Ottawa Senators

The window for success is just opening

It seems like a lifetime ago Erik Karlsson and his injured heel carried the Ottawa Senators to the brink of the Stanley Cup Final. The double-overtime loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins was the last glimmer of the playoffs the Senators have seen.

With discussions of ownership and a downtown arena always a hot topic in the Canadian Capital, Pierre Dorion has put together one of the most exciting young rosters in hockey.

Dorion made a massive move at the 2022 NHL Draft, acquiring 40-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks. The move put the league on notice that the Senators were ready to compete now for playoff contention. Along with DeBrincat, the Sens signed Claude Giroux to a three-year $6.5M AAV contract, bringing some much-needed veteran leadership to the locker room.

Ottawa’s prospect pool ranks toward the bottom of the NHL. Most of their top prospects have already graduated to the NHL and are currently making an impact. So while their pool may be a bit shallow, it doesn’t mean they aren’t loaded with young talent.

1. Ridly Greig, 20, C/LW, 1st Round (28) 2020, Belleville Senators (AHL)

   AHL: 39 Games Played, 15 Goals, 14 Assists, 29 Points
   NHL: 20 Games Played, 2 Goals, 7 Assists, 9 Points

   Over the past two seasons, Ridly Greig has bounced all over Canada, as his services have been requested by multiple teams. After finishing his career with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Greig made a one-game appearance in the AHL playoffs with the Belleville Senators. From there, he joined Canada for the 2022 World Junior Championship before returning to Belleville for the start of the 2022-23 season. He made his NHL debut in January, appearing in 11 games before heading back to the AHL. The one thing he’s had in common at each stop he’s made is his production. No matter where he’s gone, Greig’s put up numbers. He’s been one of the best rookies in the AHL this year, putting up 0.74 points per game - good enough for eleventh among all rookies who played at least 20 games. Greig is a ball of energy with no pause button. He loves to throw his body around and cause chaos all over the ice. It’s easy to see why he’s a player coaches love to have on their roster.

2. Zach Ostapchuk, 19, LW, 2nd Round (39) 2021, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

   55 Games Played, 31 Goals, 36 Assists, 67 Points

   It’s been an eventful season for Zach Ostapchuk, to say the least. A member of Canada’s gold medal-winning WJC team in 2023, Ostapchuk was traded from the Vancouver Giants to the Winnipeg Ice after finishing his duties playing for his country. With the Ice, Ostapchuk joined one of the best WHL teams and a top team in all the CHL. Playing alongside Zach Benson, Conor Geekie, and Matthew Savoie, Ostapchuk is playing among NHL talent and has been as crucial to the team's success. The Ice finished the regular season as the league’s top team but ultimately fell to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL Finals. Ostapchuk is a load to handle. At 6’3” and over 200 lbs, he loves to throw his weight around on defense and use it to protect the puck on offense. He projects as a bottom-6 center at the next level.

3. Jacob Bernard-Docker, D, 1st Round (26) 2018, Belleville Senators (AHL)

   AHL: 41 Games Played, 2 Goals, 4 Assists, 6 Points
   NHL: 19 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point

   A first-round pick back in 2018, Jacob Bernard-Docker hasn’t panned out as well as the Senators have hoped. Set to turn 23 before the start of the season, time is ticking on Bernard-Docker. Any offensive production from him is few and far between. With only six points in Bellville this season, he's concentrated more on his success within his own zone. He’s appeared in 19 games with Ottawa this season, averaging over 15 minutes a game. The Sens could live with his lack of offensive production as a bottom-pairing defenseman, as long as he can hold his own on the defensive end.

4. Tyler Boucher, 22, RW, 1st Round (10) 2021, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

   21 Games Played, 10 Goals, 7 Assists, 17 Points

   Selected as a top-10 pick in the 2021 Draft out of the USNTDP, it’s been a struggle for Tyler Boucher to find his niche within the hockey world. After his draft year, Boucher joined Boston University (where he committed to playing at only 15 years old). Registering only three points in his first 17 games as a freshman, Boucher decided to leave college and join the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL. It took some time for Boucher to become comfortable in Ontario, accruing only 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in the final 24 games of the 67’s 2021-22 season. This year, Boucher was finally finding his groove, being named to the USA for the WJC. A shoulder injury in the semi-final game against Canada sidelined Boucher for nearly two months. Since the WJC, he’s been performing more toward his standards as a former first-round pick. Like Ostapchuk, Boucher loves to throw the body. Aside from the physicality, he’s also got a nose for goal, scoring the majority of his goals with his positioning at the top of the crease.

5. Yegor Sokolov, 22, RW/LW, 2nd Round (61) 2020, Belleville Senators (AHL)

   AHL: 70 Games Played, 21 Goals, 38 Assits, 59 Points
   NHL: 5 Games Played, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 2 Points

   There seems to be a trend here with Ottawa’s big, burly forwards, and Yegor Sokolov is the biggest of them all. A towering 6’4” and over 200 lbs, Sokolov is known for his powerful shot, which helped him to the top of the scoring ranks in Bellville this year. He’s rounded out his game since turning pro, leading the B-Senators in assists with 38. Sokolov lacks any speed or acceleration, which is likely what is holding his game back. His sedated skating style is one of the reasons he was passed on at the draft twice, finally drafted as a double overage player in 2020.

Tim Stützle

There may be no team in the NHL with as many skilled young players as the Senators. The organization's future is already in place, as the years of finishing near the bottom of the league have likely ended.

Not only did the Senators have high draft picks over the past five seasons, but they’ve seemed to hit on nearly all of them. It’s been a master class put on by Dorion on how to rebuild a franchise from the bottom up.

Captain Brady Tkachuk, and Tim Stützle, are the pivotal pieces to this team, with both signed through the next five years on what could potentially look like team-friendly deals depending on the rise in the salary cap over the next few years. Ottawa will be a fun team to watch, and the rest of the league is on notice.

• Erik Bränström, D, 23

• Jake Sanderson, D, 20

• Parker Kelly, LW/C, 23

• Josh Norris, C, 23

• Shane Pinto, C, 22

• Tim Stützle, LW/C, 21

• Brady Tkachuk, LW, 23

First Round Picks

None

First Round Targets

The Senators are left without a pick until the fourth round in the 2023 Draft.