Trevor Shackles: Revising the Senators Top 25 Prospects Giving an updated top-25 prospects for the Senators

Wouldn't be surprised if we see 12 NHL regulars coming from this top 25. The future looks bright after this season.

Hard to argue on the rating for Formenton based on his injury situation. Beyond the injury I believe he has the highest potential of any player in the Ottawa system.

I think Jaros has the physical presence and handles the puck well enough to mature into a top 4 Dman.

Beyond the injury problem, still not sure if Brown has the quickness and speed to play as a top 6 NHL player..

Typical puff pieces written by a homer blogger. Reading this article, you'd think the Sens have a tippy top farm system. However, in reality they have a decent (mid packish) farm system.

The Sens are in last place overall and will be trading their top two forwards because the owner seemingly will not pay them the going rate in terms of salary, term and signing bonuses. Let us not forget they do not have a first round pick that will surely be top three in a strong draft.

Don't get mad at me, get mad at your ownership and management who, two years ago, actually thought the Sens were only a player or two away, when all the metrics showed their success was built on strong goaltending, an unusually high shooting % and luck.
This thing has the rotten smell similar to the Leafs a 8-10 years ago.

I have really enjoyed reading your blogs since you came to HB Trevor. Life’s a little too busy for me atm to post on the boards here but I am an avid reader and wanted to say keep up the good work.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see 12 NHL regulars coming from this top 25. The future looks bright after this season.

you're adorable

Brown and Batherson had good games last night.

Hoping Brown can continue it, he's had trouble with his health/consistency and it would be nice to see him in the NHL next year, or even earn a call up this year.

Great article. This is what makes me come to hockey buzz.

Typical puff pieces written by a homer blogger. Reading this article, you'd think the Sens have a tippy top farm system. However, in reality they have a decent (mid packish) farm system.

The Sens are in last place overall and will be trading their top two forwards because the owner seemingly will not pay them the going rate in terms of salary, term and signing bonuses. Let us not forget they do not have a first round pick that will surely be top three in a strong draft.

Don't get mad at me, get mad at your ownership and management who, two years ago, actually thought the Sens were only a player or two away, when all the metrics showed their success was built on strong goaltending, an unusually high shooting % and luck.
This thing has the rotten smell similar to the Leafs a 8-10 years ago.
- EugenesAxe

Nothing can smell as bad as the maple leaves did before the concerted effort by the league to prop them up in gifting them Matthews....

Not putting another team in the GTA just shows how much the league is skewed.

Nothing can smell as bad as the maple leaves did before the concerted effort by the league to prop them up in gifting them Matthews....

Not putting another team in the GTA just shows how much the league is skewed.
- kaptaan

Hahahahaha....it’s a league-wide conspiracy! Grrrrrrrr!

Honestly, Trying to resign Duchene and Stone and Dzingel.... This list is what we should base it on.

There is a lot of bad to say about the Ottawa Senators right now, but one very good thing is that we have a very deep prospect pool of talent coming.

You have to sell the players to resign on the future and specifically the next 2-3-4 years when all these kids are going to be very good.

Decent blog! Always like discussing prospects as I feel there isn’t much material out there to go on.

I think the overall impression of Sens system is a little too rosey than it actually is. Other than Tkachuk, I am not sure there is the potential for huge impact player to come up. Lots of potential for good supporting role guys though.

The most intriguing prospects to me are Brown and Gustavsson. Both seem to have the ceiling of being guys you can build around but actually turning into that is another story.

Decent blog! Always like discussing prospects as I feel there isn’t much material out there to go on.

I think the overall impression of Sens system is a little too rosey than it actually is. Other than Tkachuk, I am not sure there is the potential for huge impact player to come up. Lots of potential for good supporting role guys though.

The most intriguing prospects to me are Brown and Gustavsson. Both seem to have the ceiling of being guys you can build around but actually turning into that is another story.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think Formenton has a very high ceiling.....that speed is a weapon that he has that will set him apart

I think he has top line winger potential, a Hoffman type player

Honestly, Trying to resign Duchene and Stone and Dzingel.... This list is what we should base it on.

There is a lot of bad to say about the Ottawa Senators right now, but one very good thing is that we have a very deep prospect pool of talent coming.

You have to sell the players to resign on the future and specifically the next 2-3-4 years when all these kids are going to be very good.
- Maverick1818

It’s more selling the idea of selling the theory of the organization being able to build a good team and retaining that talent. That’s the biggest hurdle. Stone and Duchene are prime examples of that hurdle. No other franchise has as many questions about their best players resigning as Ottawa. It’s a broken record. The Matthew’s style contact (all signing bonuses) makes it even tougher for Ottawa with Melnyk at the helm.

I think Formenton has a very high ceiling.....that speed is a weapon that he has that will set him apart

I think he has top line winger potential, a Hoffman type player
- sensarmy_11

Ya. I like him too. The speed looks really great but I am not sure the offensive ability is there in the way Hoffman developed. Hoffman's shot is rare.

Formeton to me right now looks like he will be a Mason Raymond type guy. Super speedy and fans will love him, but the offensive consistency may be lacking to make him a top line forward.

