The Ottawa Senators’ 2023 coaching camp is wrapping up and there have been a handful of names on the camp invitation record who have been Senators’ first-round draft picks. On condition that a few of the finest gamers to grace the ice in Bytown are first-rounders, (see Erik Karlsson and Brady Tkachuk to call simply two) I believed it could be fascinating to make a journey down reminiscence lane to see what has turn into of Ottawa’s first-round picks because the wage cap period started in 2005.
The latest picks are younger and a few are nonetheless trying to crack the Senators’ lineup. A number of veterans who have been first-round picks years in the past nonetheless play within the NHL.Â
Just a few of Ottawa’s first-round picks elevate painful questions on what may need been had they stayed with the crew. Others are a testomony to the ability and foresight of Senators’ common managers (GM) in making draft decisions through the years. Even so, Ottawa followers nonetheless shake their heads at some picks, questioning what administration was pondering in making the alternatives they did.
Associated: The Senators Have By no means Been Good at Constructing By way of the Draft
The Senators have made 21 first-round picks previously 18 years. Whether or not they had a short stint in Bytown or grew to become fan favorites, right here is the place they’re right now together with a couple of classes discovered about drafting.Â
Brian Lee (ninth General 2005)
Present Standing: Retired
NHL video games: 209 / Senators video games: 167
Brian Lee was thought to be one of many NHL’s high defensive prospects when the Senators drafted him however by no means lived as much as expectations, bouncing forwards and backwards between the Senators’ farm crew in Binghamton and the large membership.Â
With some first-round picks, pleasure goeth earlier than the autumn and so it was with Lee whose agent stated that Lee was “shocked and stunned that he was not among the many Senators’ top-six defencemen” after he was as soon as once more assigned to Binghamton following the 2009 coaching camp. He famous that Erik Karlsson and Matt Carkner remained.
He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 27, 2012. A knee damage pushed him into retirement in 2014 with simply 5 objectives and 31 assists over his profession.
Nick Foligno (twenty eighth General 2006)
Present Standing: Chicago Blackhawks beneath a one-year $4 million contract for 2023-24
NHL video games: 1,155 / Senators video games: 351
The twin Canadian-American left winger notched 61 objectives and 87 assists over 5 seasons with the Senators from 2007 – 2012. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012, in alternate for Marc Methot. On the time, the Senators have been determined for a top-four defenceman after dropping two to free company.
On the finish of the 2014-15 season, Foligno was named captain of the Blue Jackets. He went on to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins, and now the Blackhawks.Â
Jim O’Brien (twenty ninth General 2007)
Present Standing: Retired
NHL video games: 77 / Senators video games: 73
Jim O’Brien was chosen by then-Ottawa GM Bryan Murray as a result of “dimension issues”. The 6-foot-2 centreman who graduated from the College of Minnesota into the professionals performed simply 73 video games with the Senators over elements of 4 seasons after first breaking onto the Senators roster within the 2010-11 season. Most of his profession has been spent within the minor leagues.
Whereas now describing himself as UFA, the 34-year-old’s skilled profession appears over along with his final skilled contract ending in 2020 after taking part in one 12 months with Nuremberg’s Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Erik Karlsson (fifteenth General 2008)
Present Standing: Pittsburgh Penguins Defenceman
NHL video games: 1,002 / Senators video games: 627
A 3-time Norris Trophy winner because the NHL’s finest defenceman, two of which he gained in a Senators’ uniform, Erik Karlsson performed in a Senators’ sweater over 9 seasons from 2009 – 2018 registering 126 objectives and 392 assists. He served because the crew’s captain over 4 seasons starting in 2014-15 earlier than being traded to the San Jose Sharks on the finish of the 2017-18 season.
Karlsson was a fan favorite in Ottawa and plenty of followers questioned why the Senators despatched him out of city. Even so, there’s little doubt that they hit the proverbial jackpot within the commerce by choosing up, amongst others, Josh Norris together with the Sharks’ first-round decide in 2020. That decide introduced Tim Stutzle to the nation’s capital. The 2 at the moment are the Senators’ high two centremen and future NHL stars.
