Now that now we have regarded on the depth chart for the left-wing, right-wing, and heart positions for the Ottawa Senators, it’s time to transfer to the again finish and have a look at the protection. Now that the draft, the primary wave of free company, and the event camp are over, the depth chart is taking form and now we have an concept of what the roster will appear to be.
On this fourth piece of a five-part sequence, we’ll take a look on the defensive depth the Senators have, adopted by the goaltending tomorrow. When wanting on the depth, the gamers aren’t essentially listed as they are going to be within the full lineup, quite only a listing beginning with one of the best and dealing down in direction of prospects and American Hockey League (AHL) gamers who could possibly be known as up and given an opportunity. Not each AHL participant can be listed, however the ones with a respectable shot of enjoying even a couple of video games in 2024-25 are.
Left Protection Depth Chart
The left aspect of the protection, even after transferring on from Erik Brannstrom and Jakob Chychrun, continues to be a lot stronger than the precise. Having two high-end top-four defensemen and a 3rd spot for a youthful participant creates steadiness within the group.
Jake Sanderson
The highest defenseman on the Senators is Jake Sanderson. At simply 22 years previous, Sanderson has already established himself as a high two-way defenseman and earned himself a $64.4 million contract. Not solely has the younger defenseman been a cornerstone by way of defensive play, however his 70 factors in 156 profession NHL video games is quietly spectacular too.
Even together with his robust first two seasons, there’s a lot of purpose to consider there’s nonetheless one other step for him to take. He reads defensive performs nicely, his skating is excellent, and he has proven that he can play a bodily recreation at occasions too. This needs to be the 12 months that Sanderson emerges as one of many high defensemen within the NHL. He doubtless gained’t be within the dialog for the highest 10 defensemen, however he might earn himself a spot within the high 15 or 20.
Thomas Chabot
If Thomas Chabot can keep wholesome and have his ice time managed higher, there’s a good probability that he can return to the high-end offensive defenseman he as soon as confirmed a lot potential to be. Chabot’s offensive recreation is the spotlight of his play. With 30 factors in 51 video games final season, his tempo was good, however he has proven he could be higher. The important thing for Chabot is to remain within the lineup. His career-high in video games performed is simply 71, and he hasn’t hit 70 because the 2019-20 season.
His defensive recreation could be problematic, however when he’s producing on the high of his recreation, it makes any defensive errors extra forgivable. Now that he could have a full-time high-quality right-sided associate, which we’ll get to, Chabot’s recreation needs to be extra balanced, and now that Sanderson has emerged as a high-end choice, he needs to be enjoying a lot much less hockey than his profession common of practically 24 minutes per recreation.
Tyler Kleven
Now that Brannstrom and Chychrun are gone, that is going to be Tyler Kleven’s alternative to understand a full-time NHL job. After being drafted in 2020, Kleven has proven that he’s a bodily pressure to be reckoned with. Within the NCAA, Kleven typically discovered himself being penalized for large, clear hits. As soon as he transitioned to the AHL, his penalty minutes dropped dramatically. He is ready to play his bodily recreation and match up towards males a lot older than him with no points.
Associated: Senators’ Staios Provides A lot-Wanted Grit to Roster
One factor the Senators had missed on the backside of their lineup is measurement. Kleven has 17 NHL video games below his belt already and appeared to slot in pretty nicely. At his age, he might have some hiccups within the early elements of the season, however that’s comprehensible. His recreation is one that ought to translate nicely to the highest league, and he’ll add an ideal bodily presence. In his quick NHL profession up to now, he has proven flashes of confidence and his skill to hold the puck nicely. The third-pair spot on the left aspect is his to lose.
Jorian Donovan
The Senators’ left-handed defensive depth falls off a bit right here. To not say that Donovan isn’t a high quality asset, however they don’t have any veteran choices on the skin wanting in. Donovan completed the season within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a champion, profitable the Memorial Cup. His 9 factors within the 17-game run have been spectacular, and with a protection group with different high-end defensemen like Zayne Parekh, Donovan was simply as vital in his function.
He isn’t prone to get any NHL video games, however with a powerful coaching camp and a robust begin to the AHL season, Donovan might definitely work his manner into the dialog.
Tomas Hamara
Like Donovan, Tomas Hamara goes to wish a robust begin within the AHL to seek out himself a spot within the NHL lineup at any level this season. He’s a defenseman with talent and a strong two-way recreation. Hamara isn’t a game-breaker however might supply a gentle choice within the AHL this season.
Hamara’s commerce request from the Kitchener Rangers did him wonders. After scoring simply three factors in 18 video games to start out the season, Hamara was dealt to the Brantford Bulldogs the place he scored 17 factors within the subsequent 26 video games.
