Madferret
7-23-05, 6:20 PM
Senators On Cloud 9
By Dan Rakusan, TheFourthPeriod.com
(OTTAWA, ON) -- In a remarkably over-dramatized lottery draft that would ultimately decide the destination of phenom Sidney Crosby, the Ottawa Senators had only a 2.08 percent chance of winding up with the top pick in the draft. But given that the Senators are one of the league's best teams during the last decade or so, at least where regular season standings are concerned, their standing in the draft would likely have been much lower had there in fact been a 2004-05 season.
Instead, the lockout forced the league to devise a creative method of determining the draft order for arguably one of the deeper top rounds in a draft in recent memory.
The weighted lottery should have seen the Senators picking in the last half of the order for sure, and likely in the last third or so. Instead, as commissioner Gary Bettman opened envelope after envelope to reveal the picks (of course going from 30 downwards), the Senators' logo was notably absent. While the number 9 position will not yield them Sidney Crosby, barring a major brain-cramp by eight GMs picking earlier, but it could net them a very good player.
Looking at Ottawa's prospect system, or at least the top level of it, the most obvious hole to fill is on defense. Traditionally, the Senators' deepest position, enough players have graduated to the NHL that the team must re-stock.
While defenseman Jack Johnson is almost certain to go in the Top 5, there are a few intriguing defensive prospects available in this draft that could fill the need. Should Mark Staal be available, Ottawa may opt to take him. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound blueliner who is fairly adept at both ends of the ice, Staal is a solid hitter who can assert himself in a commanding fashion. His offensive game is coming along nicely, and he should at some time be a capable power player if he further develops his passing and shooting skills.
Another potential pick would be Luc Bourdon of Val D'Or (QMJHL). At 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds, Bourdon is a surprisingly good skater and has all the tools to be a potential big-time player in the NHL. His decision-making is a potential concern, but with proper development it should not be a major drawback in relation to what he offers a team.
The third possible selection in terms of defensemen could be Jakub Kindl of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL). While his stock dropped from a consensus Top-10-pick to the mid to late teens, Kindl's skills are unquestionable. Projected as an offensive contributor with strong powerplay potential, Kindl's inconsistent season with the Rangers cast an ominous shadow of doubt over his work ethic. With the Senators' track record of developing solid blueliners, taking a chance on Kindl could be quite symbiotic.
Should the Senators opt to take a forward with the ninth pick, it will likely be a last minute decision based on who goes in the 2-8 spots. The team has no real pressing need to draft by position up front, so it will likely fall to a "best of the rest" situation.
One player who could be of interest is Guillaume Latendresse of the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs. His consensus ranking is 21st overall, but could go as high as the Top 10. He is considered a weaker skater, which likely played a major role in ranking him 21st, as he is considered a top offensive producer.
The Senators are in the awkward situation of not really knowing how the draft will unfold ahead of them, and thus can likely not make any definitive game plan for their first pick.
With the lottery process, teams were scattered through the 30 slots, and now there is only one week for GMs and scouts to examine potential scenarios and evaluate other team needs to see who will likely be the best available player remaining on the board.
With Crosby going to Pittsburgh, Ottawa will look at Anaheim, Carolina, Minnesota, Montreal, Columbus, Chicago and Atlanta to plot out mock-ups and plan their strategy.
No matter what they decide, the Senators are back at the business of hockey. It sure feels good.
By Dan Rakusan, TheFourthPeriod.com
(OTTAWA, ON) -- In a remarkably over-dramatized lottery draft that would ultimately decide the destination of phenom Sidney Crosby, the Ottawa Senators had only a 2.08 percent chance of winding up with the top pick in the draft. But given that the Senators are one of the league's best teams during the last decade or so, at least where regular season standings are concerned, their standing in the draft would likely have been much lower had there in fact been a 2004-05 season.
Instead, the lockout forced the league to devise a creative method of determining the draft order for arguably one of the deeper top rounds in a draft in recent memory.
The weighted lottery should have seen the Senators picking in the last half of the order for sure, and likely in the last third or so. Instead, as commissioner Gary Bettman opened envelope after envelope to reveal the picks (of course going from 30 downwards), the Senators' logo was notably absent. While the number 9 position will not yield them Sidney Crosby, barring a major brain-cramp by eight GMs picking earlier, but it could net them a very good player.
Looking at Ottawa's prospect system, or at least the top level of it, the most obvious hole to fill is on defense. Traditionally, the Senators' deepest position, enough players have graduated to the NHL that the team must re-stock.
While defenseman Jack Johnson is almost certain to go in the Top 5, there are a few intriguing defensive prospects available in this draft that could fill the need. Should Mark Staal be available, Ottawa may opt to take him. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound blueliner who is fairly adept at both ends of the ice, Staal is a solid hitter who can assert himself in a commanding fashion. His offensive game is coming along nicely, and he should at some time be a capable power player if he further develops his passing and shooting skills.
Another potential pick would be Luc Bourdon of Val D'Or (QMJHL). At 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds, Bourdon is a surprisingly good skater and has all the tools to be a potential big-time player in the NHL. His decision-making is a potential concern, but with proper development it should not be a major drawback in relation to what he offers a team.
The third possible selection in terms of defensemen could be Jakub Kindl of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL). While his stock dropped from a consensus Top-10-pick to the mid to late teens, Kindl's skills are unquestionable. Projected as an offensive contributor with strong powerplay potential, Kindl's inconsistent season with the Rangers cast an ominous shadow of doubt over his work ethic. With the Senators' track record of developing solid blueliners, taking a chance on Kindl could be quite symbiotic.
Should the Senators opt to take a forward with the ninth pick, it will likely be a last minute decision based on who goes in the 2-8 spots. The team has no real pressing need to draft by position up front, so it will likely fall to a "best of the rest" situation.
One player who could be of interest is Guillaume Latendresse of the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs. His consensus ranking is 21st overall, but could go as high as the Top 10. He is considered a weaker skater, which likely played a major role in ranking him 21st, as he is considered a top offensive producer.
The Senators are in the awkward situation of not really knowing how the draft will unfold ahead of them, and thus can likely not make any definitive game plan for their first pick.
With the lottery process, teams were scattered through the 30 slots, and now there is only one week for GMs and scouts to examine potential scenarios and evaluate other team needs to see who will likely be the best available player remaining on the board.
With Crosby going to Pittsburgh, Ottawa will look at Anaheim, Carolina, Minnesota, Montreal, Columbus, Chicago and Atlanta to plot out mock-ups and plan their strategy.
No matter what they decide, the Senators are back at the business of hockey. It sure feels good.