First of all, this is my first article since the news came out that Patrick Roy will be interviewed for the Senators head coaching position. I don’t really have time to touch on it and won’t say much unless he is actually hired, but if you follow me on Twitter and/or know my writing well, I’m sure you can guess how I feel about it.
With that aside, I wanted to start taking a look at the 2019 NHL Draft, which is coming up in about a month in my hometown of Vancouver. I should be able to be there for the first round, which will be an exciting experience. The Senators have the 19th overall pick this year, plus they own the 32nd and 44th picks in the second round as well. If they do well, Ottawa could still walk out with a solid class despite not having their own first rounder. What I wanted to start focusing on was who they could potentially take at 19th overall (and even 32nd).
There are plenty of players that will be options at these spots, so I will be breaking it down into three articles: centres, wingers, and defensemen. There aren’t enough goalies to profile, plus it’s highly unlikely Ottawa takes one early on or in any round this year. Today I am looking at centres that might be available at #19, with parts two and three coming on later dates.
Here are the 5 centres:
Ryan Suzuki, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Suzuki is the brother of top prospect Nick, and he also has a lot of upside. He isn’t quite on Nick’s level just yet, but Ryan has been solid for the Barrie Colts with 75 points in 65 games this season. Here is what Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects had to say about Suzuki:
“Suzuki is a creative and silky distributor. He boasts a level of vision and soft touch that few possess in this class. Very poised and patient with the puck. More speed than brother, Nick.”
His offensive side is definitely intriguing, although apparently his defensive game leaves something to be desired. Ottawa rarely drafts forwards who aren’t at least dependable in their own zone, so that might mean they are less inclined to take Suzuki here. His playmaking ability is what is most praised, and 50 assists in 65 games is quite incredible. In the long-term, that skill is probably the most repeatable, so I think there’s a very good chance that he ends up being a quality top-6 centre.
I would be quite happy to see the Senators take him at 19, as he would immediately become the centre in the organization with the highest ceiling. I’m all for taking someone who can be an elite playmaker.
Connor McMichael, London Knights (OHL)
McMichael seems like he could definitely be a Senators pick. He led Alex Formenton’s London Knights in points, so I’m sure the organization is well aware of what he can do. McMichael exploded onto the scene this season, as last year he had just 16 points in 60 games. It looks like he won’t be the flashiest player in the draft, and he might be somewhat of a project who takes a few seasons to really develop into the NHL player he can be. His “safe” projection is due to scouts praising his IQ and ability to read the ice well, although “safe” does not necessarily mean he is destined to be a bottom-six forward. In fact, one scout was not afraid to say he is one of the smartest players he has ever seen:
I’m not comparing McMichael’s skillset to Mark Stone, but similar things were said about him when he was drafted even though he did not have great junior numbers. His offensive game eventually took off though, and now look at him. I feel like McMichael has the potential to take his overall game even further and become a complete player, which is exactly what the Senators love. I wouldn’t be as excited to draft him compared to some higher ceiling players, but he could still end up being a quality all-around player.
Alex Newhook, Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Newhook is definitely someone I am excited about. I feel like he won’t last all the way until 19th as there will probably be a team that loves him too much, but I can always hope. He was an absolute monster in the BCHL (Jr. A) this season with 102 points in 53 games, and he led the entire league with a healthy 18 point margin. To put that into perspective, Jamie Benn had just 65 points in 53 games with Victoria in his draft year, Travis Zajac had 52 points in 59 games (in what was technically his draft year), and Kyle Turris was even better with 121 points in 53 games. Those three players are all varying degrees of good in the NHL, but Newhook is definitely amongst good company considering he compares favourably.
His skating is elite, and that is something that I would love for the Senators to add: a game-breaking speedster who can lead an offensive attack a la Mat Barzal. He isn’t a huge centre at 5’11” and 190 lbs, although that sort of size should not be a problem at all. What Steve Kournianos had to say about him gets me eager to watch him play:
“Newhook has super-soft hands and is a threat to score from just about anywhere, and his shots off the pass are either labelled or deny the chance for the goalie to control the rebound. He can also play physical and doesn’t get intimidated by bigger, stronger players. Newhook has superstar potential thanks to off-the-charts hockey sense with the sublime skill to match it.”
He will be playing at Boston College next season, and Ottawa has taken many Jr. A players recently so I wouldn’t be surprised if Newhook is quite high on their list. Or perhaps that’s just wishful thinking from me because he is one of my highest targets at 19th overall.
Watching some of his highlights will surely get you to appreciate his skillset:
Raphael Lavoie, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Lavoie’s stock has been dropping just a bit, but that’s more because of others rising. He is listed as a centre/right wing so it’s unclear where he will end up long-term, but I will list him as a centre for this exercise. He has good size at 6’4” and 198 lbs, and that is something that we know the organization takes into consideration. He missed the 2018 draft by being born just 11 days late, so he is one of the oldest players in the draft. He put up 63 points in 68 games last season which is not bad, and this season he improved slightly with 72 points in 63 games. He was nails in the playoffs with 32 points in 23 games (including 20 goals) and is currently playing in the Memorial Cup.
He has a combination of power, skill, size, and speed, which makes for an interesting player who can do many things well. If he plays on the wing in the NHL, he can be a power forward who is hard to take the puck from, but he is also a good skater and has the necessary vision to make plays in the offensive zone. He might be someone that the Senators snag as he drops further, although I still think they will take someone with more defensive prowess, whether that is a forward or defenseman.
Jakob Pelletier, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Some places list him as a centre and some don’t, but I will include him here anyway because there really aren’t many centres projected to go around 19th. Pelletier doesn’t seem like the typical Senators pick and that’s because he’s only 5’9” and 161 lbs. Ottawa rarely ever takes players under 6’0”, and Pelletier seems like the high risk/high reward type player that they almost always avoid. Nevertheless, he is an interesting option and one who has an impressive resume.
Scoring 61 points in 60 games in the year before being drafted is fantastic, and his 89 points this season took his game to another level. He did struggle in the playoffs and the U18 World Championships with just 5 points in 14 games combined, but the longer track record is there. Pelletier’s size will always be questioned, and it’s just a fact of life that smaller players will have to prove themselves at every level before they are considered truly elite. He has a strong ability to make those around him better according to Sam Cosentino:
“Scouts always ask themselves: does this player drive the play? With Pelletier, the answer is always a resounding yes. His hockey IQ is way too high to ignore. He makes those around him better and competes like a champ.”
Teams should be learning from players like Alex DeBrincat and Brayden Point that being small is nowhere near as big of an issue as it used to be. I’d be shocked if the Senators drafted Pelletier, but he’s probably one of the highest ceiling players (most likely) available at 19.
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