While the draft lottery didn’t quite go the way that the Senators wanted, they still wound up with two of the first five selections in October’s NHL Entry Draft with their picks slated to fall third and fifth. Considering that they’ve added several notable picks and prospects in recent years (even without having their own first rounder a year ago), the thought of packaging those two picks together to try to move up to the top slot to land prospective top pick Alexis Lafreniere had come up.
However, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that they won’t be entertaining the idea of trying to move up to nab that top selection:
The idea of trading our 3rd and 5th picks for the No. 1 pick is nonsensical. We’re very excited to welcome our many new Ottawa Senators that will come to us via the upcoming draft.
As things stand, Ottawa is likely to land one of OHL center Quinton Byfield or German forward Tim Stutzle with the third pick and both could be ready to play in the NHL next season. Whoever they get with the fifth pick may not be NHL ready right away but the Sens have several youngsters in the system that are close to making the jump so there’s no rush for whoever is picked there to suit up for Ottawa.
Garrioch suggests that the Canadiens will likely make a push for the top selection. Lafreniere is from Quebec while he notes that Montreal’s management made a strong push for them to be a part of the Draft Lottery during the NHL’s Return to Play discussion. However, they upset Pittsburgh in the Qualifying Round and as a result, they will pick no higher than 16th which will likely make such a move quite difficult.
Having said that, the odds that the Rangers would deal the pick are quite low. The last time a number one pick was moved was back in 2003 when Florida moved down two spots. However, with Melnyk stating that the Senators don’t intend to try to move up, the one team that could do a similar deal is now off the table as it appears that they’ll be quite content to stay at picks three and five.
It is nonsensical, but not surprising, for Eugene to say that it is nonsensical for the Senators to try and grab the top player in this year’s draft. While it would be difficult, and perhaps not the right choice, it is nowhere near “nonsensical”. The fans of Ottawa would be so much better off if that meddling buffoon just sold his franchise.
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