Associated: Revisiting the Sharks’ Erik Karlsson Commerce
Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion made the robust option to deal Karlsson in Sep. 2018 recognizing that his crew wanted to embark on a rebuild and that Karlsson, regardless of waning factors manufacturing and private issues, may nonetheless fetch useful picks and prospects.
Jared Cowen (ninth General 2009)
Present Standing: Retired 2017
NHL video games: 249 / Senators video games: 249
At 6-foot-5 and 230 kilos, Jared Cowen was usually talked about in the identical breath as Zdeno Chara and Derian Hatcher. He by no means actually lived as much as these comparisons, scuffling with consistency all through the 4 seasons he spent in Ottawa. On Feb. 9, 2016, he was despatched to Toronto as a part of a nine-player blockbuster commerce with the Maple Leafs that introduced the then-Maple Leafs’ captain Dion Phaneuf to Ottawa.
Cowen by no means skated with the Maple Leafs. He retired simply earlier than the beginning of the 2017-18 season after being launched by the Colorado Avalanche from an expert tryout contract (PTO) after their 2017 coaching camp. He was simply 26 years outdated.
Mika Zibanejed (sixth General 2011)
Present Standing: New York Rangers High Centreman and Alternate Captain
NHL video games: 848 / Senators video games: 281
The 31-year-old Swedish centreman performed 4 seasons in Ottawa earlier than being traded on July 18, 2016, to the New York Rangers in alternate for Derek Brassard and a seventh-round decide within the 2018 Draft.Â
Mika Zibanejed has thrived within the Huge Apple, turning into the Rangers’ alternate captain and high centre. He racked up 72 factors final season. In distinction, Brassard, now 36 years outdated, spent lower than two seasons in Ottawa earlier than being unloaded to the Penguins in a Feb. 23, 2019 commerce. He lasted a 12 months in Pittsburgh earlier than being traded and embarking on a journey across the league that will ultimately see him return to Ottawa in 2022-23 on a one-year contract.
Whereas sending Zibanejed to the Rangers was a part of the Senators’ plan to strengthen their roster for a playoff run, Senators administration should generally surprise what may need been had they held on to him.
Stefan Noesen (twenty first General 2011)
Present Standing: New Jersey Devils Proper Winger
NHL video games: 366 / Senators video games: 0
Stefan Noesen was acquired by the Senators with a first-round draft decide the crew acquired from the Nashville Predators in alternate for Mike Fisher. He by no means suited up with Ottawa and in July 2013 was despatched off to the Anaheim Geese together with Jakob Silfverberg and a first-round decide in alternate for Bobby Ryan.Â
Matt Puempel (twenty fourth General, 2011)
Present Standing: Augsburger Panther Left Winger, Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL)
NHL video games: 87 / Senators video games: 52
The Senators wished Matt Puempel badly and traded a pair of second-round picks (thirty fifth and forty eighth general) to the Detroit Purple Wings to be able to acquire the twenty fourth general spot within the draft.Â
Puempel signed an entry-level contract with the Senators on Dec. 29, 2011. He made his debut with the Binghamton Senators late within the 2011–12 season and acquired off to a promising begin scoring 30 objectives, tying Mike Hoffman because the crew’s high scorer.
He made the Senators opening night time roster in 2016 however after 13 scoreless video games grew to become a wholesome scratch. He was positioned on waivers by the Senators on Nov. 20, 2016, and claimed the next day by the Rangers.Â
He performed 27 video games in New York however after the 2016-17 season has toiled within the minors aside from an eight-game stint with the Purple Wings in 2019.
Cody Ceci (fifteenth General, 2012)
Present Standing: Edmonton Oilers Defenceman
NHL video games: 786 / Senators video games: 492
Bytown-born and bred, Cody Ceci performed six seasons in a Senators uniform earlier than being traded to the Maple Leafs in the summertime of 2019. He was a part of a multiplayer alternate that introduced Nikita Zaitsev and Connor Brown to Ottawa.Â
Zaitsev appeared to fade away in Ottawa and early final season was placed on waivers and despatched to Belleville. In Feb. 2022, he was despatched to Chicago for “future issues”. Brown spent three seasons in Ottawa earlier than being traded to the Washington Capitals in July 2022.
