NHL Entry Draft Future Draft Watch

[Hale The Villain]

Just to share info on Fiddler ,, who given his resume looks like he could be a good choice at 21 and is ranked in the 1st by many including Bob's mid season .

Both Recrutes and HockeyProspect have him 35 and 61 respectively and don't flatter him much,

HockeyProspect did not love Yakemchuk last year but had him in their top 15 so not comparable here, Pronman loved Yakemchuk and as late as June had Fiddler at 22 so Pronman fans can lean on that.

Our scouts probably love him

Our scouts will love the size, his right-handedness and the fact that he's decently mobile, but he's not as physical/nasty as he should be given how big he is, and that may be a dealbreaker for them.

He'd be a pretty bad pick at 21. I really don't see the upside. Don't think he'll be anything more than a bottom pairing guy at the NHL level.

 

[DJB]

It’s a shame we pick 21. I feel like the draft really drops off around 15

 

[Ice-Tray]

Brady and Stu would likely be #1OA in redrafts of their years, and Sanderson is looking more like 2OA at this point.

 

[Ice-Tray]

It’s a shame we pick 21. I feel like the draft really drops off around 15

Honestly that sounds like every draft; drops of just before we pick no matter where we pick.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

Brady and Stu would likely be #1OA in redrafts of their years, and Sanderson is looking more like 2OA at this point.

Objectively speaking, Quinn Hughes is the #1OA pick in the 2018 draft over Brady.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Objectively speaking, Quinn Hughes is the #1OA pick in the 2018 draft over Brady.

Naw, he’s EK light, offensive Guru who will be nullified in the playoffs should the Nucks ever get back.

He’s a wonderful talent if you can shelter the shit out of him.

Yes, I’m selling him short…. But only a bit.

I’d take Brady, and I bet most teams would too.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

Naw, he’s EK light, offensive Guru who will be nullified in the playoffs should the Nucks ever get back.

He’s a wonderful talent if you can shelter the shit out of him.

Yes, I’m selling him short…. But only a bit.

I’d take Brady, and I bet most teams would too.

He was great in the two years that he made the playoffs with Vancouver.

 

[DJB]

Honestly that sounds like every draft; drops of just before we pick no matter where we pick.

Nah not in the Timmy and Sandy draft. We were perfectly positioned for that one

 

[BondraTime]

Sens have been in 2 drafts out of their last 4 where the Sens pick was positioned directly after a huge tier drop, and then made very bad picks in those spots.

2019 there was a very, very clear top grouping that ended when Harley went at 18. Sens got Thomson at 19.

12. Boldy
13. Knight
14. York
15. Caulfield
16. Newhook
17. Krebs
18. Harley
Clear drop
19. Thomson
20. Heinola
21. Poulin

2020 the Sens were posiotioned perfectly, literally couldn't be better.

2021 there was a very clear top 9, Sens got Boucher at 10.

6. Edvinsson
7. Eklund
8. Clarke
9. Guenther
Clear drop
10. Boucher - Very good players still available, just made a horrendous pick
11. Sillinger
12. Cornato

2024 there was no tier drop, lots of good players available at 7.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Naw, he’s EK light, offensive Guru who will be nullified in the playoffs should the Nucks ever get back.

He’s a wonderful talent if you can shelter the shit out of him.

Yes, I’m selling him short…. But only a bit.

I’d take Brady, and I bet most teams would too.

Brady would likely go third in a re- draft behind Hughes and Dahlin. No shame in that. Both are great players.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[GoodinOsgoode]

Brady would likely go third in a re- draft behind Hughes and Dahlin. No shame in that. Both are great players.

Yeah, I would say you can look back at the 2018 draft and put Dahlin, Brady & Hughes in the top tier of that draft and then Svechnikov, Bouchard & Dobson in the second tier.

In retrospect for Ottawa, with Sanderson arriving in 2020, I would still take Brady over Dahlin & Hughes.
That's nothing against either of those players; they are franchise players & elite Dmen.

 

[zenator]

I like the sounds of RD Logan Hensler. He sounds like Sanderson-lite. Great skater, great at breaking up rush chances. 6'2.

What would it cost to trade up into the top 15 if he's still available at 14 or 15? Would Buffalo's 2026 2nd rounder be enough? Add a 3rd to that?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[DJB]

Sens have been in 2 drafts out of their last 4 where the Sens pick was positioned directly after a huge tier drop, and then made very bad picks in those spots.

2019 there was a very, very clear top grouping that ended when Harley went at 18. Sens got Thomson at 19.

12. Boldy
13. Knight
14. York
15. Caulfield
16. Newhook
17. Krebs
18. Harley
Clear drop
19. Thomson
20. Heinola
21. Poulin

2020 the Sens were posiotioned perfectly, literally couldn't be better.

2021 there was a very clear top 9, Sens got Boucher at 10.

6. Edvinsson
7. Eklund
8. Clarke
9. Guenther
Clear drop
10. Boucher - Very good players still available, just made a horrendous pick
11. Sillinger
12. Cornato

2024 there was no tier drop, lots of good players available at 7.

