NHL Entry Draft Future Draft Watch

[Hale The Villain]

I don't think Wheeler has any inside info on what position our scouting staff would prefer to draft. Sounds like he noticed we only drafted wingers last draft and assumes we'll want a center because of it.

Centers and RD will always be the premium positions and will often get overdrafted due to the demand for them.

We are one of the few teams in the league that is not desperate for a young centerman, so we'd be smart to take the BPA, even if it's a winger.

Still Nesbitt screams Sens pick because he's massive, physical, takes penalties and has projectable tools, not because he's a center.

 

[BondraTime]

Pretty sure that’s just taking a look at the prospect pool and realizing they don’t have a single C prospect with legit NHL potential.

Beckner
Pettersson
Halliday
Dyck
Daoust

Those are the centers in the prospect pool.

It’s extremely grim

They should definitely be looking at C’s

 

[PlayOn]

Last year Wheeler often referred to what he’s heard out of Ottawa, ie an implication of sources. So I don’t think it’s pure speculation.

He did a really good job of predicting the first round so I think he’s well connected.

 

[PlayOn]

Pretty sure that’s just taking a look at the prospect pool and realizing they don’t have a single C prospect with legit NHL potential.

Beckner
Pettersson
Halliday
Dyck
Daoust

Those are the centers in the prospect pool.

It’s extremely grim

They should definitely be looking at C’s

It’s not so much that they shouldn’t be looking at C’s, it’s that you would think they’d be happy with any forward because our wingers aren’t much better.

Yeah, I thought that was interesting too, though you can always convert a center to the wing.

We have Stu, Cozens, Pinto and Greig all 24 and under, so idk that there is any urgency in getting a center in the pool. Halliday I think is also a center.

I think they want size down the middle so they’ll probably never use Greig as a C, and Halliday is likely too slow even if he makes it.

Down the road though if they draft one they can always bump Cozens to wing and move Pinto up a line.

 

[BondraTime]

It’s not so much that they shouldn’t be looking at C’s, it’s that you would think they’d be happy with any forward because our wingers aren’t much better.

I think they want size down the middle so they’ll probably never use Greig as a C, and Halliday is likely too slow even if he makes it.

Down the road though if they draft one they can always bump Cozens to wing and move Pinto up a line.

I don't think the Sens are focusing on C's like Wheeler is suggesting, I think that's just him drawing his own conclusions.

It is without a doubt an area of need

 

[BondraTime]

Last year Wheeler often referred to what he’s heard out of Ottawa, ie an implication of sources. So I don’t think it’s pure speculation.

He did a really good job of predicting the first round so I think he’s well connected.

I wouldn't say he's too connected, he went 4/32 in his mock a day before the draft last year with the Sens taking Parekh, including the 2 obvious Bedard/Levshunov picks, and he got Sam O'Rielly right by happenstance, with another team trading up

NHL Mock Draft 2024: Scott Wheeler’s final predictions for the first two rounds

After Macklin Celebrini, who goes next at the 2024 NHL Draft? Scott Wheeler projects the first 65 picks.

www.nytimes.com

 

[PlayOn]

I wouldn't say he's too connected, he went 4/32 in his mock a day before the draft last year with the Sens taking Parekh, including the 2 obvious Bedard/Levshunov picks, and he got Sam O'Rielly right by happenstance, with another team trading up

NHL Mock Draft 2024: Scott Wheeler’s final predictions for the first two rounds

After Macklin Celebrini, who goes next at the 2024 NHL Draft? Scott Wheeler projects the first 65 picks.

www.nytimes.com

Maybe my standards are low, but he has almost everyone in the general area of where they got drafted which I think is still impressive. Don’t think that’s easy to do if you aren’t well connected but maybe I’m wrong.

A mock draft being close to accurate is insanely difficult to do given that one team can throw the whole thing off. Unless Jeff Marek is feeding you info ha.

 

[aragorn]

Jack Nesbitt – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

Windsor Forward Jack Nesbitt has everything that an NHL team would want and will be a great choice this upcoming NHL Draft.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[OttawaSenators11]

I’ve watched some Calgary Hitmen games and Kindel looks good at least to me lol

He’s super small so would be kinda surprising if they took him if available.