Senators followers are left to wonder if buying and selling Ceci to Toronto in alternate for Zaitsev and Brown was well worth the hassle.
Curtis Lazar (seventeenth General, 2013)
Present Standing: New Jersey Devils Ahead
NHL video games: 524 / Senators video games: 176
Curtis Lazar made a splash in Ottawa making the opening night time roster in 2014-15 at 19 years outdated. He performed alongside Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone on what was dubbed the “Child Line”. In the long run, he struggled with scoring and on the commerce deadline in 2017 was despatched to the Calgary Flames in alternate for Jyoki Jokipakka and a second-round draft decide in that 12 months’s entry draft. He has subsequently bounced across the league taking part in for not rather more than the league minimal wage.
Thomas Chabot (18th General, 2015)
Present Standing: Senators #1 Defenceman
NHL video games: 432 / Senators video games: 432
Thomas Chabot leads the Ottawa defence corps and is a fan favorite. Even so, many say he has but to reside as much as the lofty expectations the Senators had for him when he was chosen 18th general in 2015.
Colin White (twenty first General, 2015)
Present Standing: UFA
NHL video games: 320 / Senators video games: 224
A product of Boston School, Colin White performed with the Senators over six seasons starting in 2016-17 earlier than being positioned on unconditional waivers on July 5, 2022. When he cleared waivers, they purchased out the three remaining years on his contract – a six-year deal he signed in 2019 paying him $28.5 million. He by no means lived as much as expectations and was hampered by accidents.
He spent final season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, however with 0 factors in 28 video games, he was a UFA on July 1, 2024.
Logan Brown (eleventh General, 2016)
Present Standing: UFA
NHL video games: 99 / Senators video games: 69
Logan Brown performed with the Senators over 4 seasons, bouncing forwards and backwards between the large membership and the Belleville Senators. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues in September 2021 for Zack Sanford and a late-round 2022 draft decide. He moved on from the Blues after 2022-23 and signed a one-year, two-way contract to play for the Lightning in 2023-24. He grew to become a free agent on July 1, 2024.
Shane Bowers (twenty eighth General, 2017)
Present Standing: New Jersey Devils Ahead
NHL video games: 9 / Senators video games: 0
Shane Bowers by no means noticed motion in Ottawa, having been traded to the Avalanche in a three-way deal in Nov. 2017 that introduced Matt Duchene to the Senators. He has performed simply 9 video games within the NHL and is a member of the Devils.
Brady Tkachuk (4th General, 2018)
Present Standing: Ottawa Senators captain
NHL video games: 440 / Senators video games: 440
The cornerstone of the Senators franchise, Brady Tkachuk is arguably the crew’s finest draft decide ever. He’s beneath contract to entertain Ottawa followers for the following 5 seasons.
Jacob Bernard-Docker (twenty sixth General, 2018)
Present Standing: Ottawa Senators Defenceman
NHL video games: 104 / Senators video games: 104
In 2022-23, Jacob Bernard-Docker bounced forwards and backwards between Belleville and Ottawa and on the finish of the season signed a two-year extension with the Senators. He earned a spot on the blue line final season and appeared in 72 video games.
Lassi Thomson (nineteenth General, 2019)
Present Standing: Belleville Senators, American Hockey League (AHL) Defenceman
NHL video games: 18 / Senators video games: 18
The 23-year-old Finn was invited to final 12 months’s coaching camp and was positioned on waivers on Sept. 30. He spent the complete season within the AHL.
Tim Stutzle (third General, 2020)
Present Standing: Ottawa Senators First-Line Centreman
NHL video games: 285 / Senators video games: 285
The Senators star centre is getting into his fifth season with the membership with 91 objectives and 156 assists. Like Tkachuk, he will likely be regaling Sens followers beneath contract for the following 5 years.
Stutzle is a feather in Dorion’s cap in that he was a decide that Ottawa acquired within the Karlsson commerce in 2018. Few are second-guessing that commerce now.
