Alright boys, been working on this for a little while. Decided to just post the lottery picks since that’s where the Sens will likely be drafting. I haven’t been able to do write-ups for the top-32 yet. I’ll get to the rest soon. Feel free to ask any questions, ill make sure to answer.
#1: C Shane Wright - Kingston, OHL
Don’t think I can say anything that is hasn’t already been said. It’s Shane Wright. He is the best prospect for this draft. He is a cornerstone player you can build your franchise around, best to not overthink this one.
#2: C Logan Cooley - USNTDP, USHL
Talented two-way forward - great skater with impressive hockey IQ. Reads the play well and is good at anticipating where the puck is and where it will be.
#3: LW Juraj Slafkovsky - TPS, Liiga
Had his coming out party at the 2022 olympics where he was named as the tournament MVP. High upside winger is a good skater with a tremendous shot.
#4 RD Simon Nemec - Nitra MHC, Slovakia
Mature beyond his age. Nemec is the top defender in this class. His poise and confidence is what really stands out when on the ice. Has great positioning and is smooth skater. He is everything you want in a modern day defender.
#5 C Matt Savoie - Winnipeg, WHL
Skilled, quick and plays with an edge. Savoie works the perimeter really well, he pulls defenders in who are thinking he’s going to shoot only to make a sick pass to one of his teammates. He reminds me a-lot of Tim Stützle during his draft year.
#6 RD David Jiricek - HC Škoda Plzen, Czechia
Devastating injury at the WJC derailed his season. Jiricek is a steady, smooth skating defender that has tremendous edge-work and one the best shots in the draft from the blueline. Your prototypical two-way defender.
#7 RW Joakim Kemell - JYP, Liiga
Kemmel had a real good start to the season in the Liiga but has cooled off since the WJC. Kemell is very competitive with a wicked shot and plays a rather physical game.
#8 RD Tristan Luneau - Gatineau, QMJHL
1/2 of Gatineau’s two high end right handed defenders eligible for this years draft. Luneau possesses very high defensive hockey IQ where his stick work and gap control really stand out. He has a good first pass and projects similarly to Charlie McAvoy at the next level.
#9 RD Noah Warren - Gatineau, QMJHL
The other half to Gatineau’s high end RHD eligible this year. Defencemen like Warren are difficult to find in todays NHL. Physical, 6’5” fluid skating right shot defender that is a wall once the puck gets into his own end. Warren has some questions about his offence, yes - however you won’t find many prospects that have his combination of size, skating and physicality - he’s a unicorn in that regard. He really had his coming out party at the prospects game and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him taken in the top-15 now given how the NHL is trending back to big, physical defenders.
#10 LW Cutter Gauthier USNTDP, USHL
The big forward is an intimidating presence whenever he hits the ice. He has a deadly wrist shot and can beat you from wherever on the ice. Gauthier is a good distributor of the puck and plays a solid, physical game.
#11 RW Jagger Firkus - Moose Jaw, WHL
This is a guy that continues to impress me and has rocketed up my draft list. Small but ultra competitive forward with a deceptively good shot. His speed and skill is on display the moment he touches the ice.
#12 RW Danila Yurov - Metallurg, KHL
Yurov is a smart two way player that has excellent playmaking abilities. At times it looks like Yurov thinks the play 2 steps ahead of his opposition because of his high hockey IQ.
#13 LD Denton Mateychuk - Moose Jaw, WHL
Undersized yet dynamic defender. Mateychuk is at best in transition and having the offence flow through his stick. Mature and able to change up his game based on what his team needs him to do.
#14 W/C Filip Mesar - HK Poprad, Slovakia
Skilled, smooth skating, creative forward that excels as a puck carrier. Can get caught doing too much sometimes but is good at utilizing his teammates.
#15 LD Pavel Mintyukov - Saginaw, OHL
Elite skating rearguard that can really do everything. Has fantastic awareness and poise when the puck is on his stick. Able to find passing lanes and stay calm when pressured in a breakout or at the offensive blueline.