Not putting another team in the GTA just shows how much the league is skewed.
- kaptaan

Matthews was a lottery draw, but the lack of a 2nd team in Toronto is certainly evidence of the team's political sway with the league. The fact that they've also manipulated the league schedule to their financial advantage for over half a century is an even clearer example.

Formeton to me right now looks like he will be a Mason Raymond type guy. Super speedy and fans will love him, but the offensive consistency may be lacking to make him a top line forward.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

The Raymond comparison is a good on. It's hard not to love his skating ability, but I'm not sure he has the offensive tools to be a high-end NHL winger.

Personally, I'm most pleased that all of Brown, Norris, and Bernard-Docker are showing solid potential, after some significant questions earlier in the season. It's hard to know what the ceiling is for each, but it's a major step to at least have another offensive-minded centre and RH defence in the mix.

I have really enjoyed reading your blogs since you came to HB Trevor. Life’s a little too busy for me atm to post on the boards here but I am an avid reader and wanted to say keep up the good work.
- Makesnosens

I really appreciate hearing that!

Typical puff pieces written by a homer blogger. Reading this article, you'd think the Sens have a tippy top farm system. However, in reality they have a decent (mid packish) farm system.

The Sens are in last place overall and will be trading their top two forwards because the owner seemingly will not pay them the going rate in terms of salary, term and signing bonuses. Let us not forget they do not have a first round pick that will surely be top three in a strong draft.

Don't get mad at me, get mad at your ownership and management who, two years ago, actually thought the Sens were only a player or two away, when all the metrics showed their success was built on strong goaltending, an unusually high shooting % and luck.
This thing has the rotten smell similar to the Leafs a 8-10 years ago.
- EugenesAxe

Lol, where did I say they have a tippy-top farm system? I just said that their top prospects have had good seasons, that's all. You don't have to lecture me on the other things going wrong with the organization, I'm one of the most critical voices out there.

Ya. I like him too. The speed looks really great but I am not sure the offensive ability is there in the way Hoffman developed. Hoffman's shot is rare.

Formeton to me right now looks like he will be a Mason Raymond type guy. Super speedy and fans will love him, but the offensive consistency may be lacking to make him a top line forward.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

If he could develop even decent finish I think hel be a very effective top 6 player. I swear it seems like he got 1 breakaway a game in his stint this year. The lack of production though demonstrates hes not there yet


Developing that could mean giving him more time in the minors/ahl, and the team may not have the patience for that.

The potential is there though.


Two very different players, but the lack of finish reminded me of Eric condra!

If he could develop even decent finish I think hel be a very effective top 6 player. I swear it seems like he got 1 breakaway a game in his stint this year. The lack of production though demonstrates hes not there yet


Developing that could mean giving him more time in the minors/ahl, and the team may not have the patience for that.

The potential is there though.


Two very different players, but the lack of finish reminded me of Eric condra!
- david22

big difference is that Condra has never had finish at any level, ever. look back through his stats....in college, AHL, NHL, etc he's never even had a 20 goal season. you have to go all the way back to 2 years before he was drafted, in the USHL, where he scored 30

Formenton had 30 in only 50 games in the OHL last year, and was on pace for another big year this year before he got hurt.

the kid has shown that he can score, the potential is there. there aren't many 18 or 19 year olds who can "finish" in the NHL. I have confidence that he'll be a strong goal scorer at the NHL level

I agree that some of these actual prospects may be good nhl players, but not great. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it seems that in the NHL good teams will have two or three superstars surrounded decent role players. Drafting Tkachuk was good, but the big set back is not having that 1st this year. with that pick we may have had the chance for a great player and the rebuild would be well in hand. Hopefully next year we get a decent pick and build from there.

I agree that some of these actual prospects may be good nhl players, but not great. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it seems that in the NHL good teams will have two or three superstars surrounded decent role players. Drafting Tkachuk was good, but the big set back is not having that 1st this year. with that pick we may have had the chance for a great player and the rebuild would be well in hand. Hopefully next year we get a decent pick and build from there.
- CaliNewf

everything I read about this years draft says that even at the top, it's not super strong. Hughes will be a good player, but he's much more in the Hischier level of "stardom", rather than the Matthews or McDavid.

I'm not 100% convinced he'll be much better than Tkachuk.

the draft that we want a lot of picks for is next year. Lafreniere is going to be a BEAST, and it looks by all accounts to be a very strong crop of prospects in that draft

I agree that some of these actual prospects may be good nhl players, but not great. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it seems that in the NHL good teams will have two or three superstars surrounded decent role players. Drafting Tkachuk was good, but the big set back is not having that 1st this year. with that pick we may have had the chance for a great player and the rebuild would be well in hand. Hopefully next year we get a decent pick and build from there.
- CaliNewf

I'm kind of hoping Dorion can get a 1st rounder this year through a trade of some kind. Like he won't get the lottery pick back, but obtaining a 15th-25th overall pick could get you a decent piece to work with, rather than waiting a whole year to get a 1st round opportunity. Not sure how deep this draft is, but one can hope!

It is a solid prospect pool of players with many capable of slotting in as 3/4 defenceman and top 6/9 forwards. Chabot is a 1/2 defenceman and Tkachuk will be a top 3 forward.

We will still need to add some top end talent through the draft, which is very likely over the next 2-3 years as we will be a bottom 5 team.

The team also needs to add an elite goaltending prospect.