There have been various prospects who appeared promising throughout the Ottawa Senators coaching camp and preseason. Of these, Carter Yakemchuk was the clear favorite, main the workforce with seven factors in 4 video games, prompting a energetic dialogue on whether or not he ought to stick round for 9 video games or be allowed to play within the American Hockey League (AHL). Jan Jenik, Zack Ostapchuk, Donovan Sebrango, and Cole Reinhardt additionally shone within the preseason, however in the long run, the one rookie who made the Senators’ opening evening roster was Tyler Kleven, which was all however assured heading into the 2024-25 season.
With so many intriguing prospects within the minors, few would have anticipated Reinhardt to get one of many first call-ups following an harm. But that’s precisely what occurred on Oct. 20, with the Senators asserting the transaction to fill in for the injured Ridly Greig. Nevertheless, after starting the season with two objectives and 5 factors in three video games, together with a three-point recreation on Oct 19, he was the plain selection for Ottawa, which additionally makes him your Senators’ Prospect of the Week for the week of Oct. 15-21.
Reinhardt’s Lengthy Journey Via the AHL
Reinhardt was arguably an afterthought following the stacked Senators 2020 NHL Entry Draft class. In spite of everything, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Greig, Roby Jarventie, Kleven, and Egor Sokolov had been all taken within the first two rounds, and all of them bought off to incredible begins in 2020-21. Reinhardt, then again, was a 20-year-old sixth-round choice, taken with Ottawa’s final choice, who had by no means scored greater than 55 factors in a single season within the Western Hockey League (WHL). As an AHL rookie in 2020-21, he put up simply six objectives and 12 factors in 33 video games for the Belleville Senatore; Sokolov, additionally an AHL rookie, led the workforce with 15 objectives and 25 factors in 35 video games.
Subsequent season went a lot better for Reinhardt. He doubled his offensive manufacturing, scoring 15 objectives and tallying 30 factors over 70 video games, however his point-per-game (PPG) charge stayed roughly the identical, growing from 0.37 PPG to 0.43 PPG. Nonetheless, he was proving to be a worthwhile depth participant and complemented Sokolov properly, so, following a slough of accidents and sicknesses, the Senators referred to as him up for his NHL debut on April 7, 2022. He performed eight-and-a-half minutes, threw two hits, and had one penalty, however total appeared nervous and overwhelmed, which was not stunning.
What was stunning was that Reinhardt didn’t get a single recreation over the subsequent two seasons. His AHL manufacturing remained per back-to-back seasons of roughly half a PPG and a aim about one each six video games. It appeared as if he’d discovered his area of interest as an efficient bottom-six AHL ahead with a stable defensive recreation. Senators basic supervisor Steve Staios bolstered that perception when he signed him to a one-year, two-way extension over the 2024 offseason, saying, “Cole continues to showcase superb skating capacity. Together together with his dimension, he’s change into an vital penalty killer. He’s a very good defensive participant and one we count on to take one other step ahead in his total improvement in 2024-25.”
Setting the Bar Excessive within the Preseason
Staios’ perception in Reinhardt’s improvement was properly positioned. Within the preseason, the 6-foot-1 ahead put up two objectives on six pictures and two assists in 5 video games, and his 4 factors tied Jenik and Noah Gregor’s manufacturing. However Reinhardt took his recreation a step additional, profitable three of his 4 faceoffs, throwing six hits, drawing two penalties, and finishing two takeaways. He additionally completed his 5 video games with a 2.94 anticipated objectives in opposition to and was higher defensively than Thomas Chabot and Gregor.
Associated: Ottawa Senators’ 2020 Draft Class Revisited
There have been a number of minor points that saved him out of the Senators’ lineup as soon as the preseason concluded, however Reinhardt took all of it in stride. In his first recreation within the AHL, he had a aim and an help on two pictures, and though he was held off the scoresheet in his second recreation, he stormed again in his third. Simply 10 minutes into the sport, Reinhardt already had a aim and two assists, and though he didn’t get again onto the scoresheet, he completed the sport plus-2, which earned him the primary star of the evening. No different participant has been extra impactful for Belleville this season, and Ottawa acknowledged his efforts by calling up for his or her recreation in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership on Tuesday, Oct 22. Though he didn’t play and was despatched down proper after, it was a transparent assertion – hold doing what you’re doing, and extra possibilities will come.
Honourable Mentions & Updates
A number of prospects bought off to scorching begins with Belleville. Ostapchuk matched Reinhardt’s manufacturing, placing up a aim and two assists, however did so over two video games and racked up 13 pictures. He now sits tied for second in workforce scoring alongside captain Garrett Pilon, who led the workforce with 47 factors final season. Nevertheless, his greatest ability is shutting down opponents’ high strains, which he did successfully on the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championship. After a powerful preseason, there was a very good argument that he might have made the workforce, and may a spot open up on the underside six up as a consequence of harm or commerce, he’ll possible be one of many first names referred to as.
Sticking within the AHL, Mads Sogaard had a fantastic begin to his season, posting a .964 save proportion and a 0.92 objectives in opposition to common, prompting a call-up to the NHL to fill in for the injured Linus Ullmark. Nevertheless, his lone look noticed him enable 4 objectives on 17 pictures, leading to a change of goaltenders halfway by way of the sport. He was returned to Belleville on Sunday, Oct. 20, and began that evening’s recreation in opposition to the Syracuse Crunch, turning away 13 of 15 pictures in opposition to, however a 3rd interval scramble left the 6-foot-7 goalie with a decrease physique harm. With Leevi Merilainen now serving as Ullmark’s substitute set to return to the crease this week, Sogaard is anticipated to return to the crease someday this week.
Final week’s Prospect of the Week, Eerik Wallenius, was a bit slower final week, posting only one help in his final two video games in Finland’s U20 league, SM-sarja. He’s nonetheless having a fantastic season for a defenceman with three objectives and 10 factors in 13 video games, however he could be sliding right into a extra sustainable tempo. Yakemchuk, our first Prospect of the Week, is ramping up with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. After one aim in his first two video games, he scored two objectives and three assists in his subsequent two, making him the highest-scoring defender on the workforce regardless of taking part in half the variety of video games. He was at all times anticipated to have a dominant season, however he might already be surpassing expectations.
Tune in subsequent week to see which prospect stood above the remainder!
