Prospect Info: 2024-2025 Ottawa Senators In the system

[Bjornar Moxnes]

We’ve talked about this on previous pages but: focusing on defense, doesn’t have to try and lead his team in scoring, has been injured, are the main ones.

and despite a better team it looks like outside of Kindel, Tulk, and Yakemchuk, the team still has issues scoring, and no other player is even close to a PPG.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

A bunch of pp points for someone that age selected where he was for me is concerning

 

[Sens in Process]

W has been the higher scoring league for a while, always guys in the 110-130 range, since 2010 there have been 9 guys from the WHL that has won top scorer in the CHL. This year it's just a shade below the OHL thus far. It's the more offensive of the 3 leagues for sure on a general basis, as it's had the better players the past while.

2024-25

OHL -459 gp - 7.17 gpg
WHL - 505 gp - 7.14 gpg
Q - 404 gp - 6.63 gpg

There was a period in the mid 2000's where the W was a defensive, low scoring league filled with tough guys, that lasted from maybe 2000-2008 or so. I think it was 05 or 06 where they had ~5.5 goals per game or so, about 2 less than the O and Q. It's not like that anymore, on the contrary it's been the higher scoring league the past 15 or so years, but that low scoring, tough, defensive moniker it gained in those uears still gets brought up today.

You make good points. I was extrapolating from watching London, Saginaw, and Calgary games this season, which obviously skewed my perspective.

Saginaw plays bandwagon hockey, London just blows teams out, and Calgary gets involved in back-and-forth slugfests.

Saginaw gpg: 8.6
London gpg: 7.3 - 4.7 goals a game
Calgary gpg: 6.9 - 4 goals a game


It also matters how the points are distributed. London wins games 5-2 on average. When half the team was away at the WJC, the team actually scored an even 5 goals a game, which is percentage points better than when Dickinson, Bonk, Cowen, etc. were in the lineup, which is insane. Their defense wasn't even compromised during those 9 games, giving up 2.2 goals against. I knew Dickinson would have a rough WJC and his point totals would be judged with suspicion when people got their eyes on him. The games were too fast for him to process. I said this before the WJC. Whether Dickinson is playing or not, London will blow teams out.

Parekh's stats, averaging 1.5 points per game, seem less remarkable considering Saginaw's games on average feature nine goals. Saginaw gives up an average of four goals a game. That is some beer league hockey. When Parekh got the call at the WJC and played against the University all-star team pre-tournament, he was largely considered one of the worst players on the ice for team Canada. He couldn't handle the pace and the size of the opponent. This says a lot, because the OHL D-men in the WJC were terrible, with the exception of Schaefer. And even when Parekh was struggling offensively early in the season(point a game pace), Saginaw was still scoring a ton of goals.

The 12 games Yakemchuk was out of the lineup, Calgary scored 3.33 goals a game, with a PP around 14%. Even with his disappointing numbers, you can see how valuable he is to his team.

Yakemchuk is the only guy of the three(Dickinson and Parekh) who has ever looked good playing outside of their respective CHL club since the draft. He is the only guy that has actually dispelled some of the pre-draft criticisms. No one will say that Yakemchuk has poor hockey sense now; they may say he makes mistakes or has questionable decision making at times, but the blanket statement of low IQ is largely gone. People said his game wouldn't translate; well, he has managed to score points (more ppg than last year), while massively simplifying his game. The skating is the only remaining obstacle.

So yes, when I watch Saginaw and London, I really see an uncompetitive and wide-open brand of hockey, but of all sudden no one cares about translatability to the NHL, just oodle over numbers.

 

[BondraTime]

You make good points. I was extrapolating from watching London, Saginaw, and Calgary games this season, which obviously skewed my perspective.

Saginaw plays bandwagon hockey, London just blows teams out, and Calgary gets involved in back-and-forth slugfests.

