The key to operating a franchise is to build from within and then add pieces as needed. With the Senators unwillingness, or inability to, depending on your point of view, to do the latter with regularity, the former is even more crucial.

With the Senators top 3 organizational prospects not likely to be playing pro hockey this season (unless Thomas Chabot sticks around for an audition), they are likely another year or two away from getting to the point where there are expectations for performance at the NHL level.

That being said, there are a handful of potential prospects that could have a breakout season and take that next step. Most of them are forwards, and most of them have spent some time in the NHL.

My list would include Curtis Lazar, Matt Puempel and Nick Paul first and foremost. Ryan Dzingel and Max McCormick might be NHLers at some point, but they have limited upside and seem destined for bottom 6 service.

For Puempel, he needs to show he can score at the NHL level, because I am not sure he brings much more than that to his game.

Lazar has stuck around for 2 full seasons (minus his loan to Team Canada in his rookie season), and the Sens are still waiting (and hoping) for an offensive breakout. Even if that never comes, the Senators have a more than capable third line centre in waiting, but I think the expectation is for more than that.

Paul is interesting because of how he arrived, and being the only holdover from the Spezza deal. Again, the Senators are likely hoping for more offense eventually from the 21 year old.

Of this list, I think Lazar is the most likely to make the jump from solid contributor to breakout performer. He just works too hard and has too much hockey sense to remain snakebit for so long. I have never been completely sold on Puempel as a full-time NHLer and Paul still has some work to do to reach that level if he can get there.

So while we wait for the Browns, Whites and Chabots, I personally think the hope lies with Lazar.

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