookie of the Month honours in February. If he can continue to progress in Belleville, maybe when Anton Forsberg passes the reign on, he will be ready for a full-time NHL job. Finally, on Jarventie, he may indeed be the wild card prospect. He quietly put up 30 points in 40 games, despite injuries, with Belleville a year ago. He’s a big body and would be an ideal bottom-six add. Look for him to be an early call-up to the Sens, if not cracking the roster out of camp.
Well, there you have it. We had already looked at the Senators top ten prospects, but now we dove into where they fit. One thing is for sure, there will be competition coming from Belleville. If players or the team as a whole, are not performing, moves will be made early on. The Senators cannot afford to have a tough November like they did each of the past two NHL campaigns. Even though these players are considered prospects, they will definitely be getting opportunities with Ottawa in the near future.
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