Donovan Sebrango
An asset acquired within the Alex DeBrincat commerce, Donovan Sebrango had a robust first season with the Senators group. He performed within the AHL and ECHL, however in his 35 video games within the AHL, he had performed nicely defensively. He doubtless isn’t going to turn into an NHL common, however he does have some instruments that might result in him being a bubble participant who earns a call-up if obligatory.
Proper Protection Depth Chart
The NHL-level expertise on the precise aspect isn’t as robust because the left, however wanting past the highest three, the call-up choices are arguably higher and extra NHL-ready than the others.
Artem Zub
Since becoming a member of the Senators as a free agent out of Russia, Zub has been one of the best right-handed defenseman within the group. He has had a variety of robust defensive years and has been an anchor on no matter pairing he has been positioned on. As soon as the Senators transitioned from a chaotic DJ Smith system, Zub regarded even higher than earlier than whereas enjoying below Jacques Martin.
He’s the proper defenseman to play alongside both Sanderson or Chabot due to his nice shut-down play. He doesn’t have a lot type to his recreation, and with out paying an excessive amount of consideration, chances are you’ll not even discover him, however that’s what makes him such a robust participant. His recreation isn’t meant to face out. When a participant with the function of Zub is doing their job nicely, they don’t get seen.
Nick Jensen
The newly-acquired Nick Jensen is bringing one thing the Senators have wanted for a very long time, and that may be a associate for Chabot to play with. Jensen performs a really related recreation and function as Zub however with extra expertise and understanding of the NHL’s tempo. Zub doesn’t do a lot improper in that regard, however Jensen simply does it higher.
Jensen does a little bit of every part on the ice. He’s nice at blocking, could be bodily, and most significantly to the Senators, doesn’t take a number of penalties. Out of the seven defenders to play essentially the most video games final season, Chabot has the least quantity of penalty minutes with 22 in 51 video games. Jensen lower than half of that with solely 10, and performed in 78 video games final season. Chychrun, who was the centerpiece of the commerce to herald Jensen, led the protection with 60 penalty minutes and was fourth on the whole workforce. That differential in penalty minutes is essential. Chychrun’s complete final season was simply three penalty minutes fewer than Jensen has had over the previous 4 seasons mixed.
Jacob Bernard-Docker
After a rocky begin to the 2023-24 season, together with clearing waivers, Jacob Bernard-Docker had a robust bounce again from that, enjoying in 72 video games with the Senators final season. He was one in all their higher choices on the precise aspect however isn’t robust sufficient in any facet of his recreation to be a top-four defender like Zub or Jensen.
He’s a fantastic third-pair choice, and even because the seventh defenseman, but when offered with the chance the Senators might look to get an improve on him within the lineup. It was reported by Bruce Garrioch that the Senators have been attempting to commerce Bernard-Docker, however it’s evident that there wasn’t a lot by way of worth that the Senators would get again. (from Ottawa Solar, NO DICE: Senators proceed to attempt to wheel and deal as draft wraps up in Vegas, June 29, 2024).
Travis Hamonic
Travis Hamonic fell out of favor within the Senators’ lineup as final season went on, and whereas many anticipated a buyout, basic supervisor Steve Staios commented and mentioned he respects the veteran presence Hamonic brings.
His play isn’t the place it as soon as was, and even since becoming a member of the Senators, has fallen off much more. He doubtless gained’t play many video games this season, and together with his $1.1 million cap hit, he can nonetheless be function mannequin with out weighing the workforce down by way of the wage cap.
Maxence Guenette
Exterior of the highest 4 right-handed defensemen who have been NHL regulars final season, Maxence Guenette has one of the best probability to push one in all them for a roster spot. Guenette really made the workforce out of coaching camp and performed seven video games. He slot in nicely throughout that stint and has developed into defenseman.
The Senators drafted Guenette within the seventh spherical of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and since then he has proven offensive upside within the AHL, whereas additionally having the ability to be dependable defensively.
Nikolas Matinpalo
After the extraordinarily profitable signing of Zub, the Senators tried once more final season by bringing in Nikolas Matinpalo from Finland. He solely appeared in 4 NHL video games however performed 67 AHL video games and was defender for Belleville. Matinpalo re-signed with the membership this offseason, and a part of that negotiation might have been to get a greater probability at an NHL spot.
The depth has definitely gotten higher than it has been in the previous couple of seasons, however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. The Senators might look to herald some veterans on a tryout, like perhaps Kevin Shattenkirk or Justin Schultz.