Saginaw gpg: 8.6
London gpg: 7.3 - 4.7 goals a game
Calgary gpg: 6.9 - 4 goals a game


It also matters how the points are distributed. London wins games 5-2 on average. When half the team was away at the WJC, the team actually scored an even 5 goals a game, which is percentage points better than when Dickinson, Bonk, Cowen, etc. were in the lineup, which is insane. Their defense wasn't even compromised during those 9 games, giving up 2.2 goals against. I knew Dickinson would have a rough WJC and his point totals would be judged with suspicion when people got their eyes on him. The games were too fast for him to process. I said this before the WJC. Whether Dickinson is playing or not, London will blow teams out.

Parekh's stats, averaging 1.5 points per game, seem less remarkable considering Saginaw's games on average feature nine goals. Saginaw gives up an average of four goals a game. That is some beer league hockey. When Parekh got the call at the WJC and played against the University all-star team pre-tournament, he was largely considered one of the worst players on the ice for team Canada. He couldn't handle the pace and the size of the opponent. This says a lot, because the OHL D-men in the WJC were terrible, with the exception of Schaefer. And even when Parekh was struggling offensively early in the season(point a game pace), Saginaw was still scoring a ton of goals.

The 12 games Yakemchuk was out of the lineup, Calgary scored 3.33 goals a game, with a PP around 14%. Even with his disappointing numbers, you can see how valuable he is to his team.

Yakemchuk is the only guy of the three(Dickinson and Parekh) who has ever looked good playing outside of their respective CHL club since the draft. He is the only guy that has actually dispelled some of the pre-draft criticisms. No one will say that Yakemchuk has poor hockey sense now; they may say he makes mistakes or has questionable decision making at times, but the blanket statement of low IQ is largely gone. People say his game wouldn't translate; well, he has managed to score points (more ppg than last year), while massively simplifying his game. The skating is the only remaining obstacle.

So yes, when I watch Saginaw and London, I really see an uncompetitive and wide-open brand of hockey, but of all sudden no one cares about translatability to the NHL, just oodle over numbers.

Not sure many are up in arms over numbers, any more than ever is on here, or not caring about translatability to the NHL, I certainly am not. I said, well before the season started, I was hoping/expecting ~70 points from Yak with better skating and D. I haven’t seen the skating or D improvements, or decision making, but his offense is almost exactly where I expected numbers wise. That’s what’s disappointing about his season to me, numbers wise he’s exactly where I expected/hoped, I don’t see improvements in the areas i wished for them. He’s still an incredibly skilled D who is going to make a difference game in and game out.

London has been playing the same brand of hockey for the past 25 years, and have the best transferability in the CHL by an extremely large margin. I’m not sure looking good in London is a negative thing. It's usually a very big plus, the best players in London generally adapt extrememyl well, 20+ full time guys in the past 15 years who have been NHL players from that system. Saginaw of course isn't in that same type of franchise with about 3/4 NHLers in the past 15 years. Doing well in London is an extremely strong indicator of doing well in the NHL, stronger than any ofther in the CHL.

Parekh as an offensive risk taking D is always going to have a tougher time transitioning, that kind of game is harder to duplicate in the pros.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Not sure many are up in arms over numbers, any more than ever is on here, or not caring about translatability to the NHL, I certainly am not. I said, well before the season started, I was hoping/expecting ~70 points from Yak with better skating and D. I haven’t seen the skating or D improvements, or decision making, but his offense is almost exactly where I expected numbers wise. That’s what’s disappointing about his season to me, numbers wise he’s exactly where I expected/hoped, I don’t see improvements in the areas i wished for them. He’s still an incredibly skilled D who is going to make a difference game in and game out.

London has been playing the same brand of hockey for the past 25 years, and have the best transferability in the CHL by an extremely large margin. I’m not sure looking good in London is a negative thing. It's usually a very big plus, the best players in London generally adapt extrememyl well, 20+ full time guys in the past 15 years who have been NHL players from that system. Saginaw of course isn't in that same type of franchise with about 3/4 NHLers in the past 15 years. Doing well in London is an extremely strong indicator of doing well in the NHL, stronger than any ofther in the CHL.

