Here is a look at the Sens Depth Chart by position. This does not include prospects not yet signed to an ELC. Keep in my this is not how I view the lines, but it ordered based on a combination of how good they are right now, and the likelihood they make the team.
Yes, the sens lack top end talent that would help them push for a playoff spot. But one thing I am sick of hearing is how just about any player that other teams don't want should be traded to Ottawa because "well how could you not make Ottawa's team" and "He's a 4th liner on my team but he would be a 1st liner on the sens". In my opinion, Ottawa will be one of the hardest teams to make. Mikkel Boedker had 35 points last year and it's projected that he won't even crack the 4th line. If you look at top heavy contending teams, they have all the talent in the world, but its usually the bottom part of the lineup that lacks depth. Well Ottawa certainly has a lot of depth and they made sure to cover all positions during this rebuild.
The areas they are strongest in terms of depth are Centre, Defence, and Goaltending. If you look at the chart, they have 8 centres who can all easily play in the NHL. They will only carry 4-5 on their big club, leaving the other young prospects to dominate in the AHL, including 2 first round picks in Norris and Brown. At defence, they have 5 quality defencemen on the left side alone who are at an NHL level, including star 21 year old Chabot, and one of the best prospects in the league in Brannstrom. On top of that, Lajoie and Wolanin are promising young players who have already contributed at the NHL level. On the right side, there are 4 players who can play in the NHL, so there will be a total of 9 defencemen fighting for only 6-7 spots. On top of that, we have 2 right handed defencemen coming up in JBD and Thomson who were both selected in the first round in the last 2 drafts. At goalie, they have 3 goalies signed to NHL contracts in Condon, Anderson, and Nilsson. Sure, they are not the strongest tandem but it definitely gives them some options. However, they have 3 great goalie prospects in the AHL in Gustavsson, Daccord, and Hogberg. At least one of them should turn out to be a starter. And they just drafted 6'8 giant Sogaard in the early second round this year, who has a very promising future.
Finally, at wing they some of the best prospects in hockey with Batherson, Formenton, Balcers, and Davidsson.
There's no question it will be a long season with a lot of growing pains. But it will be super exciting to see who will make this team out of camp, and it is absolutely not a walk on for just any player in the NHL. Belleville on the other hand, will be a powerhouse this year in the AHL.
I hope for senators fans that the sense management actually start paying good players to stay instead of being so cheap! hopefully they can get a better owner
I'm not a Sens fan, but I do think they have a lot of talent. I do think you overstated it a bit though.
Of your 8 listed centers; 2 (Chlapik and Paul) are probably career AHLers, 1 (Norris) isn't ready yet and should spend the year in the AHL, and 2 (Anisimov and White) should play the wings. I would make a top line of Tkachuk, Batherson, and Duclair and see what they can do together.
On the Defense, Chabot and Brannstrom are great young talent. Just pair each with an experienced partner and that's your top two lines. Figure out who of the rest are the best shut down pair and that's your third line.
For the wingers you listed, I wouldn't say they are some of the "best prospects in hockey". Batherson is going to be a star. The other three will probably peak out as 3rd or 4th liners.
I'm not a Sens fan, but I do think they have a lot of talent. I do think you overstated it a bit though.
Of your 8 listed centers; 2 (Chlapik and Paul) are probably career AHLers, 1 (Norris) isn't ready yet and should spend the year in the AHL, and 2 (Anisimov and White) should play the wings. I would make a top line of Tkachuk, Batherson, and Duclair and see what they can do together.
On the Defense, Chabot and Brannstrom are great young talent. Just pair each with an experienced partner and that's your top two lines. Figure out who of the rest are the best shut down pair and that's your third line.
For the wingers you listed, I wouldn't say they are some of the "best prospects in hockey". Batherson is going to be a star. The other three will probably peak out as 3rd or 4th liners.
Thanks for your comment. Oh I am well aware I overstated some things here. Other than the fact that "we're a team", these rookies are the only thing for us to be optimistic about. I still think Chlapik is a good prospect and will eventually be in the NHL, even if it's not with the sens. He would be one of the better prospects on a lot of teams. Paul on the other hand has had tons of opportunity to showcase himself in the NHL has never shown much. He did however have a monster second half with Belleville so I think he may have earned one more shot. A lot of people think White is a winger and Batherson is a centre but it's actually the opposite. The best part of White is his defensive game and he bonified himself as a centre last season. Batherson has been an elite scoring winger at every level so I dont know why every website has him listed as a centre. The sens see their centres this year being White, Tierney, Anisimov, and Pageau. I agree with your assessment of the wingers. Hopefully Formenton can break out as a top 6 eventually and Balcers will be at least a top 9 in my opinion.
Melnyk_0ut a aimé ceci.
Répondre
CapFriendly
CapFriendly