Jake Sanderson (fifth General, 2020)
Present Standing: Ottawa Senators Defenceman
NHL video games: 156 / Senators video games: 156
The 22-year-old twin Canadian-American citizen is a product of the College of North Dakota hockey program. In Sep. 2023, he signed an eight-year, $64.4 million contract with the Senators beneath which he’ll patrol the crew’s blue line for the following eight seasons.Â
Ridly Greig (twenty eighth General, 2020)
Present Standing: Ottawa Senators Ahead
NHL video games: 92 / Senators video games: 92
Ridly Greig earned an NHL roster spot in 2023-24, showing in 72 video games with 26 factors.
Tyler Boucher (tenth General, 2021)
Present Standing: Belleville Senators, AHL
NHL Video games: 0
Tyler Boucher was invited to final 12 months’s coaching camp. Since there have been so few spots accessible on the roster, he was an extended shot to see any motion with the Senators.
Carter Yakemchuk (seventh General, 2023)
Present Standing: Calgary Hitmen, WHL
After not having a first-round decide within the 2022 Draft, the Senators chosen seventh general in 2023. With it, they chose defenceman Carter Yakemchuk from the Calgary Hitmen.
Classes Discovered by Ottawa with First-Spherical Draft Picks
The spherical through which a participant is chosen within the draft could be a very unreliable predictor of his success. A working example is 2019 first-rounder Thomson who was positioned on waivers on Sept 30.
And who may overlook Alexandre Daigle, chosen first general within the 1993 NHL Entry Draft? The younger hockey stud ultimately turned dud, famously boasting that “he was glad he acquired drafted first as a result of no one remembers quantity two.” He’s nonetheless swallowing arduous on these phrases.
But, a 12 months later the crew chosen a younger Swede within the sixth spherical, 133rd general, who grew to become the crew’s captain, a Hockey Corridor of Famer, and had his sweater retired to hold within the rafters of Canadian Tire Centre. Daniel Alfredsson put the deceive the notion that draft place reliably foretells success within the NHL.
The Senators have by no means had exceptionally excessive general draft picks within the first spherical. Solely three gamers have been fifth general or greater since 2005. All of these got here in 2018 or later. Distinction that to the Avalanche whose crummy play from 2010-17 positioned them for 4 top-10 picks throughout drafts in that interval. They now kind the core of the crew.
Whereas the draft could also be troublesome to foretell, there is no such thing as a denying that shrewd GMs can reduce a crew’s dependence on Woman Luck. Simply have a look at the 2008 Draft, when then-Senators’ GM Bryan Murray traded Ottawa’s first-round decide, 18th general, and their third-round decide in 2009 to the Predators in alternate for the Predators’ first-round decide, fifteenth general, to make sure that no different crew would choose Karlsson earlier than the Senators.
That’s not the one magic Senators GMs have labored to safe expertise. Dorion wasn’t very talked-about again in 2018 when he despatched Karlsson packing to the Golden State to play for the Sharks. But, few are questioning his foresight now realizing the phrases of the commerce introduced stars Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle to Bytown.
Arguably, not less than till lately, the Senators have been mediocre in hanging on to and growing the expertise they purchase by picks within the first spherical. Zibanajed was shipped out of Ottawa to play beneath the brilliant lights of Madison Sq. Backyard. Whereas he thrived in New York, Brassard lasted lower than two years in Ottawa. As for the Ceci commerce, followers are left to surprise what may need been had he remained in Ottawa as an alternative of being exchanged for Zaitsev and Brown.Â
Nonetheless, Dorion has performed a stellar job in locking up his most up-to-date first-round picks, signing Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Sanderson to long-term offers. Regardless of the errors of the previous, the Senators have atoned for them with these and different signings.
Any crew could make unhealthy first-round picks and the Senators aren’t any exception. Administration most likely needs there was an undo button for first-round picks like Lazar, White, and Brown. Even so, that’s all previously and it’s arduous to argue that since 2018 the Senators have chosen poorly. Senators followers can now take some consolation with a few of the prospects within the crew’s pipeline.
