Countdown to the 2025 NHL Draft
As the countdown to the 2025 NHL Draft ticks down to just one week, excitement among hockey enthusiasts is palpable, likening the wait to a slightly off-color Holiday season analogy where amateur scouts act like Santa, hoping to deliver the best talents available. However, the reality for these scouts resembles that of a baseball player with a .300 batting average—while impressive on the surface, it signifies a 70% failure rate, underscoring the unpredictability of selecting young talent. Understanding the unpredictable nature of scouting, one can’t help but wonder what past NHL Drafts would look like had team decision-makers possessed the foresight of hindsight.
Ottawa Senators’ Past First-Round Selections
This leads to an intriguing thought experiment regarding the Ottawa Senators’ past first-round selections over the last decade. While it’s imperative to clarify that this is not an indictment of the Senators’ scouting skills, it’s a fascinating exercise to imagine players who might have been selected instead.
2015
Ottawa’s first-round selections included defenseman Thomas Chabot, picked 18th overall, and forward Colin White at 21. They were fast friends and are regularly associated with each other, sharing the same birthday. Yet, in hindsight, the Senators might have been wiser to opt for Dallas’s Roope Hintz and Kirill Kaprizov from Minnesota instead—while Chabot’s career has remained solid, White’s future seems bleak as he has mostly been sidelined from the NHL and carries a financial burden on the team.
2016
The Senators took Logan Brown at 11, a selection that ended poorly as he only managed to appear in 30 games before being traded to the St. Louis Blues. The highly skilled forward struggled to make an impact at the NHL level. Had Ottawa looked towards Boston, they could have nabbed defenseman Charlie McAvoy instead, just three picks later, who has proven to be an impactful player.
2017
Entering this draft, the Senators chose center Shane Bowers, who struggled to make a mark in the league, managing only a handful of games. Unbeknownst to them, Dallas secured Jason Robertson just 11 picks later, who has evolved into a crucial player for the Stars.
2018
On the brighter side, selecting Brady Tkachuk at 4th overall seems like a win for Ottawa, marking him as a pivotal figure in their franchise. While Quinn Hughes was another enticing option, such an attempt at second-guessing could introduce unwanted ire among Sens fans.
2019
Following a trade involving Matt Duchene, the Senators traded their own 4th overall pick to Colorado but held onto Columbus’s 19th overall pick, selecting Lassi Thomson, a defenseman who, while promising, hasn’t yet made a significant impact in the NHL. The regret here is minimal, with the most notable player available being Connor McMichael.
2020
The Senators hit a home run in 2020, choosing Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson at 3 and 5 respectively, both solidifying themselves as core players. Ridly Greig at 28 was another strong selection, although some may argue for JJ Peterka, taken shortly thereafter.
2021
The 10th overall selection of Tyler Boucher was viewed critically even then, as injuries have hampered his development significantly, making him one of the few first-round selections from that year yet to log an NHL appearance. In retrospect, selecting players like Wyatt Johnston or Matthew Knies could have been more advantageous for Ottawa.
2022 & 2023
The Senators traded their first-round picks to secure players like Alex DeBrincat and Jakob Chychrun, but both have since moved on, leaving behind mixed feelings about the trades. Chicago made use of Ottawa’s 2022 pick to draft Kevin Korchinski, while Arizona selected Daniil But with the pick obtained from Chychrun.
2024
Steve Staios marked his tenure as the new general manager by selecting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, but it’s still premature to assess the decision. While working on his defensive skills, his offensive statistics have dropped. Other defense prospects seem to be faring better, raising questions about the choice made.
As hindsight often offers a clearer view, the Senators might find themselves contemplating what could have been. However, if this new management team can convert future picks into surefire successes, the need for such reflective journeys may lessen in the years to come.
Steve Warne, The Hockey News
Additional Sens Headlines from The Hockey News
- Would Kings Defenseman Jordan Spence Be A Good Fit for the Senators?
- Uncertainty Looms Over Ottawa Senators and Pending UFA Claude Giroux
- Should the Senators Have Parted with This Year’s First-Round Draft Pick?
- Senators Welcome Back a First-Rounder for Another Chance.