Parekh as an offensive risk taking D is always going to have a tougher time transitioning, that kind of game is harder to duplicate in the pros.

Watch 1 team as a fan boy of 1 player and play them up by playing down other teams you don't watch with high scoring defensemen is what it comes across as to me.

Calgary is a .691 pts % team with a +49 goal diff and Yakemchuk is a -2 player on pace for 62 pts
Saginaw is a .542 pts% team with a +26 goal diff and Parekh is a +25 player on pace for 100 pts

Dickinson was on fire pre WJC and he does play on a great team but he is a sizeable part of making it a great team

 

[BondraTime]

Watch 1 team as a fan boy of 1 player and play them up by playing down other teams you don't watch with high scoring defensemen is what it comes across as to me.

Calgary is a .691 pts % team with a +49 goal diff and Yakemchuk is a -2 player on pace for 62 pts
Saginaw is a .542 pts% team with a +26 goal diff and Parekh is a +25 player on pace for 100 pts

Dickinson was on fire pre WJC and he does play on a great team but he is a sizeable part of making it a great team

I don’t think he’s a fan boy or just watching 1 team, not much different than me liking Dickinson more pre draft and liking him much more post draft, he’s the same way with Yak which is perfectly fine. He was big on Yak all year, makes sense he’d still be big on him.

I don’t have the same opinion on a lot/most of the points made, but understand the process at the very least.

I‘ve been wrong way more than enough times to know that what I think or how I view a player really doesn’t mean much in the run of things, many much smarter people than me think differently so I’ll just watch it play out

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I don’t think he’s a fan boy or just watching 1 team, not much different than me liking Dickinson more pre draft and liking him much more post draft, he’s the same way with Yak which is perfectly fine. He was big on Yak all year, makes sense he’d still be big on him.

I don’t have the same opinion on a lot/most of the points made, but understand the process at the very least.

I‘ve been wrong way more than enough times to know that what I think or how I view a player really doesn’t mean much in the run of things, many much smarter people than me think differently so I’ll just watch it play out

I think Yakemchuk will turn out just fine and offer a lot of offense from the back end... Dickinson has his strengths and so does Parekh.. I think they will be fine as well. They all can improve and they are all well on the path. At this point the Sens have Yakemchuk there is no reason to downplay the others that were in the mix at the draft. Levshunov is another one .. made the choice to sign and play in the AHL .. he has to develop as well.

 

[GCK]

Watch 1 team as a fan boy of 1 player and play them up by playing down other teams you don't watch with high scoring defensemen is what it comes across as to me.

Calgary is a .691 pts % team with a +49 goal diff and Yakemchuk is a -2 player on pace for 62 pts
Saginaw is a .542 pts% team with a +26 goal diff and Parekh is a +25 player on pace for 100 pts

Dickinson was on fire pre WJC and he does play on a great team but he is a sizeable part of making it a

Maybe all the top D were a little overrated

 

[aragorn]

I expect that Yakemchuk RD will start his pro career in Belleville next yr & be an injury callup & I expect the following yr when Jensen's contract is over that Yak will take his spot in the top 4.

I also expect that Montgomery LW will make his pro debut in Belleville next yr & be an injury callup too. And then in the following yr replace Perron when his contract is done maybe on a line with Norris & Batherson.

I expect that Merilainen, Ostapchuk & Halliday will be promoted to the NHL for next season replacing Forsberg, Cousin & Gregor or Gaudette on the roster.

In two yrs we could see ...