I pleaded to move up for both Harley and Clarke at the time but was also happy taking Sillinger.
Then we know what happened with Boucher ugh

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Another long RD I have not seen mentioned is Max Psenicka
Most have him in the 2nd round , a couple have him late in the 1st.
From Czechia, He played part of the year with Portland in the WHL

With a never-quit attitude and quick feet, Pšenička is always impacting the play. He denies entries with well-timed pokes off the rush, aggressive step-ups, and hits. Along the walls, he wins inside position as soon as possible, intercepts opponents with his shoulder, and immobilizes them. Instantly rotating and switching assignments, he’s rarely behind the play – and he has the reach and quickness to correct mistakes. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

Anyone watch him?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

RD 6'4.5 or greater ..Available .. only Mrtka is very likely to be gone before the Sens pick

Mrtka
Fiddler
Amico
Bedkowski
Psenicka
Barnhill
Bausov
Kettles

I only looked at a couple sources through 2 rounds these were on at least one of their lists. Most of these are defense first types.

 

[BigRig4]

RD 6'4.5 or greater ..Available .. only Mrtka is very likely to be gone before the Sens pick

Mrtka
Fiddler
Amico
Bedkowski
Psenicka
Barnhill
Bausov
Kettles

I only looked at a couple sources through 2 rounds these were on at least one of their lists. Most of these are defense first types.

Yeah Mrtka was already projected comfortably within the top 15, but it feels as though he’s risen even more recently. I could see someone taking him top 8.

I’d be thrilled with Fiddler. Such a great skater for a big guy.

 

[OttawaSenators11]

Kindel may not be the best skater but his size shouldn’t really matter whole lot he goes to the dirty areas and he’s not a soft player at all.

I can’t speak
About lots of the players available but
Ive
Watched tons of Calgary games and he looks good at least to me anyway.

I just hope they don’t reach on anyone and take the best player available regardless whoever that may be.

 

[BigRig4]

I just hope they don’t reach on anyone and take the best player available regardless whoever that may be.

Agree with the sentiment but maybe skip LD in the first round this year.

 

[Cosmix]

Sens have been in 2 drafts out of their last 4 where the Sens pick was positioned directly after a huge tier drop, and then made very bad picks in those spots.

2019 there was a very, very clear top grouping that ended when Harley went at 18. Sens got Thomson at 19.

12. Boldy
13. Knight
14. York
15. Caulfield
16. Newhook
17. Krebs
18. Harley
Clear drop
19. Thomson
20. Heinola
21. Poulin

2020 the Sens were posiotioned perfectly, literally couldn't be better.

2021 there was a very clear top 9, Sens got Boucher at 10.

6. Edvinsson
7. Eklund
8. Clarke
9. Guenther
Clear drop
10. Boucher - Very good players still available, just made a horrendous pick
11. Sillinger
12. Cornato

2024 there was no tier drop, lots of good players available at 7.

The Boucher pick did not make a lot of sense when it happened and makes little to no sense now.

Dorion and Mann are gone now but were any other scouts pushing for Boucher at that time?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

It'll be interesting (always is) to see who the Sens take...
They likely have a choice for skill with players like Ryker Lee, Kindel, and Potter to inject needed skill , IQ , vision, speed ... ; They can also play it safer and go after a player lower ceiling safer more tenacious wingers with more size like Spence or Vansaghi or Nestrasil or they can continue to build their D of the future by adding a big , long RD in the mold of a shut down D; In all cases someone may drop that is unexpected and this is not an exhaustive list.

They have all these types and some in between at 21. Not the cream of the draft but there are quality players . 96/97 still could produce a good prospect or two.
e.g. forward Mason Moe, RD Charlie Trethewey

Sens currently set to pick
21
96
97
149
181
213

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Senator Stanley]

Kindel may not be the best skater but his size shouldn’t really matter whole lot he goes to the dirty areas and he’s not a soft player at all.

I can’t speak
About lots of the players available but
Ive
Watched tons of Calgary games and he looks good at least to me anyway.

I just hope they don’t reach on anyone and take the best player available regardless whoever that may be.

I've seen some (e.g. HockeyProspect) brand him as small and slow, which is basically a terminal combination in the eyes of NHL scouts, but I don't see the skating concerns. You'd think he's Corey Locke by the way some talk about him (although, for what it's worth, Pronman has him as an above average skater).

To me, his skating is going to be fine for the next level. For one, he's 18 and it's going to get better. He's a good athlete (he tested very well at the combine) and he has great feet (you can tell he played high level soccer). Combine that with the fact that his game is not built around being the fastest guy out there. Being an average skater can be fine, even at his size, when you combine that with high-end smarts.

Perron was listed at 5'11, 180 in his draft year and went 26th overall. He's been a good enough skater because he's extremely smart. Giroux was listed at 5'10, 160 in his draft year and went 22nd overall. He's been a good enough skater because he's extremely smart. Looking at a guy like Kindel and dismissing him because "he doesn't skate well enough for a small guy" (an actual quote from an NHL scout, per HockeyProspect's guide) seems stupid and lazy to me. Watch him play and evaluate the smarts, the vision, the processing, the anticipation. Because those are the traits that are going to determine just how good he's going to be.

 

[flyingfingers]

Naw, he’s EK light, offensive Guru who will be nullified in the playoffs should the Nucks ever get back.

He’s a wonderful talent if you can shelter the shit out of him.

Kind of a funny comparison considering Karlsson put together the single greatest playoff performance this franchise has ever seen.

Also, Hughes has been dynamite in the playoffs so far in his career.