The 2019 NHL Draft Lottery is already shaping up to be a franchise-changing event, given the consensus building over Jack Hughes as the best overall player available. Bob McKenzie of TSN released his Pre-Season Draft Rankings, and noted that ten out of ten scouts he polled have Hughes in the top spot. That’s a kind of dominance reserved the last few seasons for players like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Rasmus Dahlin, and should indicate a tremendous future for the young center.
Hughes is an outstanding talent, but remember that all fifteen teams that miss the playoffs will have a chance to win the lottery and select first overall. While those teams who finish at the bottom—or those who own another team’s pick—have the best chance, Hughes could find himself in any number of cities when training camp begins next year.
- The Ottawa Senators may have risked a shot at Hughes by hanging onto their 2018 fourth-overall draft pick, but they’re quite happy with the progress Brady Tkachuk has already shown. Tkachuk seems poised for an immediate role with the Senators, and Luke Fox of Sportsnet dives into what makes the young forward tick. Head coach Guy Boucher admits that Tkachuk has been impressive through the first part of training camp, but wouldn’t go so far as to guarantee his spot on the opening night roster. If the Senators are to be competitive this season they may just need a spark from young players like Tkachuk to turn things around.
- Speaking of Ottawa prospects, Alex Formenton has also drawn the eye of his head coach in recent days. As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports, Boucher compared Formenton’s speed to that of superstar Connor McDavid today as the Senators prepare for their first exhibition game. The 19-year old speedster played one game for Ottawa last season and two games for Belleville at the end of the year, but would be heading back to the London Knights of the OHL if he fails to crack the Senators roster this fall. Already armed with some NHL-level attributes, Formenton would likely be a leader on the Canadian World Junior squad if allowed to attend the tournament in a few months.
The young guys are looking impressive so far. Like Borobsaud, it’s cool to crap on the Sens, but watching these guys play this year is going to be exciting.
Boro said*
Couldn’t agree more. It’s not fair to the plethora of young talent that the Sens have to just write them off. Brown, White, Chlapik, Batherson, Luchuk, Norris, Balcers, Formenton, Tkachuk, Chabot, Gustavsson, Bernard-Docker are all blue chippers. The rebuild won’t take as long as most fans think.
^ These are not blue-chippers. These are the delusions of a Senators fan in denial. Chabot is the only true blue-chipper of the bunch.
Next year’s first round pick for Ottawa will likely be a blue-chipper, so you can add that guy to your lis…
I’ll agree that they aren’t all blue chippers but it is a very impressive wealth of talent. I’d say Chabot and Tkachuk are the only ones that have a decent chance of being superstars, but it’s a very strong base. When the new owner comes in, it’s going to be a very bright future
Logan Brown and Colin White were both mid first rounders and are going to be very good NHLers. I don’t think you’ve watched enough (or anything at all) of them. Gustavsson is one of the top ranked goaltending prospects in the world behind only Hart, Samsonov, Demko and Shesterkin. Joshua Norris was San Jose’s number one prospect and a first round pick. Luchuk put up 115pts in 68gp in the O last year. Batherson was team Canada’s best player at the World Juniors last year outside of maybe Dillon Dube. Balcers put up 48pts in 68 games in the AHL as a rookie. Formenton is already one of the fastest players on the planet and he’s not even an NHLer. Do a bit of homework on your prospects before you try to troll.
I think White and Brown both have ceilings as second liners. Nothing wrong with that at all, but I don’t see them ever being top players.
Even if that’s the case, guys who can be consistent 50-60 point guys throughout their careers would qualify as blue chippers. Especially if they’re centres. Those types of players don’t grow on trees. Just ask the Habs. They haven’t had a top 2 line centre since Koivu left.
There is so much homerism and, i’ll admit, optimism, in your defending of your team that i’ll give you a virtual high five as a good fan of the team.
But don’t be upset when tell you players that averaged 60pts over the past three years are guys like Bergeron, Eichel, O’Reilly, Schenn, and Hedman. That’s some company that you’ve got your 2nd tier players consistently reaching :-/
If they trade Duchene and Stone they will have a pretty decent pool
But Ottawa got fleeced in the Karlsson trade and that sets the bar – I don’t see 1st rounders getting offered for either of them unless they resign with the team ahead of the trade…and that rarely happens.
Ottawa asset management is terrible. All these expiring contracts, 1st rounders traded, superstar traded, Hoffman traded because his wife is nuts…I mean, what the F is going on?