The Ottawa Senators have inked another interesting prospect, this time signing Zack Ostapchuk to a three-year entry-level contract. The young forward was selected 39th overall at the 2021 NHL Draft and is currently in training camp with the team. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a statement:
Zack has had an exceptional camp and we are excited about watching his development this season. He possesses the necessary tools in terms of size, skill and skating ability that we feel are key attributes in today’s NHL. Zack’s strong hockey sense and work ethic will serve him well as he trends towards becoming a full-time pro. Credit to Trent Mann and his amateur scouting staff who identified a prospect we feel is well on his way to helping the future of the organization.
The Senators have drafted quite a few big-bodied forwards over the last few years, and Ostapchuk is no different. The 6’4″ winger was picked in the early part of the second round despite having scored just 24 career points at the WHL level and being ranked 60th overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Ottawa must have seen something in the 22 games Ostapchuk played for the Vancouver Giants last season, in which he recorded seven goals and 16 points, because he’s come into camp this year looking like a player that deserved to be picked that high.
In fact, Ostapchuk has fit right in at the professional level despite only turning 18 a few months ago, suggesting he could be in for a big year in the WHL. There is still quite a bit of development time for the power forward, but the fact that the Senators have already signed him to an entry-level deal shows just how strongly they believe in his future. The first year of that contract won’t be burned this season should he return to the Giants as expected, and Ostapchuk won’t actually be eligible for the AHL until 2023-24.
Wrong Chuk @GMPD. Glad to have him in the organization nonetheless