Tkachuk - Stutzle - ??? - need to replace Giroux with a good scoring RW (Boeser)
Montgomery - Norris - Batherson - could be an interesting line
Greig - Pinto - Amadio - if we draft a RW we could replace Amadio eventually
Ostapchuk - Halliday ??? - Ott could acquire a 4th line RW at the trade deadline (McCarron)

Sanderson - Zub - will need to eventually replace Zub
Chabot - Yakemchuk - could be a bigger, better & meaner version of Jensen
Kleven - Matinpalo/JBD

Ullmark - Merilainen/??? - one of Reidler or Nikitin could play in Belleville next yr

 

[Icelevel]

I expect that Yakemchuk RD will start his pro career in Belleville next yr & be an injury callup & I expect the following yr when Jensen's contract is over that Yak will take his spot in the top 4.

I also expect that Montgomery LW will make his pro debut in Belleville next yr & be an injury callup too. And then in the following yr replace Perron when his contract is done maybe on a line with Norris & Batherson.

I expect that Merilainen, Ostapchuk & Halliday will be promoted to the NHL for next season replacing Forsberg, Cousin & Gregor or Gaudette on the roster.

In two yrs we could see ...

Tkachuk - Stutzle - ??? - need to replace Giroux with a good scoring RW (Boeser)
Montgomery - Norris - Batherson - could be an interesting line
Greig - Pinto - Amadio - if we draft a RW we could replace Amadio eventually
Ostapchuk - Halliday ??? - Ott could acquire a 4th line RW at the trade deadline (McCarron)

Sanderson - Zub - will need to eventually replace Zub
Chabot - Yakemchuk - could be a bigger, better & meaner version of Jensen
Kleven - Matinpalo/JBD

Ullmark - Merilainen/??? - one of Reidler or Nikitin could play in Belleville next yr

I expect there will be more changes than that but I like those young guys you have inserted.
Minor thing but I don’t see yakemchuk working with chabot. Not a knock on yak at all but they’d need more balance so maybe Sandy-Yak or Kleven-yak

 

[mianjo]

Hamara 4a

 

[Sens in Process]

Not sure many are up in arms over numbers, any more than ever is on here, or not caring about translatability to the NHL, I certainly am not. I said, well before the season started, I was hoping/expecting ~70 points from Yak with better skating and D. I haven’t seen the skating or D improvements, or decision making, but his offense is almost exactly where I expected numbers wise. That’s what’s disappointing about his season to me, numbers wise he’s exactly where I expected/hoped, I don’t see improvements in the areas i wished for them. He’s still an incredibly skilled D who is going to make a difference game in and game out.

London has been playing the same brand of hockey for the past 25 years, and have the best transferability in the CHL by an extremely large margin. I’m not sure looking good in London is a negative thing. It's usually a very big plus, the best players in London generally adapt extrememyl well, 20+ full time guys in the past 15 years who have been NHL players from that system. Saginaw of course isn't in that same type of franchise with about 3/4 NHLers in the past 15 years. Doing well in London is an extremely strong indicator of doing well in the NHL, stronger than any ofther in the CHL.

Parekh as an offensive risk taking D is always going to have a tougher time transitioning, that kind of game is harder to duplicate in the pros.

I partially agree, but London has produced d-men whose offense was not translatable to the NHL: Merkley, and Boqvist are examples. Bonk will be another one for sure. I was pretty high on Bouchard, but he really is about 40 to 55 point D-man( minus his career year), while given the favorable circumstances of playing on the PP with McDavid and Draisaitl. What is Bouchard if he plays with Blackhawks?

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[Sens of Anarchy]

Maybe all the top D were a little overrated

too early to tell imo.. lots of runway and they all had good draft years.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I partially agree, but London has produced d-men whose offense was not translatable to the NHL: Merkley, and Boqvist are examples. Bonk will be another one for sure. I was pretty high on Bouchard, but he really is about 40 to 55 point D-man( minus his career year), while given the favorable circumstances of playing on the PP with McDavid and Draisaitl. What is Bouchard if he plays with Blackhawks?

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Bouchard has been one of the most productive 5on5 dman in the league and has actively helped the Oilers with transition. You're underrating him.