The big news of this Saturday morning: free-agent goaltending prospect Matt O'Connor has chosen to sign with the Ottawa Senators.

Matt O'Connor has reportedly signed with the #Sens a reported 2 year deal #TSN1040

— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) May 9, 2015

The Canucks were in the hunt until the end.

Though Vancouver is deep with goaltending potential at the moment, that picture could change this summer. Per General Fanager, top AHL starters Jacob Markstrom and Joacim Ericsson are both restricted free agents this summer, while Joe Cannata will be unrestricted.

We have heard rumblings that both Markstrom and Ericsson are looking for bigger opportunities than the AHL going forward. Either of these Swedes may choose to return to Europe rather than continuing to ply their trade at the minor-league level in North America.

With that being said, Markstrom had a monster night on Friday, stopping 22 shots on the heels of his 65-save performance in Game 1 on Thursday. Markstrom was named first star as the Comets evened their playoff series with the Oklahoma City Barons at 1-1. The game was decided in overtime once again, with Alexandre Grenier playing hero to give the Comets a 2-1 win at 3:23 of the first extra frame. Utica played from behind for most of the night, with Adam Clendening trying the game at 1-1 at the 1:31 mark of the third period.

#Canucks prospect Jacob Markstrom has a 0.978 S% in the second round this year.

— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) May 9, 2015

I would think that O'Connor's signing in Ottawa also spells the end of the road for Andrew "The Hamburglar" Hammond as a Senator. Despite his spectacular run to guide the Sens to the playoffs, the 27-year-old is an unrestricted free agent while Ottawa has Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner under contract for additional seasons.

Cole Cassels Bests Connor McDavid

Speaking of first stars, Vancouver Canucks prospect Cole Cassels also earned that honour as his Oshawa Generals shut down Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters by a score of 4-1 in the first game of the OHL Final on Friday night.

Cassels was tasked with shutting down phenom Connor McDavid, who was averaging 2.8 points per game through the first three rounds of the playoffs, and did a phenomenal job in Game 1.

MT @Aportzline: Cole Cassels named 1st star tonight in Oshawa's 4-1 win over Erie. Had two assists, +2,held Connor McDavid to one assist, -2

— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) May 9, 2015

The Hockey News took notice:

Connor McDavid was unstoppable - until he ran into @VanCanucks pick Cole Cassels: http://t.co/xiUmzBrvFG

— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) May 9, 2015

From Kennedy's article:

The only time McDavid pierced the Generals was on a power play, when Cassels was not on the ice. Otherwise, Cassels did what no other team has been able to do during these playoffs: neutralize the unholy force that is McDavid.

Cassels has been a revelation for Oshawa this season. The son of former NHLer Andrew Cassels, the Ohio product ratcheted up his offensive game while at the same time maintaining the gritty edge that makes him a physical threat every night. What was most interesting about Game 1 is that early on, Oshawa kept McDavid at bay by going on the offensive: After all, the kid’s way less dangerous if he doesn’t have the puck. In an effort to generate chances, McDavid would sometimes loop back to his own blueline and lope up the ice with the puck, weaving past checkers. But he could never get past all of them.

There's a big dose of hope for the future right there. Cassels has made huge strides this year and sounds like he has developed an impressively complete game. Canucks fans should be looking forward to watching Cassels and McDavid battle it out in the Pacific Division for years to come!

Game 2 of the OHL Final goes tonight at 4 p.m. PT from Oshawa. No national TV, but Games 5, 6 and 7 are scheduled to be broadcast on the Sportsnet family of channels.

Here's another backgrounder on Cassels, whose family still has roots in Columbus.

Hockey: Cole Cassels eager for challenge of matchup with Connor McDavid http://t.co/m332Qip31V

— Columbus Dispatch (@DispatchAlerts) May 8, 2015

After his playoff run is over, it sounds like Cole could get a dose of mentoring from Derek Dorsett this summer:

Current #Canucks F Derek Dorsett and future #Canucks F Cole Cassels both train in Columbus during summer. According to dad Andrew Cassels

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 9, 2015

Dorsett did wonders with Bo Horvat during the season. Maybe...just maybe...the Canucks will have another young center ready to try to crack the lineup in 2015-16?

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