Benjamin Kindel - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Benjamin Kindel, 2007-04-19 Coquitlam, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the WHL with Calgary Hitmen. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Hale The Villain]

I’ve watched some Calgary Hitmen games and Kindel looks good at least to me lol

He’s super small so would be kinda surprising if they took him if available.

Benjamin Kindel - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Benjamin Kindel, 2007-04-19 Coquitlam, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the WHL with Calgary Hitmen. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

And yet he wins a significant amount of the puck battles he engages in, despite his listed 5'10 176lb size.

Giroux does the same at 5'11 188lbs and in the same way - using his great stick and high-end IQ.

If Kindel's available at 21 and we pass him on we'll sorely regret it. He should be in top 10 consideration.

 

[OttawaSenators11]

And yet he wins a significant amount of the puck battles he engages in, despite his listed 5'10 176lb size.

Giroux does the same at 5'11 188lbs and in the same way - using his great stick and high-end IQ.

If Kindel's available at 21 and we pass him on we'll sorely regret it. He should be in top 10 consideration.

Yeah agreed passing on him at 21 would leave a sour taste in my mouth.

Let’s reunite Yakemchuk with his buddy!! lol

 

[Wallet Inspector]

A skilled winger is our highest need right now, so I hope that's what our scouts focus on instead of drafting our 800th low-ceiling two centre or our 900th high PIM defensive defenseman.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

I’ve watched some Calgary Hitmen games and Kindel looks good at least to me lol

He’s super small so would be kinda surprising if they took him if available.

Benjamin Kindel - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Benjamin Kindel, 2007-04-19 Coquitlam, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the WHL with Calgary Hitmen. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

I watched a few Hitmen games as well and Kindel was great. Non-stop motor and really smart.

He's small for sure but he also looks like he's 13 years old. He may be a late grower.

At the very least he needs to get stronger and more explosive to be an impact player in the NHL. I'd be thrilled if we got him at 21.

 

[HSF]

Interesting that Wheeler believes we want a centre.

I wonder if they don’t see Cozens as a C long-term or they just want insurance - never really hurts to have centre depth, we utilized ours heavily to change our line-up (Kastelic, Ostapchuk, Norris). At least on the surface though we’re more in need of wingers.

Lol @ the PIMS though. It is pretty funny at this point.

anyone we draft probably won't be making an impact until 4-5 years from now. Also what are the odds you are getting a top 6 center from where we are drafting...pretty low.

Draft the BPA even if its a center or LD

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

anyone we draft probably won't be making an impact until 4-5 years from now. Also what are the odds you are getting a top 6 center from where we are drafting...pretty low.

Draft the BPA even if its a center or LD

That would be a novel approach; Boucher should be ready to run Knies through the boards any year now.

 

[HSF]

That would be a novel approach

I wouldn't be surprised if the 1st is dealt. Sens are in a good spot but also should be looking to improve and move into the contender space. Esp with Boston breaking down and Tampa looking like they are on the back end of their core

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I wouldn't be surprised if the 1st is dealt. Sens are in a good spot but also should be looking to improve and move into the contender space. Esp with Boston breaking down and Tampa looking like they are on the back end of their core

I agree I think there is at least a 50/50 possibility .. there is something in the works with that pick

 

[aragorn]

I don't think they trade their 1st rd pick especially given they could lose a 1st next season & with the prospect pool being somewhat depleted I doubt they take the chance they could go two yrs in a row with no 1st rd pick. There is also the chance they could make a small splash in free agency which won't cost them any assets. If they were to make a trade I would suspect that either Batherson (bc trial) or Jensen could be involved of all the players on the roster.

At 21st OA a player like Nesbitt can be looked at as a safe player that has the size & skillset to be an NHL reular most likely on the bottom six. When you look at the last number of drafts it's been slim pickings in the 20s & he projects as a safe pick to be a NHL player which is better than a bust. Going for a home run at 21st may be too risky to waste the pick.